CONTENTS

Page EDITOR'S PREFACE . . . . vii

Part One •

LUCREZIA BORGIA IN ROME

I. Lucrezia's Father ..... i II. Lucrezia's Mother . . . . 6 III. Lucrezia's First Home .... 9 IV. Lucrezia's Education . . . .13 V. Nepotism—Giulia Farnese—Lucrezia's Betrothals . 20 "VI. Her Father becomes Pope—Giovanni Sforza . 27 VII. Lucrezia's First Marriage . . ... 33 Vm. Family Affairs . . 38 -EX. Lucrezia Leaves Rome . . ... 44 X. History and Description of Pesaro . . .47 XI. The Invasion of Italy—The Profligate World . 54 XII. The Divorce and Second Marriage . .64 Xm. A Regent and a Mother . . .70 XTV. Social Life of the Borgias • . . . .• . 78 XV. Misfortunes of Catarina Sforza . . .87 XVI. Murder of Alfonso of Aragon . . .92 XVn. Lucrezia at Nepi . . . . -97 XVHI. Cesare at Pesaro ..... 101 XIX. Another Marriage Planned for Lucrezia . 107 XX. Negotiations with the House of Este . .117 XXI. The Eve of the Wedding .... 126 XXn. Arrival and Return.of the Bridal Escort 133

http://d-nb.info/577732579 vi CONTENTS

Part Two Page LUCREZIA BORGIA IN FERRARA I. Lucrezia's Journey to Ferrara . . . 147 II. Formal Entry into Ferrara.... 153 III. Fetes Given in Lucrezia's Honour . . 160 IV. The Este Dynasty—Description of Ferrara . .170 V. Death of Alexander VI . 179 VI. Events Following the Pope's Death . .188 VII. Life and History at the Court of Ferrara . . 194 VIII. Escape and Death of Cesare Borgia . 203 IX. Murder of Ercole Strozzi—Death of Giovanni Sforza and of Lucrezia's Eldest Son . . . 209 X. Effects of the War—The Roman Infante . . 216 XI. Last Years and Death of Vannozza . 220 XII. Death of Lucrezia Borgia—Conclusion . 227

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTB . 234

GENEALOGICAL TABLES " Family Tree of the Borgias . . 236 The Descendants of Pope Alexander VI .237.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLB . 238

FACSIMILES A letter from Pope Alexander VI . . 240 A letter from Lucrezia Borgia . 241

PLATES ...... 245

NOTES ON THE PLATES .... 34I

INDEX 355