Vannozza dei Cattanei

Vanozza de ' Cattanei (* 1442 † November 26, 1518 in Rome) was the longtime partner of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia ( 1431-1503 ), later Pope Alexander VI, and the mother of his four most famous children..

Life

Origin and Early Years

About the origin and childhood Vanozza de ' Cattanei as no reliable facts are so well preserved. The fact that she came from a family of small Roman nobles, can be as little as prove conclusively the claim that she was the child of a respectable but poor Roman family. The origin of a modest house was even trying to justify the fact that it is supposedly a spread in Rome " plebeian family name " handle on a first name Vanozza and not the diminutive of Giovanna. The Venetian historian Marino Sanudo († 1536) again reported that Vanozza came from Mantua, which was supported among others by pointing out that the surname Cattaneo was just there very often encountered. Speak some surviving written evidence of their language for the origin of her family from Mantua.

On the other hand goes from a document dated January 20, 1483 show that Vanozza daughter " Jacopo Pinctoris [ translated: the painter Jacopo ' ] from the Ponte Quarter " in Rome and his wife Menica was already at the time of issue of the certificate was widowed. As then, many other little wealthy craftsmen and artists - - established because of the greater career opportunities in the city on the Tiber Presumably, the father had. This assumption is also supported by that are as good as no living relatives in Rome Vanozzas from the obtained records known. The idea that their relatives - if it had been - the temptation to beat in any form physical capital from the relationship Vanozzas Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, had probably not been able to resist is, in any case not be dismissed out of hand.

Material needed caring mother and daughter after Jacopo's death certainly no longer to make because Vanozza was romantically involved at the time already about ten years with the Cardinal Borgia and had already borne him four children. How and what Vanozza, however, had lived before the Cardinal and later Pope Alexander VI. had met, is unknown. That she was the long-time mistress of the Cardinal, is certain that she was already " a famous courtesan " was at a young age, however, mere speculation.

Marriages and relationship with Cardinal Borgia

When and where the Vanozza about ten years older Rodrigo Borgia met for the first time, can no longer be determined. Most likely that the ratio in the first half of the 1470s took with him his start, probably in the period between winter 1473 and the first half of 1474, after Rodrigo had returned from Spain, where he served as legate ( ambassador ) Pope Sixtus IV successful political negotiations had led.

As Vanozzas liaison began with the Cardinal, it was already over 30 years old and by the standards of the time no young woman more. Rodrigo Borgia, of whom it was generally he prefers beautiful women in the same way as a " magnet ... iron filings ", had previously had several mistresses and was already the father of three illegitimate children. However Vanozza was the only woman with whom he maintained a stable relationship, and for the four children he felt a deeper affection than for his other illegitimate offspring. The oldest of four children, Cesare, was born in 1475; then followed in 1476 and Juan Giovanni, Lucrezia 1480 and 1481 Jofré. The four siblings were later also to the main " characters " of her father's political plans, which aimed to raise his family to a powerful dynasty and to secure her a permanent dominion in Italy. To this end, the Father equipped his offspring with offices, benefices, and titles from arranged marriages and let her depart again, if they no longer meet his political intentions.

His paternity Rodrigo Borgia known not only in public, but let them even recognize later notarized, which also Vanozza was officially recognized as a mother. He violated flagrantly against an unwritten rule in church circles, said that a cleric who sinned in the flesh, which should at least be done without exciting attention. A certain minimum level of concealment was but in the long run inevitable, because a quasi- wife on the side of Cardinal Borgia, who as Cardinal Dean was also Head of the College of Cardinals since 1476, which further ecclesiastical career would certainly not have been conducive. Not least because the assumption has been made ​​that Vanozzas marriage with Domenico d' Arignano, an administrative officer of the Papal States, some time has been threaded before the birth of Cesare, to hide the paternity of the Cardinal. As Domenico died, the - had as already remarked smugly contemporaries - had been traveling a lot in the course of his professional activity, however, was missing for about five years a cover in the form of a husband Vanozzas.

1480 or 1481 married the cardinal Vanozza again. New husband was Giorgio di Croce, a native of Milan apostolic secretary Sixtus IV, who was also traveling a lot. The couple lived in Rome a house that should not have too far away located from the residence of the Cardinal, and had a son, who was baptized in the name of Ottavio. After di Croce had died in 1486 - the son of the Father Ottaviano followed shortly thereafter by - donated by Cardinal Borgia another marriage, this time with a native of Mantua and humanist Carlo Canale, the former secretary to Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga († 1483 ). However, this was completed in June 1486 third marriage had no alibi, but served only supply the now in the age of 44 standing ex-lover of Cardinal in the event of his death. The destitute spouses brought this connection is not only a handsome sum of money, but also an office in the Curia.

