Alexander VI.

Alexander VI. is infamous amongst popes (See POPE). His most conspicuous qualities were a cunning and insidious cruelty, united with great fearlessness in danger, an unwearied perseverance and vigilance in all his undertakings, a soft and plausible manner towards his inferiors, a harsh and grasping spirit towards the rich. In spite of his talents and his love of art and science, he disdained, throughout his dissolute career, no means of gratifying his lust—not even perjury, murder, poisoning. He was born in Spain, at Jativa in Valencia, 1431. His real name was Rodrigo Lançol or Lenzuoli, but he assumed the ancient and famous one of his mother's family, Borgia. The beautiful Rosa Vanozza de Cattanei bore him five children, two of whom, Cæsar and Lucretia, equalled himself in notoriety (see BORGIA). In 1455 he was made a cardinal by his uncle, Calixtus III., and in 1492, on the death of Innocent VIII., was elevated to the papal chair, which he had previously secured by flagrant bribery. The long absence of the popes from Italy had weakened their authority and curtailed their revenues. To compensate for this loss, Alexander endeavoured to break the power of the Italian princes, and to appropriate their possessions for the benefit of his own family. He employed the most execrable means to gain this end. He died in 1503, most likely of fever, but according to popular tradition, through having accidentally partaken of poisoned wine, intended for ten cardinals, his guests. He apportioned the New World between Spain and Portugal; whilst under his pontificate the censorship of books was introduced, and Savonarola, the earnest and eloquent Florentine priest, who had advocated his deposition, was condemned to be burnt as a heretic. The researches of Von Reumont and Gregorovius have cleared his memory from some at least of the most odious charges; and there can be no question that many of the crimes ascribed to him were the direct or indirect work of Cæsar Borgia. See Creighton's History of the Papacy, vols. ii. and iii. (1887).