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Entity shares the life of Lucrezia Borgia.

In our ongoing series #WomenThatDid, ENTITY profiles inspirational and famous women in history whose impact on our world can still be felt today. If you have a suggestion for a historical powerhouse you would like to see featured, tweet us with the hashtag #WomenThatDid.

NAME: Lucrezia Borgia

LIFETIME: April 18, 1480 – June 24, 1519

WHAT SHE IS KNOWN FOR: Lucrezia Borgia, one of the famous women in history, was the daughter of Pope Alexander VI. Her family arranged several advantageous marriages for her and history argues that her family cast her as the femme fatale that has since categorized her portrayal in art, film, and novels.

WHY WE LOVE HER: Lucrezia was briefly engaged to the Lord of Val D’Ayora, but was discontinued two months later. She was then betrothed to the Count of Prodicea, but the contract was once again broken. When her father was elected pope, he sought to expand his family’s influence. She married Giovanni Sforza on June 12, 1493. Not too long after the marriage took place, Lucrezia’s father decided that the Sforza family was no longer political advantageous to him. Alexander ordered her husband’s execution, and when Lucrezia found out, she found a way for Giovanni to escape. However, he was alienated and agreed to an annulment. During the proceedings, Lucrezia began an affair with Perotto, a chamberlain to the pope. Rumors spread that she was pregnant with his child when she received the news of her annulment.

In 1498, she was then married to Alfonso of Aragon, although the marriage was also a short one. A year later, in 1499, she was appointed governor of Spoleto, much to the dismay of her husband. He fled, but returned at her request, only to be executed. After his death, she married Alfonso I d’Este. During this marriage she had eight children and regain some of her reputation. She survived the fall of the Borgia family after the death of her father. One year into her marriage Lucrezia began a long-term relationship with her brother-in-law, very much a sexual affair over a sentimental one. She also had an affair with Petro Bembo, and Lord Byron considered their letters “the prettiest love letters in the world.” She met the famous French soldier, the Chevalier Baynard, and he considered Lucrezia to be a “pearl among women.”

Throughout her third and final marriage, Lucrezia suffered a series of complicated miscarriages. On June 14, 1519 she gave birth to her tenth child. Ten days later, she died from complications and illness after a hard delivery.

FUN FACT: The Borgia family garnered a certain notoriety in Renaissance Italy. Their extravagant parties known as dens of debauchery, allegedly running rampant with incest, poisoning and murder, all on Lucrezia’s part. You might even say that Lucrezia is proof that you don’t become one of the famous women in history by always playing by the rules…

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