Was Lucrezia Borgia killing her lovers?

Was Lucrezia Borgia killing her lovers?

Lucrezia Borgia is one of the most famous and mysterious female characters.

Lucrezia was born on April 18, 1480, daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (the future Pope Alexander VI) and his mistress, Vanozza dei Cattanei.

She was used as a pawn by her father and older brother, since the age of 13 when she first finds herself involved in a political affair and is married to Giovanni Sforza.

Lucrezia was at the mercy of her father and brother Cesare, who found her husbands and made her divorce according to their interests.

More than that, they made her an accomplice in their crimes. It is said that Lucrezia had a ring with a place for poison, from which it dripped into the cups of the “non grata” cardinals at the banquets organized by Pope Alexander VI and Cesare.

Sforza was an alleged spy for Milan in Rome, and when he was no longer useful to the Pope and Cesare, they planned to get rid of him, so Lucrezia had to divorce.

But they had been married by the Pope himself, so a very strong reason had to be invented for the separation. Thus, Giovanni signed a declaration according to which he was impotent, and therefore, the marriage was not consummated. Giovanni was amply rewarded by receiving Lucrezia’s dowry.

In fact, a new marriage was being prepared for her, and public opinion and many other noble families were beginning to hate the Borgia’s for the machinations they indulged in.

Lucrezia’s brothers, Cesare, Juan (Giovanni), and Gioffre, and their political-love intrigues were notorious.

This is how Lucrezia’s hypothetical lovers were found dead one by one, and the young woman was included in the circle of suspects. This is what happened with the second marriage of interest, with Alfonso de Aragon, Prince of Naples.

Before the marriage, she gave birth to a illegitimate boy, hidden from the public opinion. Most probably, the unsuitable suitor was killed by Cesare.

The same happened with this new husband, who was killed in dubious circumstances, when differences arose between Rome and Naples.

Retired to a monastery, Lucrezia remains pregnant again with an unknown man, who was also later killed.

After her third marriage, becoming the Duchess of Ferrara by marrying Alfonso d’Este, the 30-year-old woman gave birth to four children, and during this marriage, at least three lovers were identified.

After the three forced marriages, she gave birth to six children and one more from who’s father not known .

Lucrezia Borgia died before she turned 39 on June 24, 1519 in childbirth.

📸 possible Lucrezia, portait from life, Dosso Dossi