[Lucretia Borgia by Ferdinand Gregorovius]@TWC D-Link bookLucretia Borgia CHAPTER VI 1/15
HER FATHER BECOMES POPE--GIOVANNI SFORZA On July 25, 1492, occurred the event to which the Borgias had long eagerly looked forward, the death of Innocent VIII.
Above all the other candidates for the Papacy were four cardinals: Rafael Riario and Giuliano della Rovere--both powerful nephews of Sixtus IV--Ascanio Sforza, and Rodrigo Borgia. Before the election was decided there were days of feverish expectation for the cardinal's family.
Of his children only Lucretia and Giuffre were in Rome at the time, and both were living with Madonna Adriana. Vannozza was occupying her own house with her husband, Canale, who for some time had held the office of secretary of the penitentiary court. She was now fifty years old, and there was but one event to which she looked forward, and upon it depended the gratification of her greatest wish; namely, to see her children's father ascend the papal throne.
What prayers and vows she and Madonna Adriana, Lucretia, and Giulia Farnese must have made to the saints for the fulfilment of that wish! Early on the morning of August 11th breathless messengers brought these women the news from the Vatican--Rodrigo Borgia had won the great prize. To him, the highest bidder, the papacy had been sold.
In the election, Cardinal Ascanio Sforza had turned the scale, and for his reward he received the city of Nepi; the office of vice-chancellor, and the Borgia palace, which ever since has borne the name Sforza-Cesarini. [Illustration: ALEXANDER VI. From an engraving published in 1580.] On the morning of this momentous day, when Alexander VI was carried from the conclave hall to S.Peter's there to receive the first expressions of homage, his joyful glance discovered many of his kinsmen in the dense crowd, for thither they had hastened to celebrate his great triumph.
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