Cesare Borgia, also known as Duke Valentino, was an Italian nobleman and politician who rose to power during the Renaissance. He was the son of Pope Alexander VI and his mistress, Vannozza dei Cattanei, and was a member of the Borgia family, which was notorious for its Machiavellian scheming and ambition. Despite his reputation as a ruthless and cunning politician, Borgia is also remembered for his contributions to art, culture, and diplomacy in Italy.
Born in 1475 in Rome, Borgia was the youngest of four children and was educated in both military and academic subjects. He excelled in sword fighting and horsemanship and became a skilled military commander at a young age. In 1493, Borgia's father, Pope Alexander VI, appointed him captain general of the papal army, and he played a key role in the papacy's military campaigns against various Italian states.
In addition to his military career, Borgia was also known for his cultural pursuits. He was a patron of the arts and supported the development of Renaissance architecture, music, and literature. He was also a skilled diplomat and worked to negotiate peace between various Italian states and the papacy.
However, Borgia's reputation was marred by his involvement in political intrigue and corruption. He was accused of murder and adultery and was rumored to have poisoned his rivals in order to advance his own political ambitions. Despite these accusations, Borgia remained a powerful figure in Italian politics until his death in 1507, at the age of 32.
Despite his controversial reputation, Borgia's influence on Renaissance Italy cannot be denied. His military campaigns and diplomatic efforts helped to shape the political landscape of the time, and his cultural contributions helped to further the artistic and intellectual development of the period. While his methods may have been questionable, Borgia's impact on the Renaissance is undeniable.
Patricide and the Plot of The Prince: Cesare Borgia and Machiavelli's Italy
His uncle had been Pope forty years earlier, and the 61-year old cardinal had served in Rome since then, earning a reputation for intelligence and even-handedness that meant that there were no strong objections to his election. Paulo Freire argues that fighting violence with violence creates a cyclical tense relationship. Modern historians have attempted to acquit Lucrezia of her crimes, citing a lack of evidence, but the legend endures. Socrates, however, denounces traditional government and has a less clear goal, which is to gain wisdom by Idealism In The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli In The Prince, originally written in 1513 and later published in 1532, Florentine administrator and diplomat Niccolo Machiavelli argues that a ruler must take appropriate action based upon pragmatism and independence in order to seize and hold power. On the 7th June 1497 the pope made the city of Benevento, the centre of the Papal States, a Duchy and made Giovanni the first Duke of Benevento.
Cesare Borgia
The Borgias poisoned nobles, bishops, and statesmen, deploying the poison in a range of vessels including books, gloves, drinks, and flowers. A movement was made in the late 80s to have Borgia dug up once more and put back into Santa María, but this proposal was ultimately rejected by church officials due to recent ruling against the interment of anyone who did not hold the title of pope or cardinal. Everywhere Genghis Khan marched, troops followed and cities were razed. Borgia came into power through the arms and fortune of others, and according to Machiavelli, that is not a good sign because those rulers tend to not last very long. After securing his holdings, Cesare was now at the height of his power.
The Borgias: 8 stories about the pope's tyrant family in Renaissance Italy
Cesare Borgia served as Machiavelli's model of the ideal ruler for The Prince. To prevent this from happening, Cesare sent mercenaries to assassinate him in August 1500. In some cases, appearances do matter more than substance, a prince must know when to appear harsh or soft in the view of his people whether he actually is or not. La sua vita, la sua famiglia, i suoi tempi. He believed that politics has a morality of its own. By doing this, he was able to secure his own rule, becoming well respected by his subjects. Lying here, after being stabbed by a spear, and receiving 25 wounds.
Cesare Borgia, Machiavelli's Prince
The pope readily provided his son with the necessary funds. Machiavelli's use of Borgia is subject to controversy. With careful analysis of The Prince, from the perspective of personal actions, certain fundamental principles for living are revealed by Machiavelli. Cesare Borgia, although before the writing of The Prince , followed exactly what Machiavelli would later write in how to maintain power within his principality. He was also reported to enjoy standing above prison courtyards in Rome and practising his crossbow skills, picking off the inmates below. Many trembled in fear to surrender to his ranks, others who did not die merciless deaths.