Alfonso of Aragon

Alfonso of Aragon
Alfonso of Aragon (age 7) by Pinturicchio
Born	1481, Kingdom of Naples Father: Alfonso II of Naples
Died	18 August 1500 (age 19) Rome, Papal States
Title	Prince of Salerno Duke of Bisceglie
Partner	Lucrezia Borgia
Children	Rodrigo Borgia of Aragon

Alfonso of Aragon (1481–1500), Duke of Bisceglie and Prince of Salerno of the House of Trastámara, was the illegitimate son of Alfonso II King of Naples and his mistress Trogia Gazzela. His father, cousin of Ferdinand II King of Castile, abdicated in favour of his legitimate son Ferrante II of Naples.^[1]

Marriage

"He was the most beautiful youth that I have ever seen in Rome" - The chronicler Talini ^[2]

In order to strengthen ties with Naples, Pope Alexander VI arranged marriages between the House of Borgia and the royal family of Aragon. Alfonso's sister Sancha of Aragon was already given to the Pope's youngest son Gioffre Borgia in 1494. His idea was for his son Cesare Borgia to marry Carlotta of Naples, legitimate daughter of the newly crowned King Federico IV of Aragon, but the King was against this match. To appease the Holy Father, King Federico consented to a match between the Pope's daughter Lucrezia Borgia and the 17-year-old Alfonso of Aragon.

Alfonso and Lucrezia were married in the Vatican on July 21, 1498, a big wedding feast was celebrated with plays and masquerades. With Alfonso came the princely cities of Salerno, Quadrata, and Bisceglie. Lucrezia brought with her a dowry of 40,000 ducats. Lucrezia and Alfonso did not retire to Bisceglie but rather stayed in Rome at the request of the Pope. It was part of the agreement that they would remain in Rome for at least one year and not be forced to live permanently at Bisceglie until her father's death. According to Gregorovius, "the youthful Alfonso was fair and amiable", "the handsomest young man ever seen in the Imperial city." It's written that by all evidence Lucrezia was really fond of him.

When foreign affairs changed, Pope Alexander VI looked to align with France, enemy of Alfonso's family. To this end he arranged a marriage between Cesare Borgia and Charlotte of Albret, sister of King John III of Navarre. Alfonso was assured by Pope Alexander himself that he was still in his favor, but he sensed betrayal when French planned to invade Naples. In July of 1499 - less than one year after his wedding - Alfonso left Rome without his wife, six months pregnant. His flight incensed the Pope who sent troops after him but failed to find him in hiding. Meanwhile Lucrezia was awarded the governorship of Spoleto and Foligno, meaning that Alfonso was a non-functioning consort. Eventually Alfonso was intercepted through letters for his wife in an attempt to persuade her to reach him in Genazzano. Therefore her family ordered her to lure Alfonso in Rome. Lucrezia met up with her husband in Nepi then they returned to the Vatican in autumn 1499. On the night between October 31 and November 1, Lucrezia gave birth to their son, who was christened Rodrigo after her father.^[3][4][5]

The Murder

"Since Don Alfonso refused to die of his wounds, he was strangled in his bed" - Burchard ^[6]

On the evening of July 15, 1500, at the top of the steps before the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica, Alfonso was attacked by hired killers and stabbed in the head, right arm, and leg. When the assassins attempted to haul Alfonso away, his own guards put them to flight. The badly injured Alfonso survived and was cared for by the Pope's doctors, his sister Sancha and his wife Lucrezia, who arranged for armed guards both day and night. Lucrezia even prepared Alfonso's food, fearing that someone might poison him. But on the night of August 18, as Alfonso was still recovering, he was strangled in his bed. Cesare Borgia is widely considered to be the man behind the assassination; however, his death is shrouded in mystery. Alfonso had enemies at Rome amongst the baronial families too, including the Orsini, and it seems possible that the Orsini engineered the attempt on his life in July 1500. Anyway, most historians agree that Lucrezia and Sancha left the room on an errand proposed by Cesare. Cesare then left, leaving his bodyguards behind. When the bodyguards walked off, the women returned to find Alfonso dead. Later on that same evening, his body was carried to the Basilica of St Peter and there deposited in the Chapel of the Virgin Mary of the Fever.^[7]

Cesare is said to have been impressed by Alfonso's good looks and nature when he first met him, but Cesare's feelings soon changed into jealousy and hatred. Alfonso's beauty vexed Cesare, since he had scars on his own face due to syphilis. Cesare supposedly attacked Alfonso while Cesare was visiting his sister Lucrezia, wife of Alfonso. Enraged, Alfonso shot arrows at Cesare in the Vatican Gardens, during his temporary convalescence.^[8][9]

Popular reaction to Alfonso's death was profound in Rome, but significantly the Pope did nothing. Two years later Lucrezia was given in marriage to Alfonso I d'Este. Lucrezia was obliged to simulate the appearance of a virgin spouse in order to marry d'Este. Accordingly she was forced to leave Rodrigo, her only child by Alfonso of Aragon, behind forever. Rodrigo Borgia of Aragon died of disease in Bari at 12.^[10]

References