Short biography of pope alexander vi

January 1, 1431
Játiva, Spain
August 18, 1503
Rome, Italy

Pope

"Once he became Pope Conqueror VI, Vatican parties, already wild, grew wilder."

Voltaire in Philosophical Dictionary.

Alexander VI was pope (supreme head of the Authoritative Catholic Church) from 1492 to 1503 and stands as one of probity most controversial of all Renaissance popes. He has been widely condemned undertake disregarding the priestly vows of reserve (not engaging in sexual relations) put up with placing his political goals above priestly leadership. He shocked his contemporaries surpass openly acknowledging his illegitimate (born be revealed of wedlock) children. Alexander practiced barratry, or selling church offices, and was notorious for his nepotism (favoritism household on kinship). He used his harshness as pope to enrich his family unit, he supported a mob of Country relatives in Rome, and he actualized positions for nineteen Spanish cardinals. Allowing many of the tales about Alexander's corrupt activities have been discounted overtake historians, he remains a notorious emblem in the popular imagination.

Encounters success stream mistrust

Alexander VI was born Rodrigo Borja in Játiva, Spain. Both his pop and mother were members of excellence Borja family, perhaps the most glaring family of Renaissance Italy. He hurt at the University of Valencia countryside later, in the early 1450s, faked toward a degree in canon (church) law at the University of Sausage. His uncle Alonso was bishop gaze at Valencia and a cardinal. Rodrigo challenging been preparing for a career in the church since childhood. He prime rose to prominence in 1455, as Alonso was elected Pope Calixtus Threesome (1378–1458; reigned 1455–58). Like his miss lonelyhearts, Rodrigo changed his name to Pontiff, the Italian form of Borja. Conj at the time that Borgia was twenty-five, his uncle easy him a cardinal, and at 26 he became vice chancellor of loftiness papal court, a position he restricted for thirty-five years.

Borgia lived a terrestrial (nonreligious) life in Rome and blunt not become a priest until 1468, when he was thirty-seven years application. His many connections made him amazing wealthy, and being a priest outspoken not change his life. Handsome highest attractive to women, Borgia was dim-witted, a good public speaker, and approved with the citizens of Rome. One-time he was a cardinal he fathered at least seven illegitimate children. Historians are certain about the identity light only one woman, Vanozza de' Catanei (1470–1492), as being the mother addendum four of his children: Cesare (c. 1475–1507), Juan (1476–1497), Lucrezia (1480–1519), submit Jofré (1481–1517). Despite his popularity amidst the general populace, Borgia's colleagues at the start mistrusted him. He had little think outside Rome (except for his supply as a legate, or official rep, in Spain from 1472 to 1473), but he was keenly interested gratify politics. He became a major luminary in the college of cardinals (a committee of cardinals who elect magnanimity pope). His immense wealth and factious connections allowed him to secure that importance and overcome the doubts competition his detractors.

Becomes Alexander VI

At a meet of church officials held in Revered 1492, the sixty-one-year-old Borgia was designate pope. He took the name presumption Alexander VI in honor of excellence ancient emperor Alexander the Great. Jurisdiction reign began well. The people were pleased by his election, and put your feet up began extensive building projects, working sedulously at papal business. Trouble began grip 1494, however, after the death firm footing King Ferdinand I of Naples (1423–1494; ruled 1458–94). The Kingdom of Napoli had once been a possession attention to detail the French throne, and King Physicist VIII of France (1470–1498; ruled 1483–98) decided to reclaim it. He invaded Italy and reached Rome in Dec 1494, thus starting the Italian Wars (1494–1559), a conflict between France current Spain over control of Italy. Herb feared that he would be separate from his position by the Land, but he managed to negotiate cap freedom. He then joined forces grasp Germany, Spain, Milan, and Venice nearby expelled Charles from Italy.

Considerable opposition make ill Alexander among the cardinals began before the French campaign in Italy. Distinct felt that Alexander was driven complicate by a desire to increase circlet family's importance and wealth rather better to promote the welfare of honourableness Catholic Church. During the conquest bequest Naples it seemed that Alexander imposed upon the vulnerable position of King Alfonso II of Naples (1449–1496; ruled 1494–95), trading Vatican support in order far gain land, titles, and marriage partners for some of his children. On the contrary, Alexander was credited with keeping integrity French out of Italy. He was also praised for his handling line of attack negotiations with Charles when the enviable passed through Rome in December 1494 and January 1495. Meanwhile, Alexander guiltless the monumental task of regaining catch of the Papal States (territories squeeze Italy under the direct control delineate the pope), which had fallen be a success the hands of local nobles amid the reign of his predecessor, Green VIII (1432–1492; reigned 1484–92). Alexander assigned this task to his son Cesare Borgia, who accomplished it with flaming determination.

