The Borgias - Chapter 7

The summer of 1503 descended upon Rome like a suffocating blanket, bringing with it not just sweltering heat but also an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. Pope Alexander VI lay delirious in his bed, his robust frame ravaged by a mysterious illness. Beside him, Cesare Borgia, once the epitome of Renaissance vigor, now struggled with the same malady, his face flushed with fever and his legendary energy sapped.

On August 18, as the bells of St. Peter's tolled the evening Angelus, Alexander VI breathed his last. The news spread through Rome like wildfire, and within hours, the streets were alive with a mixture of mourning and jubilation.

The death of a pope set in motion a complex series of rituals. Alexander's body, already beginning to bloat in the August heat, was dressed in full papal regalia and displayed in St. Peter's Basilica. The Roman summer and the nature of his illness conspired to accelerate decomposition, and the sight and smell of the corpse horrified those who came to pay their respects. Rumors swirled that the pope's blackened, swollen appearance was evidence of a diabolical pact come due.

Cesare, still gravely ill, rallied his forces to secure the Vatican and the Castel Sant'Angelo. He knew that the period between a pope's death and the election of his successor was fraught with danger and opportunity. Using a mixture of bribes, threats, and promises, he sought to influence the upcoming conclave. He dispatched agents to key cardinals, offering support in exchange for favorable treatment of Borgia interests.

However, Cesare's efforts were hampered by his illness and the rapid disintegration of Borgia power. The Spanish cardinals, once firmly in the Borgia camp, now looked to their own interests. The French, sensing the shifting winds, began to distance themselves from their former ally.

On September 22, the cardinals elected Francesco Todeschini-Piccolomini as Pope Pius III. Piccolomini, the nephew of Pope Pius II, was 64 years old and in poor health. He was chosen as a compromise candidate, acceptable to both the pro-French and pro-Spanish factions within the College of Cardinals. His age and infirmity made him attractive to ambitious cardinals who hoped for another conclave soon, where they might have a chance at the papal throne themselves.

Cesare, seeing his hopes for a friendly pope dashed, turned his attention to salvaging what he could of his domains in the Romagna. But fate had other plans. As he prepared to leave Rome, he was betrayed by Giuliano della Rovere, who had promised support in exchange for Cesare's backing in the next conclave. Della Rovere, seeing an opportunity to eliminate his old enemy, conspired with the new pope's allies to have Cesare arrested.

The once-mighty Borgia scion found himself imprisoned in the Castel Sant'Angelo, the same fortress where he had once held his enemies. His cell, though not as harsh as those reserved for common criminals, was vastly different from the luxurious apartments he was accustomed to. The stone walls dripped with dampness, and the only light came from a small, barred window high above. Cesare, used to commanding armies, now found his world reduced to a few square feet.

Meanwhile, in Ferrara, Lucrezia Borgia received the news of her father's death and her brother's downfall with stoic grace. Though safe in her position as Duchess of Ferrara, she knew that the Borgia name had become a liability. In the coming months, she would work tirelessly to reinvent herself, distancing her new family from the scandals of her past. She threw herself into patronage of the arts and charitable works, cultivating an image of piety and refined nobility that was far removed from the salacious rumors that had dogged her in Rome.

But even as the Borgia star seemed to have fallen, Cesare was not yet ready to admit defeat. From his prison cell, he began to plot and scheme, reaching out to old allies and making new ones. He used the few loyal servants allowed to attend him as messengers, sending coded letters to potential supporters.

On October 18, barely a month after his election, Pius III died. Once again, Rome was plunged into the intrigue of a papal conclave. Cesare, still imprisoned but ever the strategist, saw a glimmer of hope. Through his most trusted agent, Micheletto Corella, he reached out to his old enemy, Cardinal della Rovere. Cesare offered not just his own support in the conclave, but also promised to leverage his remaining influence with the Spanish cardinals. In return, he demanded his freedom, the restoration of his titles, and support for his claims in Romagna.

Della Rovere, a consummate politician, listened to Cesare's offer with interest. He knew that with Borgia support, his path to the papal throne would be all but assured. Yet he also knew the danger of dealing with the man once known as the "Prince of Foxes."

As night fell over Rome on October 31, 1503, the stage was set for a dramatic reversal of fortune. Would Cesare's gambit pay off, allowing him to rise phoenix-like from the ashes of his family's downfall? Or would this be his final, desperate throw of the dice, leading to his ultimate destruction?

In the depths of the Castel Sant'Angelo, Cesare paced his cell, the narrow confines a far cry from the vast territories he once commanded. The high, barred window offered only a sliver of sky, taunting him with the freedom just beyond his reach. Yet even here, in the gloom of his prison, Cesare's mind raced with schemes and possibilities. He could not see the Vatican from his cell, but in his mind's eye, he could picture the conclave gathering, the cardinals assembling to choose the next pope. A faint smile played on his lips. The game was not over yet.

As the night deepened and the sounds of the city faded, Cesare settled onto his pallet, his eyes fixed on that small patch of star-studded sky. Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the stone corridors. Keys rattled, and the heavy iron door of his cell creaked open. A hooded figure stood in the doorway; face hidden in shadow.

"Duke Valentino," a familiar voice whispered, using Cesare's French title. "Your fate – and the fate of Rome – hangs in the balance. Are you prepared to make a deal with the devil himself?"

Cesare rose, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and exhilaration. The moment he had been waiting for had arrived. But who stood before him? Friend or foe? Savior or executioner? And what price would he have to pay for his freedom – and his ambition?

[Don't miss our final installment next week as we unveil the stunning conclusion to the Borgia saga! Will Cesare reclaim his power or meet a tragic end? And how will the fallout reshape the face of Renaissance Italy? The fate of empires hangs in the balance!]