Vannozza dei Cattanei
Encyclopedia
Vannozza dei Cattanei was an Italian noblewoman from the House of Candia
, who was one of the many mistresses of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, future Pope Alexander VI
. Among them, she was the one whose relationship with him lasted the longest. Their affair was not a violation of the celibacy vows that the then-Cardinal Borgia had already taken upon admission to the clerical state. This is because celibacy refers only to institutions of marriage or co-habitation, not sexual relations. Nonetheless, it was scandalous to have engaged in unchaste sexual relationships as a priest.
Born in 1442 in Mantua
to noble parents, Vannozza moved to Rome where she was landlord of several inns (Osterie
), at first in the Borgo
, then in Campo de' Fiori
. Before becoming Alexander's mistress, she had an alleged relationship with Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, the future Pope Julius II
.
The connection with Alexander VI began in 1470, and she bore him four children whom he openly acknowledged as his own:
Before his elevation to the papacy, Alexander VI's passion for Vannozza somewhat diminished, and she subsequently led a very retired life.
Her place in his affections was filled by the beautiful Giulia Farnese
, the wife of Orsino Orsini
. However, Alexander VI's love for his children by Vannozza remained as strong as ever; it proved, indeed, the determining factor of his whole career. He lavished vast sums on them and lauded them with every honour.
Vannozza had four husbands. First she married Domenico d'Arignano. Her second husband was Antonio de Brescia. In 1480 she married Giorgio della Croce. She had a son named Ottaviano with him. When she became a widow she finally married Carlo Canale.
, she is played by Joanne Whalley
. In Borgia
, the French/German production of the same year created by Tom Fontana
, she is played by Assumpta Serna
.
House of Candia
The House of Candia is a European dynastic house, created by a junior branch of the House of Anjou originally from "Castrum Candiaco" in the Dauphiné of the nobility of Savoy and Piemont...
, who was one of the many mistresses of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, future Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol i Borja was Pope from 1492 until his death on 18 August 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his Italianized surname—Borgia—became a byword for the debased standards of the Papacy of that era, most notoriously the Banquet...
. Among them, she was the one whose relationship with him lasted the longest. Their affair was not a violation of the celibacy vows that the then-Cardinal Borgia had already taken upon admission to the clerical state. This is because celibacy refers only to institutions of marriage or co-habitation, not sexual relations. Nonetheless, it was scandalous to have engaged in unchaste sexual relationships as a priest.
Born in 1442 in Mantua
Mantua
Mantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
to noble parents, Vannozza moved to Rome where she was landlord of several inns (Osterie
Osteria
An osteria in Italy was originally a place serving wine and simple food. Lately, the emphasis has shifted to the food but menus tend to be short with local specialities such as pasta and grilled meat and fish and often served at shared tables. Ideal for a cheap lunch, osterie also cater for...
), at first in the Borgo
Borgo (rione of Rome)
Borgo , is the 14th historic district of Rome, Italy. It lies on the west bank of the Tiber, and has a trapezoidal shape. Its coat of arms shows a lion , lying in front of three mounts and a star...
, then in Campo de' Fiori
Campo de' Fiori
Campo de' Fiori is a rectangular square near Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy, on the border of rione Parione and rione Regola. Campo de' Fiori, translated literally from Italian, means "field of flowers"...
. Before becoming Alexander's mistress, she had an alleged relationship with Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, the future Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II , nicknamed "The Fearsome Pope" and "The Warrior Pope" , born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513...
.
The connection with Alexander VI began in 1470, and she bore him four children whom he openly acknowledged as his own:
- Giovanni, afterwards duke of GandiaGandiaGandia is a city and municipality in the Valencian Community, Eastern Spain on the Mediterranean. Gandia is located on the Costa del Azahar, 65 km south of Valencia and 96 km north of Alicante....
(born 1474); - CesareCesare BorgiaCesare Borgia , Duke of Valentinois, was an Italian condottiero, nobleman, politician, and cardinal. He was the son of Pope Alexander VI and his long-term mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei. He was the brother of Lucrezia Borgia; Giovanni Borgia , Duke of Gandia; and Gioffre Borgia , Prince of Squillace...
(born 1475); - LucreziaLucrezia BorgiaLucrezia Borgia [luˈkrɛtsia ˈbɔrʤa] was the illegitimate daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Renaissance Valencian who later became Pope Alexander VI, and Vannozza dei Cattanei. Her brothers included Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, and Gioffre Borgia...
(born 1480); - GioffreGioffre BorgiaGioffre de Candia Borgia, in Italian, or Jofré Borja in Valencian, was the youngest son of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei, sibling to Lucrezia Borgia, Cesare Borgia and Giovanni Borgia....
(born 1481 or 1482)
Before his elevation to the papacy, Alexander VI's passion for Vannozza somewhat diminished, and she subsequently led a very retired life.
Her place in his affections was filled by the beautiful Giulia Farnese
Giulia Farnese
Giulia Farnese was mistress to Pope Alexander VI. She was known as Giulia la bella, meaning "Julia the beautiful", in Italian. Lorenzo Pucci described her as "most lovely to behold"...
, the wife of Orsino Orsini
Orsino Orsini
Orsino Orsini Migliorati was the husband of Giulia "La Bella" Farnese , the mistress of Pope Alexander VI.-Background:...
. However, Alexander VI's love for his children by Vannozza remained as strong as ever; it proved, indeed, the determining factor of his whole career. He lavished vast sums on them and lauded them with every honour.
Vannozza had four husbands. First she married Domenico d'Arignano. Her second husband was Antonio de Brescia. In 1480 she married Giorgio della Croce. She had a son named Ottaviano with him. When she became a widow she finally married Carlo Canale.
In fiction
In Showtime's 2011 miniseries The BorgiasThe Borgias (2011 TV series)
The Borgias is a 2011 historical fiction television series created by Neil Jordan.The series is based on the Borgia family, an Italian dynasty of Spanish origin, and stars Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI with David Oakes, François Arnaud, Holliday Grainger and Aidan Alexander as Juan, Cesare,...
, she is played by Joanne Whalley
Joanne Whalley
-Early life:Whalley was born in Salford but brought up in Stockport where she studied at the Braeside School of Speech and Drama, Marple.Whalley first appeared as a child in How We Used To Live and bit parts in soap operas, especially Coronation Street and Emmerdale...
. In Borgia
Borgia (TV series)
Borgia is a historical fiction television series created by Tom Fontana. The series is a French/German production and will recount the Borgia family's rise to power and subsequent domination of the Vatican during the Renaissance.-Production:...
, the French/German production of the same year created by Tom Fontana
Tom Fontana
Tom Fontana is an American writer and producer.-TV career:Fontana has been a writer/producer for such series as Oz , The Jury, The Beat, The Bedford Diaries, Homicide: Life on the Street, St...
, she is played by Assumpta Serna
Assumpta Serna
Assumpta Serna is a Spanish actress. She is known for her roles in I, The Worst of All portraying famous Mexican religious scholar Sor Juana, Nostradamus, The Craft, and Wild Orchid, although she may be most remembered for her role as Peninsular War guerrilla commander Teresa Moreno in the first...
.
Sources
- R. Gervaso Borgiowie, Katowice 2007
- Los Borgia, Juan Antonio Cebrián, Temas de Hoy, 2006. ISBN 84-8460-596-5