The Borgias and Their Enemies, 1431-1519

by Christopher Hibbert

Book Overview

This colorful history of a powerful family brings the world they lived in--the glittering Rome of the Italian Renaissance--to life and is simply unputdownable (New York Times Book Review).

The name Borgia is synonymous with the corruption, nepotism, and greed that were rife in Renaissance Italy. The powerful, voracious Rodrigo Borgia, better known to history as Pope Alexander VI, was the central figure of the dynasty. Two of...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0547247818
• ISBN13: 9780547247816
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Good.

Perhaps not one of Hibbert's best books, this is nevertheless well-written and informative. Those popes of the Renaissance certainly make for interesting reading, and the politics, conflicts and personalities of the age are brought lucidly to life.

The Borgias and their enemies

It was a good, concise history of the times and the family. It provided good references with which to continue my study. Well written, easy to follow despite the incredible cast of characters.

16th Century Family Values

The Borgias are one of the fun families of the Renaissance. While probably not as bad as suggested in the original material, there is sufficient smoke to suggest some fire was going on at the Papal Palace. While the family produced two popes Calixstus III and Alexander VI, this book mainly focuses on the later as its central force. What we have is the unique situation of a pope with a family (highly irregular considering he was supposed to be celibate) whose interests he is all too eager to promote. This he did by playing off the powers of Naples, Milan, and France off against each other in order to get the best deal possible, sometimes with mixed results. Were this happening in the 21st century, one can imagine the premise for a good situation comedy or at least a bad nighttime soap opera (which it was in the 1980s). The family consists of Pope Alexander VI, his son Cesare, his daughter Lucrezia, Juan, the favorite son. There is also Gulia Farnese, who managed to secure an appointment for her brother to be a cardinal because she happened to be the pope's "main squeeze," although that is another story involving yet another dynastic family in Renaissance Italy. During his somewhat short reign as pope (1492-1503) Alexander VI employed every delightfully despicable feature of Renaissance diplomacy to advance the fate of his family. The Borgias probably were unique in the history of the world to feature a relatively high body count at family reunions. Unlike the Medici, the Farnese, the Doria Pamphilior the Della Rovere, the Alexander's family did not stay long as high flying players in the game that was Italian 16th century power politics. While Machiavelli speaks glowingly of Cesare in `The Prince," he clearly did not have the abilities to sustain his family's standing once his father died. This is a feature of dynastic politics as the American electorate can well appreciate given recent events, the subsequent generations of a dynasty lack the edge and ability of the founder. Upon the death of his father Cesare proved to be too cleaver by half (a mistake Alexander VI never would have done) by throwing the family's support in College of Cardinals to Giuliano Della Rovere (later Pope Julius II). Rather than attempt to further the ambitions of the Borgias, Julius typically moved to squash them. Julius II (my favorite pope, just as Cardinal Richelieu is my favorite cardinal) was the patron of Raphael, Bramante, and, most famously, Michelangelo was nobody's fool. Although subsequent generations of Borgias managed to find places in aristocratic and ecclesiastical spheres in France and Spain, the family was never to be what it was when Alexander VI was alive. Julius even when out of power was always a dangerous foe. Christopher Hibbert is the author of numerous books dealing with British and Italian historical and biographical subjects. While this book does not add any new understanding of the Borgia family, it is a wonderful synthesis of the availa

GOOD INTRODUCTORY BOOK

I read this book and I consider the best introductory book abotu the matter I can find. It gives you a detailed description about how the Borgia family became one of the most strongest families in medieval Europe. I certainly recommend it to everyone as an introductory book, if you want to get deeper information, get another book, if you just want get information about Cesare Borgia, get another book.... THIS IS AN INTRODUCTORY BOOK, THE BEST I FOUND SO FAR...

Did Martin Luther Know All This?

For the general reader, Italian history is difficult. British history, like American history, is about one country tied by one language. While these histories have religious and political strife they are very unlike the situation where city states and a religious superstructure vie for power. The many narratives and subnarratives, inclusive of the monumental art created at this time, make it hard for the general reader. A focused work like this is most appreciated. I particularly liked that Hibbert brings us to Rodrigo Borgia within 10 pages. (I put down Perfect Hostage: A Life of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's Prisoner of Conscience because she was not yet born after the first 70 pages.) Another quality I liked was that the quotes from primary souces are translated using modern English. The content is striking. It's hard not to marvel at how bad the Borgias were and how much they got away with. The Borgia Pope, Alexander VI, is 2 popes away from the Medici heir whose reign will have to deal with Martin Luther and his theses. It is clear that the Protestant movement was not the result of (only) Leo X, but found its roots in the extreme corruption, violence and perversion of faith in the Borgia period. Another thing that is striking is the serenity and virtue ascribed to Lucretia, who seems to be unaware of the murderous qualities of her family, particularly Cesare. How can this child, most likely a product of incest by father and brother, twice a widow (once perhaps at the hand of her brother) and married off against her will and later a mother who burried children be the accepting, spirited and gracious person history records? Perhaps a forensic psychologist will someday read the records and explain Lucretia's true essence. She "takes to her bed" many times in stress, perhaps this is a clue. The common people were vulnerable to terrorism from within and without. I exect most of the victims, who lost if not their life - their lives, in the wars and plots knew little of why their towns were being attacked. Whole towns, of presumably Christian people, were killed, maimed, raped and/or looted by the army of the Pope. I highly recommend this book for the general reader. The material is interesting and well presented.

Well Written History of the Borgias

The Borgias were a major family throughout much of the Renaissance, creating a reputation for greed, cruelty, murder, and political scheming that has lasted into today. This well-researched, and throughly engrossing, book focuses on Rodrigo Borgia, also better known as Pope Alexander VI, and two of his seven children; Lucrezia, who overcame rumors of incest to become a major patron of the arts in Ferrara, and Cesare, who served as the model for Machiavelli's "The Prince." It is this family, more than any other, that serves as the example of Machiavellian politics, and Hibbert shows you why. Hibbert's previous books include "The House of Medici: Its Rise and Fall," and "Rome: The Biography of a City." While staying within the same general historical time, "The Borgias and Their Enemies" give plenty of new information that history readers will enjoy, and doesn't retread his previous books.