Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia (Italian pronunciation: [ˈtʃeːzare ˈbɔrdʒa, ˈtʃɛː-]; Valencian: Cèsar Borja [ˈsɛzaɾ ˈbɔɾdʒa]; Spanish: César Borja [ˈθesaɾ ˈβoɾxa]; 13 September 1475 – 12 March 1507) was a Spanish-Italian cardinal and condottiero (mercenary leader), an illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI and member of the Valencian (Spanish-Aragonese) House of Borgia. His fight for power was a major inspiration for The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli.
Cesare Borgia | |
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Profile portrait of Cesare Borgia in the Palazzo Venezia in Rome, c. 1500–10 | |
| Born | 13 September 1475 Subiaco, Papal States (now Italy) |
| Died | 12 March 1507 (aged 31) Viana, Navarre (now Spain) |
| Burial place | Iglesia de Santa María (Viana) |
| Other names | Epithet: Il Valentino; Valentinus ("The Valencian") |
| Title | Duke of Valentinois |
| Spouse | Charlotte of Albret |
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| Family | Borgia |
After initially entering the Church and becoming a cardinal on his father's election to the papacy, he resigned after the death of his brother in 1498. He served as a condottiero for King Louis XII of France around 1500, and occupied Milan and Naples during the Italian Wars. At the same time, he carved out a state for himself in Central Italy, but he was unable to retain power for long after his father's death. According to Machiavelli, this was not due to a lack of foresight, but his error in creating a new pope.