Lucrezia Borgia, born in 1480, was the illegitimate daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, who later became Pope Alexander VI, and his mistress, Vannozza Cattanei. Her life was marked by political intrigue and scandal, orchestrated by her powerful family.
Despite her notorious reputation, many historians now view her as a pawn in her family’s quest for power rather than a villain. Her life provides insight into the tumultuous world of papal politics during the Italian Renaissance. Lucrezia’s life was surrounded by numerous scandals, including: marriages for political gain, persistent rumors of incestuous relationships, accusations of poisoning her enemies, and involvement in the political machinations of her family. Despite these scandals, modern historians tend to view Lucrezia more sympathetically, recognizing her as a victim of her family’s ambitions rather than a perpetrator of these crimes.
