Borgia family; Borja, Francisco de, Saint, 1510-1572; Italy -- History -- 1492-1559
In 1506, Duke Cesare de Valentinois escaped from his Spanish prison, and
made his way into the neighbouring realm of Navarre, where the King Jean
d’Albret was brother to his wife Madame Charlotte d’Albret, Duchess of
Valentinois. The events of the last three years had not broken his
splendid spirit. All his triumphs, all the results of his strenuous
energy and talent had been nullified for him. At the age of thirty-three
years he was despoiled of his life’s work, and was a ruined man. The
Romagna for ever was gone from him. His French duchy seems to have been
of small account. Still, he was not crushed, he had the courage to begin
again to carve out a career in a new country; and to this end he took
service in the army of his brother-in law King Jean of Navarre.
* * * * *
The Lord Julius P.P. II having decreed Himself and His Successors to be
the heir-at-law, next-of-kin, residuary and sole legatee, of all
cardinals, and of all clergy who die within the walls of Rome, an era of
sumptuous premortal cenotaphs and sepulchres set in among the
Illustrissimi Colendissimi ed Osservantissimi Porporati, as well as
among the lesser ecclesiastical dignitaries; to the end that as little
as possible of their riches, after their demise, should go to the
pontifical exchequer.
There is a codicil to the will of the Genoese mariner, Messer Cristoforo
Colombi of this date, the fourth of May 1506, by which the Inventor of
America bequeathed to his native Republic of Genoa “the prayer-book
which Pope Alexander gave him; and which, in prison, in conflict, and in
every kind of adversity, had been to him the greatest of comforts.” How
simply bright a light does this incident throw upon the relations of a
great and good man with the Lord Alexander P.P. VI!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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