Perhaps no family name in history is more synonymous with murder than that of the Borgias, a family of Spanish aristocrats. They became firmly established in Italy when Alfonso Borgia was named Pope (Calixtus III) in 1455. The most infamous of the lot is Lucrezia, who is said to have poisoned any number of rivals by dropping lethal fluids into their drinks from a special envenoming ring. Indeed, the tradition of clinking vessels together in a toast to health before drinking dates to the Borgias; the splashing of wine from cup to cup was a safeguard against poisoning. However, recent investigations promote the idea that Lucrezia was little more than a pawn in the schemes of her relatives, especially her father and her brother.

Lucrezia was the illegitimate child of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia and his mistress. Rodrigo later became Pope Alexander VI and not only continued his flagrant sexual affairs, he moved 12 year old Lucrezia, her beautiful 18 year old friend, Giulia (the aging Rodrigo’s latest mistress), and his cousin, Adriana (the younger two girl’s caretaker), into private quarters adjoining St Peter’s. From this period the scandalous reports and legendary murders of the Borgia family began to snowball. Among these reports are a number of verifiable exploits of Lucrezia and her brother, Cesare. One such incident involved Cesare on a balcony of the Vatican, with Lucrezia at his side, shooting criminals in the streets with a crossbow!

Lucrezia was married at thirteen years of age, but had the union annulled by her father after only two years due to its poor political advantage. She was soon remarried, but when this marriage also proved politically fruitless, Cesare had her husband brutally murdered. Lucrezia’s first husband who felt disgraced by the annullment, helped promote various rumours. Gossip wildly travelled such as Lucrezia’s supposed incestuous involvement with her father and her brothers.

After her first marriage ended in the annullment, Lucrezia retreated to a convent without telling her family. When her father tried to earnestly draw her back to public life in Rome, Lucrezia apparently had an affair with his messenger, Perotto. When the College of Cardinals pronounced her a virgin in order to finalise the liquidation of her marriage, and legitimise her for another, she was actually six months pregnant. Perotto, as well as Lucrezia’s chambermaid who had assisted in setting up the affair, had their corpses fished out of the Tiber about this same time.

Lucrezia’s favourite brother, Juan (Giovani), had also been disposed of in the Tiber. Lucrezia received the news while still in the convent. Although it is unclear, most Borgiaphiles lay the blame squarely on Cesare. Even though Cesare was the eldest, more intelligent, sophisticated, and powerful, he was quite jealous of Juan, who was shown much favouritism. The death of Juan opened doors politically for Cesare.

Astonishingly, Lucrezia Borgia’s final arranged marriage practically turned her into a saint. Rodrigo/Pope Alexander VI, through much coercion, bribing, and extortion, contracted with the powerful d’Este family, who practically ruled Italy, for a marriage of one of their own to his daughter. Though the d’Estes fought the union at every step due to Lucrezia’s formidably foul reputation, they were surprised and delighted when she turned out to not only be beautiful, but also charming, lively, intelligent, and seemingly quite virtuous. They took her warmly to their bosom and she flourished. Lucrezia established one of the most famous courts of the Renaissance, a gathering place for reknowned poets, artists, and musicians. Perhaps this was her big chance to escape her morbidly wicked family. Whatever the case, she endeared herself deeply to her new family as well as the general populace; she was rich in charitable acts and known for her kindness to many. Even when her father died (legend has it that he mistakenly drank a poisoned cup meant for a rival) and Cesare lost power the d’Estes remained faithful to her. She did what she could to save members of the Borgias from retribution and continued on in her new life. By the time she died, just short of her 39th birthday, she had become the much beloved and revered Duchess of Ferrara.