Learn about Cesare Borgia's life as a member of the influential Borgia family, and his connection to Machiavelli's The Prince and to the Portrait of a Gentleman.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Cesare Borgia Life, Legacy, & Portrait
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was Cesare Borgia famous for?
Cesare Borgia was most famous for being a member of the powerful Borgia family. He was also an inspiration for Niccolò Machiavelli's political treatise, The Prince.
What happened to Cesare Borgia's wife?
After Cesare's death, his wife Charlotte acted as regent for the pair's daughter Louise, who inherited the title Duchess of Valentinois. She died on March 11, 1514, at age 33 or 34. She was buried at the Chateau of La Motte-Feuilly.
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ShowCesare Borgia was an Italian noble and the illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI (formerly Cardinal Rodrigo de Borja y Doms). As a member of the prominent Borgia family, he gained influence and wealth first as a cardinal in the Catholic Church, then as a condottiero (leader of mercenaries) for the French king.
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Cesare Borgia was an Italian noble who served as a cardinal in the Catholic Church and, after his retirement, a soldier for hire. He lived from 1475 until 1507. He is most famous for being a member of the powerful Borgia family and an inspiration for Niccolò Machiavelli's political treatise, The Prince.
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Family of Borgia
Cesare Borgia was born in either 1475 or 1476, most likely in Rome, Italy. He was the illegitimate son of then Cardinal Rodrigo de Borja y Doms (also known as Rodrigo Borgia) and his Italian mistress, Vannozza dei Cattanei. His father was a member of the Spanish nobility. Rodrigo first rose to prominence when he became a cardinal in the Catholic Church, following the election of his uncle as Pope Callixtus III. Little information was recorded about Cesare's mother Vannozza, except that she and Rodrigo had four children, of which he was the eldest. Cardinal Rodrigo had several mistresses and children out of wedlock, so while he was his mother's eldest, Cesare was his father's second son.
Exemption from Pope Sixtus IV
As was the tradition for second sons, Cesare was educated for a career in the Church. During this time period, illegitimate children were not allowed to hold Church positions. He was spared this embarrassment by Pope Sixtus IV, who exempted him from this requirement. At seven years old, he received his first official appointment in the Church.
Education: Journey to Cardinalship
To prepare for his future in the Church's leadership, Cesare was instructed by private tutors. The most notable of these teachers were Giovanni Vera and Paolo Pompilio, both of Spanish heritage, like the Borgias themselves. He continued his education at the University of Perugia and the University of Pisa, where he studied law. As he grew older, Cesare was granted increasingly higher profile appointments in the Church. These included Bishop of Pamplona, Archbishop of Valencia, Bishop of both Castres and Elne, and Abbot of the Abbey of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa.
Son of Pope Becomes Cardinal
After his father was elevated to the papacy as Pope Alexander VI, Cesare was named a cardinal. He was just 18 years old. As a cardinal, one of the most senior positions in the Church, Cesare became his father's trusted advisor. He was not the only one of Pope Alexander VI's children to benefit from their father's elevated status. His younger brother Giovanni (also called Juan) was named Captain General of the papacy's military forces.
However, the family's good luck faltered when Giovanni was killed by an unknown assailant. Rumors began to quickly circulate that Cesare, jealous of his brother's position or in a dispute over a shared mistress, was the murderer. There was no evidence to support this claim. Nevertheless, his younger brother's death was a turning point for Cesare. With Pope Alexander VI's blessing, he became the first person in history to resign a cardinalate, subsequently focusing his attention on military and political ambitions.
A Strategic Marriage
On May 10, 1499, shortly after giving up his position as Cardinal, Cesare married a wealthy French noblewoman, Charlotte of Albret. It was a strategic alliance. With his marriage to Charlotte d'Albret, sister of King John III of Navarre, Cesare and his father gained a powerful ally in their plans to reestablish control of the Papal States. He further solidified his ties to the French as a condottiero (mercenary leader) for King Louis XII of France during the Italian Wars. These connections helped to guarantee French military support in his efforts to regain control of the Papal States and establish a permanent Borgia state where Cesare would rule. Cesare married Charlotte without the blessing of his father or the French king, and he was the first without royal blood to marry a French princess. Together they had one child, a daughter named Louise. Like his father, Cesare had several mistresses and at least 11 illegitimate children.
