Rise and Fall of the Borgias

by William Landon

Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins
Since its rise to the highest ranks of power in Renaissance Europe, the Borgia family has developed a scandalous reputation. While they were indeed ostentatious, calculating, worldly, cruel—and even, occasionally, murderous—listeners may be surprised to find that the Borgias were not terribly different from other powerful and ambitious families of their day. So why has history set them apart as one of the most corrupt and reviled families in history?

In the Rise and Fall of the Borgias, listeners will spend 10 revealing lectures untangling the web of rumors, speculation, and historical embellishment from what is actually known about the infamous Roman family. With Dr. William Landon, listeners will explore the historical context that helped the Borgias make their fortune and better understand how they could be both magnanimous and ruthless, pious and morally suspect.

The story of the Borgias is rich with intrigue, even without the fictional enhancement it has received from the numerous films, novels, and television shows that have been created based on the family’s notoriety. Dr. Landon introduces listeners to the major players and lays bare their machinations to reach the highest offices of church and state. Were their exploits as salacious as listeners have been led to believe? Did they manipulate the papacy for their own gain? Are the rumors of incest, bribery, political assassinations, and other morally questionable behaviors true or the stuff of historical gossip?

As listeners explore these and other rumors surrounding the Borgias, they will pull back the curtain on the historian’s craft and see how the story of this Renaissance dynasty has been shaped over time and how new research and a healthy dose of skepticism has allowed us to get a little closer to the truth—without losing any of the drama.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Biography, Italy, Historical, Renaissance

5 pages, Audible Audio

Published November 19, 2019

Reviews

[Lois · Rating 1 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this.
Its well written, well sourced, interesting and engaging.
I've done a fair bit of research on this period and this author gets it right in very important ways.
The author is clearly a fan of The Borgia family but I think this still offers a balanced look at the infamous family.
The low rating is simply because of the authors framing of the Treaty of Tordesillas. He makes the case that balancing the powers of Castile & Aragon against those of Portugal and perpetual war is the main reason that Rodrigo Borgia, as Pope Alexander VI, gave church sanction to the genocide and wholesale slaughter of the Indigenous Peoples of the America's.
Imagine if the pope had instead demanded that the inhabitants of the new world be accepted as equal in stature to Castilian Christians.
Also this author neglects to mention that Portugal & Castile begin what develops into the Transatlantic Slave Trade in about 1450 for Portugal and 1470 for Isabel.
Alexander VI ignores these horrible crimes against humanity and in fact encourages them for love of gold.
It's mentioned that the first European painting featuring an Indigenous Person of America was created during Pope Alexander VI's court in Rome. What isn't mentioned is that the individual in the painting was brought back to Europe as a slave, literally stolen by Columbus and his henchmen.
I don't like when historians do this.
When discussing history you gotta be willing to look at what happened from more than the point of view of the subject of the biography.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Attempt to Strip Away the Sordid Myths and Examine This Notorious Family in their Historical Context
This is a fairly short audiobook series of lectures that attempt to strip away all the sordid and salacious tales of debauchery, murder, incest, orgies, corruption, scheming, duplicity, and general abuse of power that the Borgias are infamous for. Since I had never studied up on them, this was my first exposure to the details of the most (in)famous of them, Rodrigo Borgia (who became Pope Alexander VI, who was both a brilliant stateman, ruthless politician, and insatiable indulger in carnal pleasures; his bloodthirsty son Cesare Borgia, most vicious of all the Borgias, and Lucrezia Borgia, the daughter and sister who was rumored to be as ruthless as her male counterparts and also had incestuous relations with them (portrayed in a plethora of books, films, and dramas), but which Mr. Landon seeks to dismiss as baseless gossip arising from the Borgia's many, many enemies and rivals (often with good cause, granted).

He is quick to admit that even discounting many of the most outrageous stories and accusations, the Borgias where certainly a ruthless, cruel, and manipulative bunch, but that they were not so vastly different from their contemporaries, only more obvious and ostentatious in their extravagances, which may well have produced so many detractors and defamers. So while it is not an apologia as such, it certainly is the author's mission to put their behavior in historical context.

This was a good intro to the subject, though perhaps lacking in depth, so ideal for someone with casual interest who can go on to delve further into the Borgias and their historical period of great change and violence and creativity.

[Sherrie Gossett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike many books on history — that contain long, concentrated lists of dates and names — this chronicle of one of Italy's most notorious and misrepresented dynastic families is well-suited to the audio format.