Last decades of life

At the time of her third marriage Vanozza had its position as a favorite of Cardinal Borgia long been forced to cede to younger " fellow activists ", of which only Giulia Farnese more should emerge from anonymity. Nevertheless, she was cared for by her former lover more generous, even when he had become Pope in 1492. His financial support made ​​it possible Vanozza as a nobleman to live, she was not by birth with some certainty. By the time she was a wealthy woman, who included three hostels and several houses in Rome. In addition, it operated also a lucrative side business as a pawnbroker. The social ascent Vanozzas was finally crowned with the award of the name and emblem of the Borgias, which was decorated with a bull. A firm place in the power structure of the Curia did not get it though. Unlike their children, " who went in the power center of the church and out ... Vanozza remained marginalized spatially and functionally. " By this also changed the letters to Alexander VI. nothing in which they recalled the old days and the former intimate relationship between the two.

In the last phase of their life Vanozza operated primarily as a benefactor and philanthropist who supported numerous charitable organizations, as well hoping to atone for their once committed " sins " by " works of piety ". Although Vanozza never conceal their connection with the Borgia family, she was not bothered by the countless enemies who had made ​​the Borgias. The protective measures. Cesare in 1503 after the death of Alexander VI and the collapse of the power of the Borgia for the mother took it, turned out to be completely unnecessary. Vanozza was already long reputed to be an honest woman. This was also the historian Paolo Giovio (1483-1552; Latinized: Jovius ) had the Vanozza met in person, but the Borgia family was hostile, not disputed. He wrote about them even said that "she was a virtuous woman " is.

Vanozza died on November 26, 1518 in Rome at the age of 76 years - for that time so as very elderly woman. Her funeral could vie with the pomp of a cardinal. The last honor rendered to the deceased not only the Brotherhood of Gonfalon, which included many distinguished citizens of Rome and whose member she had been, but was buried even members of the court of Pope Leo X. Vanozza next to her second husband Giorgio di Croce and her sons Juan and Ottavio erected in the family chapel, which they had in the prestigious church of Santa Maria del Popolo. The inscription on her grave stone announced with pride that they. , The mother of the four most famous children of Alexander VI had. The rest they had in life, it was not given in death, however. 1594 her tomb was demolished on the orders of Pope Clement VIII. The reformed Papacy no longer allowed the memory of these deaths.

Her grave stone was preserved and was placed in the portico of the Basilica San Marco later.

Appearance and personality

Two portraits have survived, which are according to ancient and credible tradition is representative of Vanozza de ' Cattanei. They have a very similar and both show a middle-aged woman, with an oval face, a long, narrow nose, which is also found in Cesare Borgia, and a small, well-shaped mouth. On one of the portraits Vanozza is represented by a winding cloth around his head and a slightly melancholic acting look as that of a woman with a keen Innocenzo Francucci, critical view shows. In the presentation of Francucci but it is a work of Memoria, which should keep the memory of the deceased alive. The interesting thing about this picture is that Vanozza is shown with a double coral bracelet on the right wrist: Corals were in their time as a defense against the "evil eye " and - given the bad reputation of the Borgia from the perspective of the painter arguably more important - against defamation.

The conclusion that Vanozza de ' Cattanei " have been a remarkable woman [ has ] to [ Rodrigo Borgia ] to win affection and keep " is certainly true. This is also suggested that the future Pope did not, even yet connected, as their physical relationship had ended long ago. The "true" feelings that were behind this relationship can be, however, on the basis of extant sources is very difficult to fathom, since even completely "private" translucent documents were then generally formulated according to specific literary rules and therefore a large portion of phrases and platitudes have. The fact that the pair " [z ] wanzig years together ... [ lived ] in romantic togetherness " is in any case a claim for which it is to find sufficient confirmation in the sources.

What is certain is that Vanozza her life had an intimate relationship with her children - even though they had only spent part of her childhood in her mother's house. The children stayed even later now and again as guests in the house Vanozzas in Rome. Cesare entrusted his mother even with administrative duties in the Papal States and the connection to her daughter Lucretia she held until the end of her upright. But even in this context, Vanozza seems to have been the rank and consciously manifest. She knew how to preserve the shape of it in public and in her letters by her, never let it in deference to the children that had been made ​​by the father to all spiritual and temporal variables are missing.