Cesare Borgia: Definition of a Gifted Military Leader
Cesare was a gifted military leader; he was named Captain General of the Papal Army in 1499. With support from a detachment of French soldiers and mercenaries, he led numerous successful military campaigns, taking large swaths of Italy for himself. Below is a timeline highlighting some of Cesare's most important victories.
- 1499: Began a "systematic occupation" of Romagna and Marche regions
- 1499: Captured Imola and Forli; was named Papal Gonfalonier by his father
- 1500-1501: Seized Rimini, Pesaro, and Faenza
- 1501: Successfully took Romagna; began the siege of Piombino
- 1502: Siege of Piombino ended (led by his mercenaries); led sieges of Naples and Capua; completed the occupation of Marche region by taking the cities of Urbino, Camerino, and Senigallia
- 1503: Took control of the Republic of San Marino
Notably, it was during the 1502 campaign in Urbino, Camerino, and Senigallia that he met Florentine ambassador Niccolò Machiavelli. Machiavelli's observations of Cesare's leadership during this period were later featured prominently in his political treatise, The Prince.
Downfall and Death of Cesare Borgia
Though a skilled military leader and statesman, Cesare was helped tremendously by the wealth, authority, and influence his father wielded as Pope. On August 18, 1503, while Cesare was formulating a plan to attack Tuscany, Pope Alexander VI died. He was dealt another blow when Giuliano della Rovere, a dangerous rival, was declared Pope Julius II. Cesare was arrested in Naples, and the territories he'd conquered were confiscated by the Papacy.
After two years of imprisonment, he escaped to Navarre, where he was welcomed by his brother-in-law King John III. It was in John's service that Cesare was dispatched to retake the town of Viana, Navarre, then under the control of Borgia enemies. The siege failed and, on March 12, 1507, he was ambushed by Navarrese rebels and slain, his body stripped and left in a street outside Viana. He was thirty-one years old.
After Cesare's death, his wife Charlotte acted as regent for the pair's daughter Louise, who inherited the title Duchess of Valentinois. Charlotte died on March 11, 1514, at age 33 or 34. She was buried at the Chateau of La Motte-Feuilly.
His Tomb and its Restoration
Cesare was laid to rest in the Church of Santa Maria in Viana. On his marble tomb was engraved this inscription:
Here lies in a little earth
he whom everyone feared,
he whom peace and war
held in his hand.
Oh, you who go in search
of worthy things to praise,
if you would praise the worthiest
then your path stops here
and you do not need to go any farther.
When Santa Maria underwent construction and expansion between 1523 and 1608, Cesare's tomb was destroyed. His bones were removed from the church and reburied under a street. Cesare's remains were dug up again in 1886 and 1945 by historians. Finally, in 1953, he was returned to the Church of Santa Maria. Though he remained buried outside the church, his tomb was no longer under a street where it could be walked on.
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Modern views of Cesare have been largely shaped by 16th-century propaganda and Machiavelli's depiction of his character and actions in The Prince. During his lifetime, rivals and enemies of the Borgias actively spread propaganda against his family. Pope Alexander VI and his children were portrayed as scheming, greedy, lustful, and violent. This image was further cemented by The Prince. Machiavelli's treatise focused on his skill as a general and statesman. He praised his aggression, decisiveness, and ability to exploit circumstances as qualities necessary for those who sought to be a prince. These sources make it challenging to get a well-rounded portrait of Cesare as a man, instead only providing a caricature.
Cesare Borgia in Portrait of a Gentleman
Cesare is believed to be the subject of Altobello Melone's 1513 painting, Portrait of a Gentleman. The oil on wood composition depicts a thoughtful-looking young man staring past the viewer. He is dressed in a greenish-blue tunic adorned with gold and white trim. He wears matching white gloves. His flat black cap features a gold braid, tassel, and medallion. The painting's background is notable for its ominous tone. There are dark clouds, and a storm appears to be coming; trees can be seen blowing in the distance. On the right-hand side of the sitter is a castle. On his left-hand side are two small figures struggling against the wind. Although the identity of the portrait's subject is speculation and the piece was completed six years after his death, as The National Gallery of Australia's website notes, "interpretations of Cesare Borgia are habitually based on this image, and actors who play the part of Cesare style their appearance on this portrait."
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Cesare Borgia was born in either 1475 or 1476, most likely in Rome, Italy. He was the illegitimate son of Cardinal Rodrigo de Borja y Doms (also known as Rodrigo Borgia), patriarch of the influential and noble Borgia family. Groomed for a career in the Catholic Church, he became a cardinal after his father was elected Pope Alexander VI. Wishing to focus more attention on his military and political ambitions, Cesare was the first person in history to resign as a cardinalate.
