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→Background
====Background====
The family originated from Valencia in modern Spain, then in the Kingdom of Aragon. There have been claims that the family was of Jewish origin. The first prominent Borgia was Alfonse de Borja (1372-1458) who was a distinguished law professor who later worked in the Curia, (Papal bureaucracy) and became a cardinal. He eventually became Pope Calixtus II, at an advanced age, but he only reigned as Pope for less than three years.<ref> Fusero, Clemete. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006C2XJS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0006C2XJS&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=8123bc3802e591d04a50ddedad6c98bb The Borgias]</i>. (New York, Praeger Publishers, 1966), p. 67</ref> He did not achieve much as Pope apart from appointing his nephew to the Curia. Rodrigo Borgia (1451-1503) was a brilliant and charismatic man who was a gifted canon lawyer and able diplomat. He was made a cardinal and proved an able administrator. Rodrigo was elected Pope in 1492 and became Alexander VI. Like many other clerics, at the time, he had illicit relationships with women and he had four children with the beautiful Giula Farnese.
Pope Alexander was a loving father and did not hide his children from public view. Instead, he tried to arrange for their futures by marrying them to some of the most distinguished families in Europe. The family motto was ‘’Either a Caesar or nothing’’ and they lived up to this motto. They were ambitious and this was to make them very many enemies. Despite Alexander’s hopes, the family was soon embroiled in wars and feuds with the other leading families in Italy.<ref> Fusero, p. 112</ref> Cesare was probably the most capable and the most notorious family and he tried to influence the papacy, after the death of his father. However, after his attempts to elect a puppet, Pope failed he was forced to flee Italy and this was to make the end of the power of the Borgia’s in Italy.
The family is widely seen as evil and responsible for every crime and outrage. In truth, the Borgias were no better or worse than other leading Renaissance families and were certainly no worse than some of their rivals such as the Sforza’s in Milan. The ‘Borgia’ myth is still very powerful to this day. This is seen in the best-known female Borgia, Lucrezia, often portrayed as a vicious poisoner and schemer, but she was nothing like her image.<ref>Bradford, Sarah (2005). <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143035959/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143035959&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ee6c4851570d01145c43d4b07ae79e64 Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love and Death in Renaissance Italy]</i> (Reprint ed.). Penguin. pp. 67–68 </ref> The Borgia’s were widely condemned and vilified in Renaissance Italy because of their Spanish heritage. Many Italians hated the Borgias because they were outsiders and resented their role in the Papacy and Italy and this led to the creation of the ‘Borgia myth.’<ref> Bradford, p. 112</ref>
====Borgia Popes====
