LUCRETIA'S FIRST MARRIAGE
Alexander had a residence furnished for Lucretia close to the Vatican;
it was a house which Cardinal Battista Zeno had built in 1483, and was
known after his church as the Palace of S. Maria in Portico. It was on
the left side of the steps of S. Peter's, almost opposite the Palace of
the Inquisition. The building of Bernini's Colonnade has, however,
changed the appearance of the neighborhood so that it is no longer
recognizable.
The youthful Lucretia held court in her own palace, which was under the
management of her maid of honor and governess, Adriana Orsini. Alexander
had induced this kinswoman of his to leave the Orsini palace and to take
up her abode with Lucretia in the palace of S. Maria in Portico, where
we shall frequently see them and another woman who was only too close to
the Pope.
Vannozza remained in her own house in the Regola quarter. Her husband
had been made commandant or captain of the Torre di Nona, of which
Alexander shortly made him warden, a position of great trust, and Canale
gave himself up eagerly to his important and profitable duties. From
this time Vannozza and her children saw each other but little, although
they were not completely separated. They continued to communicate with
each other, but the mother profited only indirectly by the good fortune
and greatness of her offspring. Vannozza never allowed herself, nor did
Alexander permit her, to have any influence in the Vatican, and her name
seldom appears in the records of the time.
Donna Lucretia was now beginning to maintain the state of a great
princess. She received the numerous connections of her house, as well as
the friends and flatterers of the now all-powerful Borgia. Strange it is
that the very man who, after the stormy period of her life, was to take
her to a haven of rest should appear there about the time of her
betrothal to Sforza, and while the contract was being contested by Don
Gasparo.
Among the Italian princes who at that period either sent ambassadors or
came in person to Rome to render homage to the new Pope was the
hereditary prince of Ferrara. In all Italy there was no other court so
brilliant as that of Ercole d'Este and his spouse Eleonora of Aragon, a
daughter of King Ferdinand of Naples. She, however, died about this
time; namely, October 11, 1493. One of her children, Beatrice, had been
married in December, 1490, to Ludovico il Moro, the brilliant monster
who was Regent of Milan in place of his nephew Giangaleazzo; her other
daughter, Isabella, one of the most beautiful and magnificent women of
her day, was married in 1490, when she was only sixteen years of age, to
the Marchese Francesco Gonzaga of Mantua. Alfonso was heir to the title,
and on February 12, 1491, when he was only fifteen years old, he married
Anna Sforza, a sister of the same Giangaleazzo.
In November, 1492, his father sent him to Rome to recommend his state to
the favor of the Pope, who received the youthful scion of the house of
Sforza,--into which his own daughter was to marry,--with the highest
honors. Don Alfonso lived in the Vatican, and during his visit, which
lasted for several weeks, he not only had an opportunity, but it was his
duty to call on Donna Lucretia. He was filled with amazement when he
first beheld the beautiful child with her golden hair and intelligent
blue eyes, and nothing was farther from his mind than the idea that the
Sforza's betrothed would enter the castle of the Este family at Ferrara,
as his own wife, nine years later.
The letter of thanks which the prince's father wrote to the Pope shows
how great were the honors with which the son had been received. The duke
says:
MOST HOLY FATHER AND LORD, MY HONORED MASTER: I kiss your
Holiness's feet and commend myself to you in all humility. What
honor and praise was due your Holiness I have long known, and now
the letters of the Bishop of Modena, my ambassador, and also of
others, not alone those of my dearly beloved first born, Alfonso,
but of all the members of his suite, show how much I owe you. They
tell me how your Highness included us all, me and mine, within the
measure of your love, and overwhelmed all with presents, favors,
mercy, and benevolence on my son's arrival in Rome and during his
stay there. Therefore I acknowledge that I have for a long time
been indebted to your Holiness, and now am still more so on account
of this. My obligation is more than I can ever repay, and I promise
that my gratitude shall be eternal and measureless like the world.
As your most dutiful servant I shall always be ready to perform
anything which may be acceptable to your Holiness, to whom I
recommend myself and mine in all humility. Your Holiness's son and
servant,
ERCOLE,
Duke of Ferrara.
[FERRARA, _January 3, 1493_.]
The letter shows how great was the duke's anxiety to remain on good
terms with the Pope.
He was a vassal in Ferrara of the Roman Church, which was endeavoring
to transform itself into a monarchy. The princes, as well as the
republicans of Italy,--at least those whose possessions were close to
the sphere of action of the Holy See or were its vassals,--studied every
new pope with suspicion and fear, and also with curiosity to see in what
direction nepotism would develop under him. How easily Alexander VI
might have again taken up the plans of the house of Borgia where they
had been interrupted by the death of his uncle Calixtus, and have
followed in the footsteps of Sixtus IV!
