[Lucretia Borgia by Ferdinand Gregorovius]@TWC D-Link book
Lucretia Borgia

CHAPTER XIV
13/19

Beneimbene records none of his personal experiences, but his protocol-book is still preserved in the archives of the notary of the Capitol.
Adriano Castelli of Corneto, a highly cultivated humanist, and privy-secretary to Alexander, who subsequently made him a cardinal, was very close to the Borgias.

As the Pope's secretary he must have frequently come in contact with Lucretia.

Among her intimate acquaintances were also the famous Latinist, Cortesi; the youthful Sardoleto, the familiar of Cardinal Cibo; young Aldo Manuzio; the intellectual brothers Rafael and Mario Maffei of Volterra; and Egidio of Viterbo, who subsequently became famous as a pulpit orator and was made a cardinal.

The last maintained his connection with Lucretia while she was Duchess of Ferrara.

He exercised a deep influence upon the religious turn which her nature took during this the second period of her life.
The youthful Duchess of Biselli certainly enjoyed the lively society of the cultured and gallant ecclesiastics about her--Cardinals Medici, Riario, Orsini, Cesarini, and Farnese--not to mention the Borgias and the Spanish prelates.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books