After leaving the Church, Cesare led numerous successful military campaigns and conquered large swaths of Italy for himself. He also married the French princess Charlotte d'Albret, which assisted him in getting French support for his campaigns. It was his exploits during this time period that led Niccolò Machiavelli to feature him prominently in his political treatise, The Prince. However, following his father's death and the election of a Borgia enemy as Pope, Cesare's fortunes declined. He was imprisoned, and his lands were confiscated by the Papacy. He was killed in 1507 leading a military campaign for his brother-in-law, King John III of Navarre, against Navarrese rebels. After Cesare's death, his wife Charlotte acted as regent for the pair's daughter Louise, who inherited the title Duchess of Valentinois.
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Additional Info
Family Background
Cesare Borgia was born the illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI and his most famous mistress, Vannozza Catanei in either 1475 or 1476. His father, at that time Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, had three earlier children by other mistresses. Although Cesare was born in Italy and spent most of his life there, his family and cultural background was actually Spanish. Cesare's father was the first Pope who publicly recognized his children from out of wedlock.
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Youth and Education
As the second son, Cesare was educated for a career in the church and was recognized as being exceptionally brilliant in his studies. He ultimately would become a Cardinal in the Church and became one of his father's most trusted advisers. However Cesare wasn't all that interested in a life devoted to the church. He was highly ambitious, ruthless, manipulative, and cunning, but also charming and charismatic. For many years he was rumored to have murdered his brother out of jealousy for the titles and honor his father had given him. Cesare became the first person in history to give up his position as Cardinal, in order to pursue his ambition of uniting the Papal States and becoming King.
Career
Even though his father was Pope, Cesare knew his recent advancements and privileges would all go away when his father died. Therefore in order to further his grand ambitions, he needed to marry well. He tried to win the hand of Carlotta, daughter of the King of Naples but was unsuccessful. Not to be deterred, he traveled to France and married Charlotte d'Albret, sister of the King of Navarre. The French marriage gave Cesare and his father a powerful ally in their plans to reestablish control of the Papal States.
Cesare became general of France's armies as well as leading commander of the Papal Army. Together Cesare and Louis XII invaded Italy and began a successful campaign winning important victories in Romagna and other Papal cities. In 1500, Cesare marched into Rome in triumph, becoming hero of the common people. By all accounts Cesare was a natural-born leader, daring fighter, and brilliant strategist. However his arrogance and ruthlessness made him many enemies. His quest for power (with his father's support) aroused intense opposition within the Papal States and the other Italian states.
Cesare and his father were victims of propaganda in which Cesare was portrayed as a monster of lust and cruelty. Even though many facts about him were hugely exaggerated during and after his life, there can be no doubt Cesare was highly ambitious and would stop at nothing to accomplish his goals. Aut Caesar, aut nihil ('Either Caesar or Nothing') was the motto he adopted to indicate the single-mindedness of his purpose.
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Legacy
Cesare's conquests continued until his commanders, fearing his power, turned against him in conspiracy. Cesare was stripped of most his troops and forced to fight defensively. However he would never admit defeat and soon raised an even bigger army with funds provided by his father and had the men who betrayed him executed. In addition to many political assassinations, he was also almost certainly responsible for killing his sister Lucrezia's second husband for personal reasons.
Although he was an extremely capable general and statesman, Cesare would have trouble maintaining his domain without the continued support of his father the Pope. While he was planning an attack on Tuscany, he learned that his father Pope Alexander VI had died on August 18, 1503. In one day Cesare went from the height of power to survival for his life. The new Pope Julius II took away his newly conquered lands and Cesare fled to Naples where he was imprisoned and taken to Spain. While in Spain he escaped and took service with his brother-in-law, the King of Navarre. Cesare was killed in 1507 in a fight with Navarrese rebels outside Viana. He was 31 years old. Cesare's lasting legacy was showcased by Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince, in which the leader who promotes himself solely through the strength of his own will was a reference to him.
Lessen Summary
Cesare Borgia was a capable general and statesman who, as the son of Pope Alexander VI, wielded considerable power during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Through marriage, treaties, and conquests, he brought many Papal states to heel and in the process, became a hero to the common people. It wasn't to last, however, and he ultimately would be killed by rebels at the age of 31. However, his legacy would live on, primarily in the infamous text by Machiavelli, The Prince.
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Cesare Borgia Life, Legacy, & Portrait
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