Cesare Borgia

Cesare Borgia was born in Rome in 1475, the son of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, and was pushed toward the church from childhood. He was made a bishop and then a cardinal while still in his teens, but he had no taste for the ecclesiastical life.

When his father became Pope Alexander VI in 1492, Cesare surrendered the cardinal's hat and took up arms. With papal money and French support he campaigned through the Romagna, taking one town after another and appointing a lieutenant, Leonardo da Vinci, as his military engineer. Machiavelli observed him during these years and made him the model for the prince who relies on his own arms.

His fortunes were tied to his father, and when Alexander died in 1503 the new pope turned against him. He was arrested, escaped, and died in 1507 fighting in Spain for his brother-in-law, his state already dissolved.

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