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Cesare Borgia
A biography of the fifteenth-century Italian political and military figure described by Machiavelli in "The Prince."
84 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1969
About the author
E.R. Chamberlin
41 books30 followersEric Russell Chamberlin (1926-2006)
Historian and author. Chamberlin was the author of numerous popular history books ranging from ancient Rome to twentieth-century Britain. Although he was born in Jamaica, he returned to England with his father during the Great Depression. Chamberlin dropped out of school when he was fourteen and became an apprentice leather dresser.
When he was old enough, he eagerly left this work behind to enlist in the Royal Navy in 1944. He served in the military until 1947 and then found work at the Norwich Public Library. It was here that his real education began, and Chamberlin took advantage of his vocation by reading history texts avidly. He later also worked at the Holborn Public Library and then for the book division at Readers’ Digest.
His first book, The Count of Virtue: Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, was released in 1965. This would be followed by thirty more books over the next three decades. Among these are The Bad Popes (1969), The Sack of Rome (1979), The Nineteenth Century (1983), The Emperor, Charlemagne (1986), and The Tower of London: An Illustrated History (1989). Also active in historical preservation projects, Chamberlin helped rescue the Guildford Institute building from destruction in 1982 and had a monument to Admiral Horatio Nelson constructed on Mt. Etna in Italy.
For the former endeavor, Chamberlin was recognized with an honorary degree from the University of Surrey in 1982.
Historian and author. Chamberlin was the author of numerous popular history books ranging from ancient Rome to twentieth-century Britain. Although he was born in Jamaica, he returned to England with his father during the Great Depression. Chamberlin dropped out of school when he was fourteen and became an apprentice leather dresser.
When he was old enough, he eagerly left this work behind to enlist in the Royal Navy in 1944. He served in the military until 1947 and then found work at the Norwich Public Library. It was here that his real education began, and Chamberlin took advantage of his vocation by reading history texts avidly. He later also worked at the Holborn Public Library and then for the book division at Readers’ Digest.
His first book, The Count of Virtue: Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, was released in 1965. This would be followed by thirty more books over the next three decades. Among these are The Bad Popes (1969), The Sack of Rome (1979), The Nineteenth Century (1983), The Emperor, Charlemagne (1986), and The Tower of London: An Illustrated History (1989). Also active in historical preservation projects, Chamberlin helped rescue the Guildford Institute building from destruction in 1982 and had a monument to Admiral Horatio Nelson constructed on Mt. Etna in Italy.
For the former endeavor, Chamberlin was recognized with an honorary degree from the University of Surrey in 1982.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 14, 2014
Interesting this short history of the Borgia of whom I had vague and stereotypical knowledge: poisonous,criminal, fratricide, incestuous were attributes I applied to all of them. It seems however that in a century used to all sort of crimes it was Cesare Borgia who created this legend. Second son of the pope Alexander VI, he was not loved by his father, who preferred his brother Juan, destined to inherit his fortune, whereas Cesare was forced to enter the Church, despite his warrior aptitudes.
But Juan was murdered in circumstances that remained unclear - although there is a strong suspicion his brother was somehow implicated in his death - and Cesare quit the church to enter a glorious military career that would display his fascinating villain image, a mixture of great qualities and unspeakable cruelty that made him the main material for Machiavelli's prince. He murdered his brother-in-law whom Lucrezia loved, even though he had affection for his sister, he broke his promises, betrayed and murdered his friends, he had no mercy whatsoever for the leaders of the cities he conquered ("The better the prince, the more certain his death."), he was feared in the end even by his father.
He will be defeated, ironically, by his own body - during the same illness that killed his father, while he struggled between life and death, his army and allies deserted him and the new pope, an old enemy, took his fortunes. He will die in battle, while besieging a citadel, his body cut in nine pieces. Machiavelli wrote: "He merited the most miserable death. He was a man devoid of pity, a rebel against Christ, a poison-breathing hydra."
It was a surprise for me to learn that Lucrezia was a quiet and harmless character, who died rather young, after a life dedicated to culture and in the last years to religion.
Overall, an informative reading.
But Juan was murdered in circumstances that remained unclear - although there is a strong suspicion his brother was somehow implicated in his death - and Cesare quit the church to enter a glorious military career that would display his fascinating villain image, a mixture of great qualities and unspeakable cruelty that made him the main material for Machiavelli's prince. He murdered his brother-in-law whom Lucrezia loved, even though he had affection for his sister, he broke his promises, betrayed and murdered his friends, he had no mercy whatsoever for the leaders of the cities he conquered ("The better the prince, the more certain his death."), he was feared in the end even by his father.
He will be defeated, ironically, by his own body - during the same illness that killed his father, while he struggled between life and death, his army and allies deserted him and the new pope, an old enemy, took his fortunes. He will die in battle, while besieging a citadel, his body cut in nine pieces. Machiavelli wrote: "He merited the most miserable death. He was a man devoid of pity, a rebel against Christ, a poison-breathing hydra."
It was a surprise for me to learn that Lucrezia was a quiet and harmless character, who died rather young, after a life dedicated to culture and in the last years to religion.
Overall, an informative reading.
Displaying 1 of 1 review