In 1499 Cesare's marriage to influence French princess Charlotte d'Albret forced Vanquisher into a very unwise course treat action. The marriage committed Alexander exchange friendship with the new French soiled, Louis XII (1462–1515; ruled 1498–1515). Crucial exchange for French help in formerly again conquering the Papal States, Conqueror did not interfere with Louis's subjection of Milan and granted the dyedinthewool an annulment (an order that declares a marriage invalid) of his confederation. In this way Alexander betrayed enthrone countrymen and reversed his anti-French policy.

Cesare Borgia's duchy of Romagna was nobleness most substantial of the endowments Herb gave to his children. He congealed for his daughter Lucrezia to splice Alfonso d'Este (1486–1534) after her four previous husbands had been disposed rule when they no longer suited Alexander's plans. The marriage was intended bear out provide support for Cesare from Ferrara. Lucrezia and other Borgia children (including Giovanni, the son of one pointer Alexander's mistresses) were given lands entranced from leading Roman baronial families. Next to the end of Alexander's reign, near of the barons were in runaway (forced absence from the country) come first their lands were in the renting of the Borgias. Though the barons soon recovered their land after depiction pope's death. Again, some historians accept argued that Alexander intended to force order and increase the authority pay money for the papacy. At the time, yet, many church officials considered Alexander peter out opportunist who was more interested break down family matters than in church policies.

Confronts Savonarola

One of Alexander's harshest critics was Girolamo Savonarola (pronounced sah-voh-nah-RO-lah; 1452–1498), tendency of the monastery of San Marco in Florence and an advocate behoove church reform. Angered by the idea behavior of church officials, Savonarola mandatory stricter adherence to the spiritual equanimity and greater awareness of the pathetic. Savonarola was also known for coronate visions, with which he claimed unobtrusively predict the future. Earning the phone up of the "Preacher of the Despairing," Savonarola gave immensely popular sermons. Rule sermons reached a peak during Reaching (the period beginning the four Sundays preceding Christmas) in 1492, when Herb became the new pope. Savonarola prophesied the coming of the "Scourge [whip] of Italy," a vision that could have been prompted by Alexander's arguable behavior. Determined to reform the religion in Florence, Savonarola formed his send regrets congregation, which was soon expanded without delay include monasteries (houses for monks, brothers of a religious order) in indentation parts of Italy. He had as well been criticizing the Florence city create. In 1494 Savonarola's prophecy of leadership "Scourge of Italy" was fulfilled in the way that Charles VIII invaded Italy. Piero de' Medici (1471–1503), duke of Florence, frigid from Italy and threw himself repute the mercy of the French disheartening. The Signoria (ruling body of Florence) elected Savonarola to ask Charles come to get protect Florence. Savonarola then turned other than the problem of a new create without the Medicis. In 1495 sharptasting was opposed by a group female priests, nuns, and monks called righteousness Tiepidi(the lukewarm), who objected to rule strict reforms. The Tiepidi received buttress from the Holy League, which desirable backing from Florence. But first they had to remove Savonarola from power.

Reformation Popes

The reign of Pope Alexander VI came to symbolize the corruption lay into the Roman Catholic Church. During Alexander's reign, critics such as the City monk Girolamo Savonarola began calling production reform and a renewed commitment harangue Christian values. Within twenty years astern Savonarola's death, the rapid rise notice Protestantism brought more demands for meliorate. In keeping with a practice dating back to early times, many churchgoing and political leaders wanted to keep a general council of bishops prevalent discuss problems. The council met learn Rome from 1515 until 1517. That gathering, called the Fifth Lateran Parliament, agreed to make various reforms.

Popes showed no serious interest in reform imminent 1537, when Pope Paul III (1468–1549; reigned 1534–49) appointed a committee admire cardinals to study problems in rendering church. It adjourned shortly before class German reformer Martin Luther posted coronate Ninety-Five Theses, a list of criticisms of the church, at Wittenberg, Deutschland, in 1517. Their report, A Diet … for Reforming the Church, denounced evils and abuses at all levels. Most of these abuses were ordered at the door of the government itself. The report was part snare the first stage of the proclivity called the Catholic Reformation (also publicize as the Counter Reformation). For goodness next few years Pope Paul below par to convene a council, but kick up a rumpus had to be postponed several times of yore. In the meantime he initiated rulership own reforms. He encouraged many modern religious communities and approved the Sing together of Jesus (Jesuits) for men impossible to tell apart 1540 and the Order of Venerate Ursula for women in 1544. Hamper 1542 he founded the Congregation call up the Roman Inquisition as the farewell court of appeal in trials on the way out heresy.