Moreover, it was only ten years since the last named pope had, in
conjunction with Venice, waged war on Ferrara.
Ercole had maintained friendly relations with Alexander VI when he was
only a cardinal; Rodrigo Borgia had even been godfather to his son
Alfonso when he was baptized. For his other son, Ippolito, the duke,
through his ambassador in Rome, Gianandrea Boccaccio, endeavored to
secure a cardinal's cap. The ambassador applied to the most influential
of Alexander's confidants, Ascanio Sforza, the chamberlain Marades, and
Madonna Adriana. The Pope desired to make his son Cæsar a cardinal, and
Boccaccio hoped that the youthful Ippolito would be his companion in
good fortune. The ambassador gave Marades to understand that the two
young men, one of whom was Archbishop of Valencia, the other of Gran,
would make a good pair. "Their ages are about the same; I believe that
Valencia is not more than sixteen years old, while our Strigonia (Gran)
is near that age." Marades replied that this was not quite correct, as
Ippolito was not yet fourteen, and the Archbishop of Valencia was in his
eighteenth year.[24]
The youthful Cæsar was stirred by other desires than those for spiritual
honors. He assumed the hated garb of the priest only on his father's
command. Although he was an archbishop he had only the first tonsure.
His life was wholly worldly. It was even said that the King of Naples
wanted him to marry one of his natural daughters and that if he did so
he would relinquish the priesthood. The Ferrarese ambassador called upon
him March 17, 1493, in his house in Trastevere, by which was probably
meant the Borgo. The picture which Boccaccio on this occasion gave Duke
Ercole of this young man of seventeen years is an important and
significant portrait, and the first we have of him.
"I met Cæsar yesterday in the house in Trastevere; he was just on his
way to the chase, dressed in a costume altogether worldly; that is, in
silk,--and armed. He had only a little tonsure like a simple priest. I
conversed with him for a while as we rode along. I am on intimate terms
with him. He possesses marked genius and a charming personality; he
bears himself like a great prince; he is especially lively and merry,
and fond of society. Being very modest, he presents a much better and
more distinguished appearance than his brother, the Duke of Gandia,
although the latter is also highly endowed. The archbishop never had any
inclination for the priesthood. His benefices, however, bring him in
more than sixteen thousand ducats annually. If the projected marriage
takes place, his benefices will fall to another brother (Giuffrè), who
is about thirteen years old."[25]
It will be seen that the ambassador specially mentions Cæsar's buoyant
nature. This was one of Alexander's most characteristic traits, and both
Cæsar and Lucretia who was noted for it later, had inherited it from
him. So far as his prudence was concerned, it was proclaimed six years
later by a no less distinguished man than Giuliano della Rovere, who
afterwards became pope under the name of Julius II.
The Duke of Gandia was in Rome at this time, but it was his intention to
set out for Spain to see his spouse immediately after the celebration of
the marriage of Sforza and Lucretia. Lucretia's wedding was to take
place on S. George's day, but was postponed, as it was found impossible
for the bridegroom to arrive in time. Alexander took the greatest
pleasure in making the arrangements for setting up his daughter's
establishment. Her happiness--or, what to him was the same thing, her
greatness--meant much to him. He loved her passionately, superlatively,
as the Ferrarese ambassador wrote his master.[26] On the ambassador's
suggestion the Duke of Ferrara sent as a wedding gift a pair of large
silver hand basins with the accompanying vessels, all of the finest
workmanship. Two residences were proposed for the young pair; the palace
of S. Maria in Portico and the one near the castle of S. Angelo, which
had belonged to the Cardinal Domenicus Porta of Aleria, who died
February 4, 1493. The former, in which Lucretia was already living, was
chosen.
At last Sforza arrived. June 9th he made his entry by way of the
Porta del Popolo, and was received by the whole senate, his
brothers-in-law, and the ambassadors of the Powers. Lucretia, attended
by several maids of honor, had taken a position in a loggia of her
palace to see her bridegroom and his suite on their way to the Vatican.
As he rode by, Sforza greeted her right gallantly, and his bride
returned his salutation. He was most graciously received by his
father-in-law.
[Illustration: CHURCH OF ARA COELI, ROME.]
