Is the Series The Borgia's starring Jeremy Irons a real account of the Pope or is it all made up?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, we must say that Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) is one of most notorious popes in all of history. His pontificate was marked by nepotism, greed and unbridled sensuality. His election to the office was won with the help of bribes and promises of positions of power. We must, however, remember that the popes of the late 15th and early 16th centuries were all engaged in a struggle with secular authorities - especially the kings of France and Spain - to defend the autonomy of the church. In other words, cold-blooded political and diplomatic maneuvering was an art well-known to both church and state. Even by the relaxed standards of his day, Alexander must be judged as one who put his own interests and those of his family ahead of his avowed role as leader of Christendom. Perhaps the most unambiguous evidence: he offered to prevent a crusade to free Constantinople from Muslim rule in return for 300,000 gold ducats from the Turkish sultan.

We must remember, that television series are a for profit endeavor and as such must make people "want" to watch. With this in mind, we may say that the corruption is true; but, this is a Made for TV series and the producer has used poetic license in his interpretations of Pope Alexander VI.

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