If you're looking for a recap on the story of the Borgias you'll be pleased with this production. William Landon plays an even hand, underscoring that many of the traditional calumnies heaped upon the Borgias originated from those who were envious of the family, hated Catalans, or sought revenge for real or perceived injustices handed down by Rodrigo or Cesare Borgia.

Landon interprets the lives of the Borgias — including their nepotism and pursuit of power — in the context of the age. But he brings a contemporary sensibility to his treatment of the cultured and talented Lucrezia, who was used as a strategic pawn by both her father and brother.

Landon brings to life the main personalities. For example, Rodrigo is handsome, intelligent, has a sanguine temperament, and is adored by women. Once he becomes pope, he doesn't bother to hide his pursuit of mistresses, bringing them right into the daily affairs of the Vatican.

Rodrigo's commitment to, and skill in, maintaining a peaceful balance of power between France, Spain, Portugal, and the various regions of the Italian peninsula stands out.

For all of their excesses, you'll come away with a renewed appreciation for Rodrigo's gifts in statesmanship which his son Cesare shared to some degree. But you'll also be reminded of how the stage was being set for the Reformation.

[Melindam · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5⭐

[Stephanie (Bookfever) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very concise and adequate rundown of the rise and fall of the Borgias. At 4 hours and 58 mins it's an audiobook that can be listened to quite easily. I took my time with it and even I finished it on less than three days. It was an enlightening and interesting read but just not the best of Audible's Great Courses series.

I'm sure most people have heard about the infamous Borgia family, especially those who love the Renaissance era as much as I do. They have a shocking and rather shameful reputation. There's even a pretty popular tv show about it. I've seen a couple of episodes of it but not all the way through. With that said, William Landon who's written and narrated this book, took us back in time with this course to see where the family began and ended as well as to determine which myths about the Borgias were right and which were just made up by their enemies to tarnish the family name.

I enjoyed this audiobook for sure. But like I said before it just isn't the best I've ever listened to. It was nice to learn the beginnings of the Borgias, where they came from and all that but I just wish the course had gone just a tad deeper into it all. It just stayed right above the surface, if that makes any sense. I also wished there would've been a little bit more about the women in the Borgias lives, whether or not they were family or just mistresses. There was a chapter about Lucrezia Borgia but that was near the end and I couldn't help but wonder about the other women in the family. I know not a lot may have been known about them but still!

So would I recommend this book? Yes. But only to those who don't know a lot about the Borgia family and would like an introduction to them. If any reader is looking for that then this would be the perfect audiobook but for those who want something deeper then this is not it.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting although fairly superficial. Did make me want to learn more about the family.

[Hermien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative.

[Michael Hudlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, this is a fantastic book which is jammed with information, and told in an intelligent way. I have seen many shows on the Borgia family, but this was by far the most comprehensive and clear to understand. It would be easy for someone to spend a career learning about this very interesting time and family. Highly recommend.

[Sverre · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sobering look at the Borgia family that confronts its myths and slander, while still being highly interesting. Great listen for a brief overview of the Borgias.

[Pål · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable listen. The narration is excellent.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good surface overview of fascinating family. It treats the subject fairly, discussing their good and bad.

[Hunter Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid. I enjoyed listening to most of it and truly appreciate the historical rigor sought from sources. That said, even when judging people from their time, certain acts are vile at any time, with any "societal norms." Whoring out Lucrezia for gain is always vile. Murder and evil egomaniacal self-centered acts for self-promotion are just that. While appreciate trying to remove myths about them from rumor mills of those who hated them and their Spanish roots, that does not mean you can excuse their acts because "everyone else was doing it." Try applying that to slavery, try applying that to the Nazis. Nope that shite does not fly. The last lecture dropped the series two stars again I am all for pointing out the false rumors and trying to set the record straight but that does not excuse their horrendous actions. Does the persecution of the brilliant mind of Alan Turing become justified because "everyone else at that time was homophobic"? Heck no. Landon seems comfortable saying that well the Borgias are just a product of their time, the guys before and after them were just as bad. That DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT. Landon even admits there were many pious and true believers at that time. They were hedonistic, murdering, conniving and morally bankrupt. So, don't pile on rumors and falsehoods but enough sins are enough. Saying they only budged 10 baby seals instead of a 100 and hoping we think they "weren't that bad" is ridiculous.

