Rodrigo Borgia - Pope who was called "a misfortune for the church"

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

At different times, humility and morality were considered the main tenets of the Catholic Church. However, history knows a lot of facts when these very canons were completely not observed at the highest spiritual level. But the most depraved and bloodthirsty Pope is called Alexander VI (in the world of Rodrigo Borgia). He is known throughout history as "Satan's apothecary."

Rodrigo Borgia came from the aristocratic Spanish dynasty of Borja (Italian transcription "Borgia"). He received an excellent education for that time: Rodrigo studied at the University of Bologna (jurisprudence), then achieved success in military affairs, but after his uncle's accession to the papal throne, Borgia turned his attention to religion.

The energetic and enterprising Borgia managed to become a cardinal at the age of 25. Of course, everyone understood that at such a young age it was possible to do this only thanks to the patronage of His Holiness. Many of the Pope's entourage did not like the actions of the newly-made cardinal, because he entered into dubious deals with Jews and Moors for his own enrichment, but he did not particularly care. On August 26, 1492, the papal tiara was placed on the head of Rodrigo Borgia and crowned under the name of Alexander VI. The period of this Pope's reign was later called "Misfortune for the Church."

Alexander VI did not burden himself with a vow of abstinence. Moreover, he was accused of rampant debauchery. It was said that even before he was ordained, he constantly seduced elderly women, and then their daughters. Some historians suggest that Rodrigo Borgia's daughter Lucrezia entered into an intimate relationship with him. She not only slept in the papal chambers, but literally lived there. Moreover, Lucretia behaved impermissibly uninhibited. She actively intervened in matters of state importance and even gave orders on behalf of the Pope.

Alexander VI trusted his daughter so much that he granted her governorship over two cities - Spoletto and Foligno. It is worth noting that only cardinals were allowed to have such a position. However, Lucretia was the real daughter of her father. With a brilliant mind and excellent grip, she brought order to the lands entrusted to her.

Rodrigo Borgia himself used power for his own enrichment. He liked to invite aristocrats and high dignitaries to meetings (agapas). Many did not live to see the end of the events, and their fortunes passed into the possession of the church.

The most common cause of death was poisoning. For his love of poisons, the Pope was nicknamed "Satan's pharmacist." The chemists who "worked" for Alexander VI created the most sophisticated poisons. By the way, the pontiff himself became a victim of his own potion.

In 1503, the Pope went to lunch in a country villa with his cardinals. After drinking a glass of wine, almost everyone felt bad. Alexander VI died on 18 August. Most likely, he mixed up the glasses and drank the poison intended for another. The pontiff's corpse swelled up extremely quickly in the sun, which indicated that the poison was very strong.

They hated Alexander VI so much that they decided not to bury him in St. Peter's Cathedral, and the new Pope Pius III forbade him to hold funeral services for the deceased. It is believed that such a disdainful attitude towards Catholic canons and the egregious behavior of Alexander VI undermined the authority of the institution of the papacy and brought the Reformation closer.

There are many dark spots in the history of the papacy. One of the greatest legends of the Middle Ages, which has not yet been solved, is considered running the Catholic Church by a woman.