Rodrigo Borgia

Rodrigo Borgia (1431–1503), born near Valencia, was the Spanish cardinal who became Pope Alexander VI, the most notorious Renaissance pope. Made cardinal in 1456 when his uncle became Pope Callixtus III, he was vice-chancellor of the Church from the next year for 35 years. He openly acknowledged his mistresses' children, among them Cesare and Lucrezia.

Elected pope in August 1492, he was soon accused of buying votes. His bull Inter caetera of 1493 divided the New World between Spain and Portugal and became the basis of the Treaty of Tordesillas. His son Cesare was made archbishop of Valencia at seventeen and cardinal at eighteen.

When Charles VIII of France invaded Naples, the French entered Rome in 1494 until a Holy League drove them out in 1495; Borgia then moved against the Orsini to advance Cesare. He died in August 1503, and his surname became a byword for nepotism.