[Michelle Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a big fan of "The Borgias" (the Showtime one, to be really specific) and so when I saw this Great Courses lecture I was very excited. I've picked up a few different history books about the Borgias and some have been, dare I say it, bland. William Landon, on the other hand, is a pleasure to listen to and offers some great insights into the Borgia family. The focus is on Rodrigo for a great deal of the lecture series but that's okay. Cesare and Lucrezia are discussed throughout, and I think Landon does a really good job of framing Lucretia as a victim (and definitely not the horrible witch the rumors say she is).

If you're interested in this course.... definitely pick it up!



The Lectures
1. From Valencia to Rome: The Borgja become the Borgia
2. The Rise of Rodrigo Borgia
3. Cardinal Borgia becomes Pope Alexander VI
4. Rodrigo's Lovers and Children
5. The New World, the Italian Wars, and a Rogue Priest in Florence
6. Banquets, Harlots, and Horses
7. Cesare Borgia: the Making of a Murderer?
8. Cesare Borgia and Niccolo Machiavelli
9. The Tragedy of Lucrezia Borgia
10. The Borgia Legacy

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
Ten lectures.
A well researched look at the known facts and rumours surrounding the Borgias, mostly from the last three decades of the fifteenth century into the early years of the sixteenth, and lately concentrating on
Rodrigo, Cezere and Lucretia. Whilst very interesting, it is best suited to readers who already know a reasonable background to the characters as there is not only a fairly complex list of people, some with more than one title, and places to absorb, but also there is no chronological order to the lecture content, nor, it would seem, a coherent pursuit of a theme other than to show that, whilst condemned for their actions, the Borgia reputation was mostly attributed by rumours created by those enemies who hated or envied them and they were really not !such different from anyone else of their time.

It is an interesting glimpse into their time, however, and the narrator/ lecturer has a pleasant voice, well balanced. The Rise and Fall of the Borgias is currently available to read free of charge as a download from the Audible Plus programme. Well worth reading for anyone with an interest in the period, but best not digested one gulp. Better to consume it with breaks , even if short ones, between text chapters .

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well researched account of the Borgia family in which the author attempts to achieve balance through a strict scrutiny of the available source material. Despite this intention, he often appears to show a bias for the Borgias by offering seemingly plausible explanations for their excesses and corruption. He often repeats the point that much of the conduct that later came to be regarded as scandalous, was the norm for the popes and princes of the era. The Borgias, however, took it a step further than their contemporaries.

As far as the infamous Lucrezia is concerned, Landon concludes that she was a victim of the machinations of her father, Pope Alexander VI, and her brother Cesare, the wearer of the notorious black mask and the agent behind the murder of her husband.

Despite the author's slight bias, he has done an excellent job of examining the records of the time and demonstrating how so much of the scandalous accounts of the Borgia's debauchery and excess was written by their sworn enemies and cannot be corroborated.

A fascinating account of a rather repellant family.

[Joy]

I have the audio only, so no maps, portraits, or family trees. Fortunately I was already fairly familiar with the names of the participants in Borgia family history. William Landon sorts out the sources used by historians, and traces much of the stories about the Borgias to disinformation by their enemies and enemies of their Spanish roots. He recognizes and lays out for us the Borgias' licentiousness and ruthlessness, but recognizes these things as common in the culture of Italian power - just more openly and with more enjoyment. He doesn't try to whitewash Cesare, but does find that the murder of his brother was more likely arranged by a Roman family who hated the Borgias.

This bit was new to me: Landon particularly traces the slanderous reputation of Lucrezia Borgia to a play written by Victor Hugo, about which Hugo stated that he wanted to horrify readers by combining a twisted monster of a woman with the purity of motherhood.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have I mentioned I find the Borgias fascinating? Only a hundred times or so, I'm sure.
Too many accounts of their lives and times tend to give credence to even the most spurious of rumours spread about them over the centuries. Landon spends a lot of time analyzing the probable veracity of the many available sources, and despite trying for the most part to give a balanced account tends to err rather on the other side - he seems so intent on exhonerating his subjects from the malicious gossip appended to their names that at times he appears to have decided that anything that cannot be incontrovertibly proven to be true (after half a millenium, mind you) cannot possibly be so. While I don't subscribe to all the same theories he embraces here, this was certainly a solid overview over all things Borgia-related that I found quite interesting even though it didn't teach me anything new.