Sforza was a man of attractive appearance, as we may readily discover
from a medal which he had struck ten years later, which represents him
with long, flowing locks and a full beard. The mouth is sensitive, the
under lip slightly drawn; the nose is somewhat aquiline; the forehead
smooth and lofty. The proportions of his features are noble, but lacking
in character.
Three days after his arrival, that is, June 12th, the nuptials were
celebrated in the Vatican with ostentatious publicity. Alexander had
invited the nobility, the officials of Rome, and the foreign ambassadors
to be present. There was a banquet, followed by a licentious comedy,
which is described by Infessura.
To corroborate the short account given by this Roman, and at the same
time to render the picture more complete, we reproduce, word for word,
the description which the Ferrarese ambassador, Boccaccio, sent his
master in a communication dated June 13th:
Yesterday, the twelfth of the present month, the union was publicly
celebrated in the palace, with the greatest pomp and extravagance.
All the Roman matrons were invited, also the most influential
citizens, and many cardinals, twelve in number, stood near her, the
Pope occupying the throne in their midst. The palace and all the
apartments were filled with people, who were overcome with
amazement. The lord of Pesaro celebrated his betrothal to his wife,
and the Bishop of Concordia delivered a sermon. The only
ambassadors present, however, were the Venetian, the Milanese and
myself, and one from the King of France.
Cardinal Ascanio thought that I ought to present the gift during
the ceremony, so I had some one ask the Pope, to whom I remarked
that I did not think it proper, and that it seemed better to me to
wait a little while. All agreed with me, whereupon the Pope called
to me and said, "It seems to me to be best as you say";
consequently it was arranged that I should bring the present to the
palace late in the evening. His Holiness gave a small dinner in
honor of the bride and groom, and there were present the Cardinals
Ascanio, S. Anastasia, and Colonna; the bride and groom, and next
to him the Count of Pitigliano, captain of the Church; Giuliano
Orsini; Madonna Giulia Farnese, of whom there is so much talk (de
qua est tantus sermo); Madonna Teodorina and her daughter, the
Marchesa of Gerazo; a daughter of the above named captain, wife of
Angelo Farnese, Madonna Giulia's brother. Then came a younger
brother of Cardinal Colonna and Madonna Adriana Ursina. The last is
mother-in-law of the above mentioned Madonna Giulia. She had the
bride educated in her own home, where she was treated as a niece of
the Pope. Adriana is the daughter of the Pope's cousin, Pedro de
Mila, deceased, with whom your Excellency was acquainted.
When the table was cleared, which was between three and four
o'clock in the morning, the bride was presented with the gift sent
by the illustrious Duke of Milan; it consisted of five different
pieces of gold brocade and two rings, a diamond and a ruby, the
whole worth a thousand ducats. Thereupon I presented your
Highness's gift with suitable words of congratulation on the
marriage and good wishes for the future, together with the offer of
your services. The present greatly pleased the Pope. To the thanks
of the bride and groom he added his own expressions of unbounded
gratitude. Then Ascanio offered his present, which consisted of a
complete drinking service of silver washed with gold, worth about a
thousand ducats. Cardinal Monreale gave two rings, a sapphire and a
diamond--very beautiful--and worth three thousand ducats; the
prothonotary Cesarini gave a bowl and cup worth eight hundred
ducats; the Duke of Gandia a vessel worth seventy ducats; the
prothonotary Lunate a vase of a certain composition like jasper,
ornamented with silver, gilded, which was worth seventy to eighty
ducats. These were all the gifts presented at this time; the other
cardinals, ambassadors, etc., will bring their presents when the
marriage is celebrated, and I will do whatever is necessary. It
will, I think, be performed next Sunday, but this is not certain.
In conclusion, the women danced, and, as an interlude, a good
comedy was given, with songs and music. The Pope and all the others
were present. What shall I add? There would be no end to my letter.
Thus we passed the whole night, and whether it was good or bad your
Highness may decide.
FOOTNOTES:
[24] Boccaccio's despatches, Rome, February 25, March 11, 1493.
[25] Magni et excellentis ingenii et preclare indolis; præ se fert
speciem fillii magni Principis, et super omnia ilaris et jocundus, e
tutto festa: cum magna siquidem modestia est longe melioris et
prestantioris aspectus, quam sit dux Candie germanus suus. Anchora lue è
dotato di bone parte. Despatch of March 19, 1493.
[26] Mai fù visto il più carnale homo; l'hama questa madona Lucrezia in
superlativo gradu. Boccaccio's Despatch, Rome, April 4, 1493. The word
_carnale_ is to be taken only in the sense of nepotism, as it is plainly
so used elsewhere by the ambassador.