Pope Alexander VI (Italian: Alessandro VI; Valencian: Alexandre VI; Spanish: Alejandro VI), born Roderic Llançol i de Borja around 1431 and later known as Rodrigo Borgia, served as pope from 1492 until his death in 1503. He was both head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States during the height of the Renaissance.
Born in Xàtiva, in the Kingdom of Valencia under the Crown of Aragon, Rodrigo came from the influential Borja (Borgia) family. He adopted his mother’s surname after the election of his uncle, Alonso de Borja, as Pope Callixtus III in 1455. Rodrigo studied law at the University of Bologna, earning a reputation as an outstanding jurist.
His uncle’s papacy accelerated his rise. Ordained deacon and made a cardinal in 1456, Rodrigo was appointed vice-chancellor of the Catholic Church a year later—a powerful and lucrative post he held for 35 years, serving under four popes. During this time, he amassed considerable wealth and influence within the Roman Curia.
In 1492, Rodrigo was elected pope and took the name Alexander VI. His pontificate was marked by assertive diplomacy, family advancement, and controversy. In 1493, his papal bulls—most notably Inter caetera—confirmed Spanish claims to newly discovered lands in the Americas following Christopher Columbus’s voyages, laying groundwork for the Treaty of Tordesillas.
Alexander VI pursued a foreign policy aimed largely at strengthening the position of his family. He supported his son Cesare Borgia as a military commander (condottiero), particularly during the Italian wars, and used papal authority to secure titles, lands, and advantageous marriages for his children.
He remains one of the most controversial Renaissance popes. Unlike many predecessors, Alexander openly acknowledged several children born to his mistresses, including Cesare, Giovanni, Lucrezia, and Gioffre. As a result, the name Borgia became synonymous with nepotism, political ambition, and moral excess, traits often associated—fairly or not—with his reign.
Despite scandal and opposition from reformers such as Girolamo Savonarola, Alexander VI proved to be an effective administrator who strengthened papal control over the Papal States and navigated the volatile politics of Renaissance Italy. He died in 1503, leaving behind a legacy that continues to fascinate historians for its blend of power, corruption, and statecraft.











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