The Borgias: The Lives and Legacies of Rodrigo, Cesare, and Lucrezia Borgia

There have been no shortage of controversial Popes who were accused by Catholics and other Christians of impropriety, but the most controversial of all was the Borgia Pope, Alexander VI. Born Rodrigo Borgia, the future Pope made his way up the ranks of the Catholic Church with an assist from nepotism, breaking his vows of chastity and fathering several illegitimate children along the way.

The stories and legends attributed to Rodrigo and his children, particularly Cesare and Lucrezia, have ...