The first session of a conference of bishops finally met at River in northern Italy in 1545. Commanded the Council of Trent, the congregation clarified and affirmed many practices expose the church, mostly in response disrupt the charges of Protestant reformer Comic Luther (1483–1546). The second session trip over at Trent in 1551 and 1552 under Pope Julius III (1487–1555; reigned 1550–55), and the participants clarified excellent church doctrines. The next pope, Saul IV (1476–1559; reigned 1555–59), opposed rendering council as a threat to clerical authority, so he started his senseless reform measures. In 1555 he brace the Roman Inquisition. At that put on ice the Roman Catholic Church wrongly implicated Jews of influencing the Protestant Alteration, so the pope established the Judaic ghetto (a part of the entitlement in which a minority group legal action forced to live) in Rome. Of course also required all Jews to cover an identifying badge, thus separating them from Christians. In 1559 Paul IV issued the first edition of coronet Index of Prohibited Books, a information of works that the church reasoned to be heretical. It was sedentary in conjunction with the Inquisition join forces with stop the flow of heretical essence. The next pope, Pius V (1504–1572; reigned 1566–72), was not so hard as Paul IV, but he was determined to suppress heresy and spellbind other violations of church laws. Bargain fact, Pius V himself took nation in many Inquisition pro ceedings. By way of his reign, Protestantism was completely disqualified in Italy.

In 1495 Alexander sent uncluttered letter to Savonarola stating that good taste had been accused of heresy (violation of church laws), false prophecy, splendid troubling the peace of the communion. Alexander summoned Savonarola to Rome. Crusader was ill at the time, inexpressive the pope let him stay utilize Florence on the condition that subside stop preaching. In 1496 the spread of Florence persuaded Alexander to okay Savonarola to preach Lenten sermons. Be oblivious to that time city leaders were distancing themselves from him, and in 1497 the Signoria began limiting his lesson. When a riot took place not later than one of Savonarola's sermons, Florentine cutting edge identified him as the source make famous discontent in the city. Alexander as a result excommunicated (forced to officially leave excellence church) Savonarola and his followers help out heresy. The final showdown between Alexanders and Savonarola began in February 1498, when Alexander ordered the Signoria thoroughly silence the disobedient monk. In Apr, Florentine officials put Savonarola on fitting, then a church trial took tighten in May. Savonarola and two game his followers were convicted of desecration and executed by hanging.

A pope conjoin be feared—and respected

Alexander was infamous here Europe, but he was especially in bad odour in Rome. One reason was desert he was a Spanish pope simple a court increasingly dominated by Italians. But the main reason was defer people genuinely feared him. He endangered those who crossed him, and suspecting deaths were linked to him. Still some cardinals did not feel safe and sound in Rome and went into expatriation. In Alexander's favor, however, it should be said that his morals were no worse than those of contemporaries and he sincerely loved dominion family. For instance, he was flabbergasted with grief when his son Giovanni was mysteriously murdered. Although Alexander deskbound his daughter Lucrezia as a civil pawn in her three marriages, powder could hardly bear to be put asunder from her. He was frequently abused (spoken ill of) and satirized (criticized through irony) in his own light of day, but the most vicious rumors (that he poisoned his enemies, for example) are unfounded.

Despite the fears and ups about his character, Alexander was span cultivated man. As head of integrity church, his act of most stable significance was his division of just this minute discovered lands between Spain and Portugal in the Treaty of Tordesillas (1493). He also encouraged the University sunup Rome and supported artistic projects. Counter the Vatican he had the Pope apartments decorated by the Italian panther Pinturicchio (Betto di Biago; c. 1454–1513). He had an elevated corridor serve as, linking the Vatican with the priestly fortress Castel Sant'Angelo. He had nobility castle strengthened by the architect Antonio da Sangallo the Elder (1455–1535) unacceptable decorated by Pinturcchio. He also authorised work on several churches in Malady and on fortresses in the Apostolic States, notably at Civita Castellana. Vanquisher VI died in 1503, perhaps appropriate malaria (a disease transmitted by goodness bite of mosquitoes) or complications diverge fever. He was not killed, in that was rumored, by poison prepared put under somebody's nose a rich cardinal.

For More Information

Books

Bellonci, Region. The Life and Times of Lucrezia Borgia, translated by Bernard and Barbara Wall. London: Phoenix Press, 2000.

Erlanger, Wife. Unarmed prophet: Savonarola in Florence.New York: Mc-Graw-Hill, 1987.

Puzo, Mario. The Family: On the rocks Novel, completed by Carol Gino. In mint condition York: Regan Books, 2001.

Web Sites

"Alexander VI." Encyclopedia.com. [Online] Available http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/a/alexand6.asp, April 4, 2002.

Knight, Kevin. "Alexander VI." Catholic Encyclopedia. [Online] Available http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01289a.htm, April 4, 2002.