Cesare Borgia: from cardinal to mercenary, conqueror of Italy, and inspiration for Machiavelli’s The Prince. He lived fast, aimed high, and left a mark, until syphilis cut it short. History remembers the bold, even when fate has other plans. Follow for more stories of larger-than-life figures or repost if Borgia’s wild ride amazed you. #renaissancehistory #cesareborgia #historyfacts | Jeremy Ryan Slate

332K views · 2.1K reactions | Lucrezia Borgia was born on April 18,...

Lucrezia Borgia (1480–1519) was the daughter of Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) and a key figure in Italian Renaissance politics—far more complex than her scandalous legend suggests. Born in Rome, she was used as a diplomatic pawn in a series of strategic marriages: first to Giovanni Sforza of Pesaro, then to Alfonso of Aragon, and finally to Alfonso d’Este, heir to Ferrara. Rumors of poisoning, incest with her brother Cesare Borgia, and participation in murderous plots swirled around her, fu