Not Just the Tudors
Cesare Borgia
Jan 16, 2025
Catherine Fletcher, a Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University and author focusing on 16th-century Italy, dives into the life of the notorious Cesare Borgia. They explore his rise to power influenced by his father's papacy, his groundbreaking military strategies that involved mapping techniques from Leonardo da Vinci, and the myths surrounding events like the infamous Banquet of Chestnuts. Fletcher questions whether Borgia's ruthless reputation is rightly earned or a historical exaggeration, offering a fresh perspective on this complex Renaissance figure.
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Quick takeaways
- Cesare Borgia's reputation as a ruthless leader stems from his ambitious rise to power and complex military strategies during the Renaissance.
- The legacy of Cesare Borgia may be more a product of historical exaggeration and myth rather than his actual deeds and motivations.
Deep dives
Cesare Borgia: A Complex Figure of the Renaissance
Cesare Borgia is often remembered as a ruthless and ambitious leader whose life was marked by power plays, betrayal, and controversy. His rise to power began after his father, Rodrigo Borgia, became Pope Alexander VI, using the papacy to secure advantageous positions for his family. Cesare's ruthless reputation, including alleged involvement in the murder of his brother, fed into the perception of him as a prototype for Machiavellian politics, where cunning and unscrupulous behavior are celebrated. However, much of his villainy may have been exaggerated by his enemies and later historians, indicating a complex legacy tinged with myth.
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