Spain's Notorious House of Borgia Quiz

Answer: Aragon

The surname "Borja" comes from the town of Borja, which is in the province of Zaragoza (also the name of the capital of Aragon in present-day Spain) in the north-east of Spain. Aragon is now a province of Spain, as opposed to a kingdom.

Answer: Alfonso de Borgia

Pope Callixtus III was pope from 1455 until his death in 1458. He was made pope around 2 years after the fall of Constantinople at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. He was worried about the security of Christianity in Europe against invasions by the Turks.

He called Christians across Europe to establish a crusade, however the leaders of Europe were not enthusiastic to respond. The Hundred Years War had just ended, but resentment between England and France was still apparent. The Turks were eventually beaten at Belgrade by the Hungarian army, in 1456.

Answer: Siege of Belgrade

The Siege of Belgrade was a military blockade that took place in 1456. Constantinople had fell three years earlier in 1453. The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, or Mehmed the Conqueror made plans to conquer the Kingdom of Hungary. This blockade transformed into a battle, which the Hungarians eventually won.

However, this victory was not without a price. Plague spread throughout the camp and killed a leader of the Hungarians, John Hunyadi. Pope Callixtus III established the custom of ringing the church bells at noon, as a signal to Christians to pray for the defenders of Belgrade.

After the battle the custom was used as a commemoration of the military victory.

Answer: Rodrigo Borgia

Pope Alexander VI was pope from 1492 until he died in 1503. He was made a cardinal during the papacy of his uncle, Pope Callixtus III. Pope Alexander admitted to fathering several children via various women.

Answer: Vannozza dei Cattanei

Italian woman Vannozza dei Cattanei had the longest relationship with Pope Alexander VI. She had four children by him, at least openly. She outlived Pope Alexander VI by 15 years. She was given an extravagant funeral on the orders of Pope Leo X. This grand send off gave validity and acknowledgment as her partner of Pope Alexander VI.

Answer: Pier Luigi

Pier Luigi de Borgia was a child of Pope Alexander VI, but was born of an unknown woman - not the main woman in Pope Alexander VI's life. Pope Alexander VI and his main mistress, Vannozza dei Cattanei, also had a child named Gioffre. This Pope had sexual relations with many women according to a lot of accounts. However, not many of their names are known.

Answer: Giovanni Sforza

The daughter of Pope Alexander VI, Lucrezia Borgia married Giovanni Sforza in Rome, 1493. The Sforza Family were a powerful noble Italian family, who ruled Milan for almost 100 years. Giovanni Sforza was Lord of Pesaro, now a seaport in Italy on the Adriatic sea.

During his marriage to Lucrezia, Giovanni began to fear for his life. His father in law, Pope Alexander VI, became allies with Naples, while Milan allied with the French. He ran from Rome and was an enemy of the Borgia family. He later claimed that his ex-wife Lucrezia had had an incestuous relationship with her father, the Pope. The marriage was annulled under a questionable claim, that the marriage was never consummated.

Answer: Alfonso of Aragon

Lucrezia Borgia married Alfonso of Aragon was she 18, and he was 17. They had one child, Rodrigo of Aragon. Her brother Cesare is generally thought to be behind his murder in 1500. Pope Alexander VI was in the process of allying with France - enemies of Alfonso of Aragon and his family.

In 1500 Alfonso of Aragon was stabbed on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica. When this assassination attempt failed he was strangled in his bed later that year, while recovering from his wounds.

Answer: Alfonso I d'Este

Alfonso I d'Este was Duke of Ferrara during the War of the Holy League or War, also known as the League of Cambrai. Lucrezia had to leave her son behind in order to marry him, and she remained married to him until her death in 1519. Her son, Rodrigo of Aragon, died around aged 12 of an unspecified disease.

Answer: "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli

'The Prince' was published in 1532. The novel has been commented on repeatedly over the centuries, with some historians describing it as a ruthless instruction manual on how to propel oneself to power, by any sneaky, immoral and calculated means necessary.

Other historians argue that it is actually a satirical guide, with the intent of demonstrating how not to get into power. One thing historians agree on is that Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI, was the inspiration for the novel.

Answer: Gioffre

Gioffre Borgia was the youngest acknowledged son of Pope Alexander VI. Sancha was 16 when she married a 12 year old Gioffre. Alfonso II of Naples married his daughter to Pope Alexander VI's son, in return for the Pope recognising his claim to the throne of Naples as legitimate. He also sent a large dowry with Sancha. Almost as soon as the wedding was done, King Charles VIII of France invaded Italy, claiming the throne of Naples that Alfonso had been promised for himself. Alfonso fled and war broke out between Spain, Italy and France.

During this time the newlyweds Gioffre and Sancha lived in Rome. She was frequently unfaithful and pursued older men during their marriage. There were also reports that she slept with both of his older brothers, Cesare and Giovanni, which reportedly caused friction between the two older brothers. She was also the dominant one in her marriage, possibly due to Gioffre's young age.

Gioffre and Sancha are said to be the models for Renaissance artist Pinturicchio's work 'Disputation of St Catherine' where they are painted as a young couple in love, somewhat contrary to their real relationship.

Answer: Charlotte of Albret

Charlotte of Albret married Cesare Borgia at Blois, aged 19, in 1499. Their daughter Louise was born in 1500. Charlotte was the sister of King John III of Navarre, and daughter of powerful French aristocrat, Alain I of Albret. The marriage was political and had the aim of strengthening Cesare Borgia's power in France.

At the time of his marriage, Cesare Borgia had recently been made Duke of Valentinois by King Louis XII of France. Upon Cesare Borgia's death, Louise Borgia inherited the title of Duchess of Valentinois.

Answer: Giovanni

Giovanni Borgia was Cesare Borgia's brother, both sons of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei. He was murdered under mysterious circumstances in 1497. He was last seen alive in Rome, leaving a feast that Vannozza dei Cattanei had arranged in honour. The following morning, his horse came back to his family without him, with one of its stirrups cut. His body was found in the Tiber river, his throat cut and his body had around nine stab wounds.

Some sources hold Cesare responsible for the murder, as he was hoping to steal Giovanni's job as captain general of the papacy's military. Other rumours spread that Gioffre had had his brother Giovanni murdered, in revenge for his affair with his wife, Sancha of Aragon. His murder remains unsolved to this day.

Answer: To pursue a military career

The same day Cesare Borgia resigned from the cardinalate, King Louis XII of France declared Cesare Duke of Valentinois. Cesare would use his father's papal power, his marriage to Charlotte d'Albret and his alliance with France to amass armies, and conquering and ousting rulers from their lands. This included Giovanni Sforza, the first husband of his sister, Lucrezia.

Answer: Pope Innocent X

Pope Innocent X was head of the Catholic Church from 1644 until he died in 1655. He differed a lot from his Borgia ancestor, having many more philanthropic ideas as to what he could do with papal power. He was responsible for elevating what is now the University of Santo Tomás, which is in Manila, Philippines, to university status.

It is now the largest university in Manila. When Innocent X dying in 1655, his successor Pope Alexander VII promised him he would continue his vision of building schools throughout the world.