[Tom Axworthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historian William Landon examines contemporary sources to discover the truth about Pope Alexandre 6th and his infamous family.Landon concludes that the Borgias were not so different from their predessors and that one has to understand the 15th century context before rushing to judgement.But in his quest for objectivity Landon,I think, understates how evil the Pope and his sons Juan and Cesare were.There are many documented murders by Cesare to further his fathers's political ambitions including the murder of the second husband of his daughter Lucretia.One can agree that the wilder accusations against the Borgias such as incest are fabrications but it is shocking enough that the Vicar of Christ employed murder as a regular political tool.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seem to be addicted to anything Borgia, and this audiobook was no exception. I found myself nodding along to the narrator as he reported chronological happenings in their lives that I already knew and he verified my insights into the family. A family with huge personalities, living large and in tune with the times, that has been discredited and slandered greatly over th years. He is really a scholar of Machiavelli - who also kept as secret diary which confirmed the existence of the jealousy and rumor mongering that befell this historic family. I wish it had been longer - but that speaks to my addiction to the family. A good recount of their trials & tribulations.

[Chad Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. The Catholic church in the Renaissance was REALLY messed up. Popes of the era were essentially caligulas currying and sharing political favor and giving in (sometimes publicly) to carnal debauchery. And that's without even considering the Inquisition. It's a wonder the churh has followers.
Oh, right, the Borgias. This goes over the history of the family members, what they were accused of, and what they actually did. The key takeaway is that they are far from angels, but also far from the extremes they have been historically accused of. They weren't great people, but they acted quite similarly to their peers.

[Charles Lupo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Admittedly I got this for free on Audible, and mainly because I watched some of the TV show.

This series of lectures isn't as good as most of the Great Courses I've listened to. The author jumped around in time quite a lot, which made it rather tough to follow.

I did like that he tried to take as an objective view of the Borgia family as possible, trying to sort out fact from fiction, and explaining when something was unproven, or why it was regarded as fact.

There are likely better ways to learn about the Borgias, but this is decent short primer.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a preconception of the Borgias as a family of violent, terrible people and from today's standards, I suppose they were but from the view on the times in which they lived, they were about average for their level. Many of the rumors about their activities were pointed out by their enemies who were not above lying. A few helpful sources are available to moderate some of the rumors, but in the end, one cannot verify most of the sexual perversions that are attributed to the family.

I will probably listen to this audiobook again at some future time.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm completely fascinated by the Borgias - whether it is the fiction and especially the true facts! Again, we have another attempt to quiet the haters and reputation wreckers from 500years ago. This quick trip of lectures on the family whets the appetite for all future readings - coz, it's definitely better than any 'Real Housewives' episode any day!

Highly recommend the lecture and the narrator.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more academic take on the historical family. The lecture was a bit dry at times; it was obvious the lecturer was reading from a script and with so many names introduced in the first two lectures it was a little difficult to stay engaged. Overall, though, it was a nice short lecture that put such a prolific era in history in a more real light, tempered with references of how the world was for others at that time in the same social sphere.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember trying to watch that series about the Borgias on Showtime years ago and couldn't get into it. I was bored and confused. This was the opposite. I was hooked on these lectures.

While this family was very, very, very corrupt (just like the other powerful families of the time) I like how Landon explained what was known to be a fact and what could be concluded to be a vicious rumor that their enemies started. Those rumors have become the Borgia family legacy we know today.

I was fascinated for 4 hours and I wonder if I had know this years ago if I would have liked the show better.

5 out of 5 Family Politics.

[Brianne Polito · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent overview/introduction to the Borgias that may lead to further exploration into their lives or you may stop at this. It depends on how much they intrigue you. The narrator speaks clearly and well. There are further lectures in the series that I do plan on exploring and I would recommend this to anyone who is curious about the Borgias.

[Nick H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story, but the author’s constant second-guessing and defending of the subjects against other documentarians’ barbs is maddening. No event is left to be interesting in its own right, it’s always qualified as ‘not as bad as others say it is.’ This only helps to undermine the power of the material. Landon does fine as narrator. [AUDIBLE]

[Gloria · Rating 2 out of 5]

You can tell the author is a huge borgias fan because no matter what they did he tried to justify it by saying “it was a product of their time” and it was “almost all rumors by their contemporary” while I understand that the Catholic Church was corrupt during this time we can’t negate that the borgias did some bad things and it wasn’t a product of their time but their own blind ambition.

[Britt Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my introduction to William Landon and I’m hooked! The Borgias have always fascinated me, and it was great to hear that so much of what we know are misconceptions and myth. They were people of their time, and in most cases, no worse than everyone around them. This was a great lecture series!