The Heritage Status of Lucrezia Borgia, Between Myth and Reality

Extract

[...] When it was pointed out to Hugo that he took great liberties with reality, he simply replied: "The fables of the people make the truth of the poet." For my part, I would have liked to ask Hugo: what is the value of the poet's truth if it is built on the false reputation of an innocent being? To conclude, it's through defamation by the enemies of her family, popularised by the work of Victor Hugo that the myth of Lucrezia Borgia supplanted the real woman. Other artists have imitated Victor Hugo. Thanks to the work of historians, the truth has become known. However, Lucrezia Borgia is not the only historical figure to suffer from slander and it's important today to think about how heritage is created, and the sources we leave for future generations. [...]

[...] She is the daughter of Spanish Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia and Vannozza Catanei. Lucrezia is also the sister of Giovanni, Cesare and Geoffroi Borgia. She suffers from a scandalous reputation. Lucrezia is often described as poisonous, incestuous, lustful and satanic . but this description is more suited to Lucrezia Borgia, the character in the eponymous Victor Hugo play, than the real-life Lucrezia. In this presentation, I will analyse by what process Victor Hugo's character became a cultural touchstone to the detriment of the Renaissance woman. [...]

[...] In other words, the arguments made on both sides end up making sources that chroniclers and later historians make their honey." In the case of Lucrezia, it's the annulment of her marriage on the grounds of non-consummation with Giovanni Sforza that led him to cast aspersions on her out of revenge. He claimed Lucrezia had sex with his father, a statement without any basis in fact. Then the enemies of the Borgias continued to spread rumours about Lucrezia. In the 19th century, Victor Hugo took all these rumours and amplified them to create his play Lucrezia Borgia. [...]

[...] But Rodrigo Borgia's political ambitions changed again and Cesare Borgia assassinated his sister's husband. Lucrezia was then married again to Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara. Many contemporary historians highlight that in Ferrara, far from the shenanigans of the Borgia, Lucrezia founded a family with her husband, ensured power in his absence and shined as a protector of the arts and letters. Lucrezia was a literate and cultured woman. As a patron she attracted artists such as the poet L'Ariosto or Pietro Bimbo. [...]