The Borgias: Celebrated Crimes
1839
The Borgias: Celebrated Crimes
1839
Alexandre Dumas turns his novelist's eye toward history's most notorious dynasty, and the result is as scandalous as the Borgias themselves. This is not sober scholarship but sensational storytelling: Dumas gleefully dishes the rumors, poisonings, incest accusations, and political machinations that have made the Borgia name synonymous with Renaissance decadence. Beginning with a gripping deathbed scene - Lorenzo de' Medici confesses his moral failures as the ascetic Savonarola looms - the narrative sweeps through the papal conclave that elevates Roderigo Borgia to Pope Alexander VI and into the merciless ambitions of his children, Cesare and Lucrezia. Dumas writes with the same propulsive energy he brought to The Three Musketeers, transforming historical figures into characters from a dark fairy tale. The violence is vivid, the scandals unfiltered, and the moral universe entirely corrupt. Readers should approach with caution: Dumas cares more about a good story than accuracy, and the careful reader will recognize where drama overrides documentation. For those who want their history with poison, intrigue, and absolutely no moralizing.
About The Borgias: Celebrated Crimes
Chapter Summaries
- Prologue
- Lorenzo de' Medici lies dying, attended by three humanist scholars. Savonarola arrives to give last rites but demands Lorenzo restore Florence's liberty as a condition of absolution, which Lorenzo refuses.
- 1
- The conclave to elect a new pope after Innocent VIII's death. Roderigo Borgia bribes cardinals with promises of wealth and position, securing his election as Alexander VI through systematic corruption.
- 2
- A survey of the major European powers and Italian states circa 1492, establishing the complex political situation that Alexander VI must navigate to advance Borgia interests.
Key Themes
- Corruption of Religious Authority
- Alexander VI embodies the complete corruption of the papacy, using sacred office for personal gain and family advancement. His simony, nepotism, and immoral behavior represent the degradation of spiritual authority.
- Political Machiavellianism
- The work demonstrates Renaissance realpolitik where moral considerations are subordinated to political necessity. Characters manipulate, betray, and murder to achieve their goals, anticipating Machiavelli's principles.
- Divine Justice and Retribution
- Savonarola's prophecies and the subsequent French invasion suggest divine punishment for Italy's sins. The work presents a moral universe where corruption ultimately brings destruction.
Characters
- Alexander VI (Roderigo Borgia)(protagonist)
- Born Roderigo Lenzuolo in Valencia, he becomes Pope through bribery and simony. A master of political manipulation and hypocrisy, he seeks to establish temporal power for the papacy and advance his illegitimate children.
- Caesar Borgia(major)
- Alexander's ambitious and ruthless son, initially made a cardinal against his wishes. Skilled in warfare and intrigue, he embodies the motto 'Aut Caesar, aut nihil' (Caesar or nothing).
- Lucrezia Borgia(major)
- Alexander's daughter, described as having 'the head of a Raphael Madonna and the heart of a Messalina.' Used as a political pawn through multiple marriages while maintaining incestuous relationships.
- Lorenzo de' Medici (Lorenzo the Magnificent)(major)
- Dying ruler of Florence who refuses Savonarola's demand to restore republican liberty. His death marks the end of an era and the beginning of the Borgia ascendancy.
- Girolamo Savonarola(major)
- Dominican friar and reformer who prophesies divine judgment on Italy. He refuses to absolve Lorenzo unless he restores Florence's liberty, representing moral authority against political corruption.
- Charles VIII of France(major)
- Young French king who invades Italy to claim Naples. Physically deformed but ambitious, he becomes the instrument of divine judgment that Savonarola predicted.
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