The March of Folly - Part 2

*Girolamo Savonarola, a Dominican Friar, was the voice of 'religious distress' and preached to many in Florence. His impulse came from revulsion at the corruption of the Church. His prophecy concerning reform and how it would follow a period of happiness and well-being for Christendom exerted a strong appeal and he became a popular speaker. He spoke with wrath upon the sins of the people and clergy. He proved to be a strong influence on those who listened.
He became politically dangerous and even ended up hailing Charles VIII as the "instrument of reform sent by the Lord of the Church."which made people perceive him a threat and he was brought to the attention of Alexander VI.

*Alexander only took action when Savonarola's denunciations became too much to ignore, he even called for a Council to remove the Pope on grounds of Simony. Alexander at first attempted to silence him and forbade him to preach. Savonarola had a negative view of the Pope so he refused and continued on with his work.  Eventually Alexander ordered Florentine authorities to silence the Dominican Friar and threatened them with the excommunicating of the whole city. Savonarola was eventually imprisoned, tortured, forced to make a confession of Heresy and hung. Public opinion at this time had obviously turned against him.

*It was around this time that the Pope had interest in conceiving marriage ties with the royal family of Naples. He anulled the marriage of his daughter to Giovanni Sforza in order for her to marry Alfonso, Neapolitan heir. Giovanni was outraged after denying the charge of 'non-consummation' and this led him to accuse the Pope of Incest (Which is interesting to note he is one individual who has accused the Pope of a crime/negative action). Tuchman then quotes:
"the tale aided the accretion of ever more lurid slanders that clustered around Alexander and gathered credibility from the vices of his son Cesare."

*In the year of Lucrezia's remarriage, Juan, Duke of Gandia and the Pope's second son (If you count Cesare being the eldest), was found stabbed to death in the Tiber. Juan was noted as having a long line of enemies, owing to papal property given to him by the Pope. No one was identified as the killer, but it was largely suspected that Cesare had done it. There was an array of reasons Cesare was suspected of murder, one reason being how Cesare felt his father favoured Juan more. However it is then quoted that: "In the bubbling stew of Rome's rumors, no depravity appeared beyond the scope of the Borgias (although historians have since absolved Cesare of the murder)."

*Alexander was deeply affected by Juan's death. He was afflicted with grief, remorse and sudden rare introspection.  The Pope later announced that "the blow he suffered was God's judgment upon him for the sins and that he resolved to amend his life and reform the church".

*In 1499, Louis XII, the new French King, returned, claiming the succession to Milan. Louis seeked annulment. Against public opinion, Alexander saw this as a way towards gold, riches and valuables. He also saw it as a window of advancement for Cesare, who had recently resigned his role as Cardinal. Alexander granted Louis' annulment and Cesare was soon able to marry.
This new alliance with France, to help advance Cesare, angered many including the rulers of Naples, Sforzas and even Spain. Alexander did not change course and continued with the partnership. The Pope was now creating himself enemies.

*Cesare eventually had a full military career with France and aimed to regain control of certain Papal States. The cost of his campaigns drained Papal revenues. He eventually instilled fear into people.
Lucrezia's husband Alfonso, was attacked by five men but escaped injured. He suspected Cesare and attempted to kill him with a bow and arrow, only to fatally miss and to be killed by Cesare's guard.
Two months later, the Pope and Cesare had a banquet in the Vatican, where dinner was served for many guests and as reported by Johann Burchard (Renaissance chronicler who recorded parts of Alexander's life) "fifty courtesans danced after dinner with his guests, at first clothed, then naked".

*Alexander's expenses emptied the treasury. In the last year of his life, Alexander had many hostilities. The Orsini were fighting Cesare and the Spanish were fighting the French. Churchmen who were concerned for the faith raised the issue of a council.
In August 1503 Alexander died age 73. Originally thought to be poison was in fact natural causes. The book then quotes "Public emotion, released as if the death of a monster, exploded in ghastly tales of a black and swollen corpse with tongue protruding from a foaming mouth, so horrible that no one would touch it".
Tuchman further quotes : "The impression of his (Burchard's) toneless diary of Alexander's papacy is of continuous violence, murders in churches, bodies in the Tiber, fighting of factions, tortures and executions, combined with scandal, frivolities and continuous ceremony".

Interestingly, she then says: " Certain revisionists have taken a fancy to the Borgia Pope and worked hard to rehabilitate him by intricate arguments that dispose of the charges against him as either exaggeration or forgeries or gossip of unexplained malice"

Obviously Tuchman withheld a negative view of Alexander. This is backed up by the quotes used throughout, along with the fact that she titles the chapter "Depravity: Alexander VI, 1492-1503". While the focus of her writing seems to concentrate on a biography of the Pope, her view on him can be clearly seen through further inspection. However, her view is one that is supported by strong evidence, accounts and information. This is why both her view and analysis of Alexander VI is crucial.