Alfonso de Borja, secretary to King of Aragon, becomes Pope Calixtus III

Another of Christopher Hibbert's bio romps through history, is one on the Borgia family. Also prominent in the period of what's known as the Italian Renaissance, they were to help set in motion a different degree (and forms of measure) of state control than the various Italian city-states managed amongst themselves. Hibbert has written a number of these and is currently widely cited as a popular historian. His books seem current and the writing style is very easy on the eyes, in that the words cascade so fluidly. It is a polished effort here that impels the reader on and on, as if all the tricks of a salesman were used to cajole the reader into just another page or three. The problem with these widely available shorter secondary sources of great repute and ease of readability is the lack of footnotes. It's really sad. Perhaps, the original editions of his many historical works were published with footnotes. Not this one.

But to Italians of that age, as Spaniards, first of all, the Borgia's were outsiders. The first Borgia pope (in 1455), Alfonso de Borja was, although bishop of Valencia and while considered erudite and intellectual, as well as pious, he was not expected to live long [p. 11]. Similarly, Hibbert explains, he was chosen as someone who was not going to do much to change the papacy, or - conveniently for the power players in Rome - local politics, in any substantial way. In fact, the newly named Calixtus III set out first on a crusade against the Tuks, who recently had taken Constantinople [p. 13]. Hibbert spends less than four pages on this first Borja pope and that in an easy-read larger font. But the language is plain, direct, compelling. Unfortunately, it is not permitted to be quoted directly, so a mere summary or periphrasis of notes is in order.

The Borgias - as it's spelled in Italy... came, they claimed, from the royal House of Aragon. Alfonso de Borja was born in 1378, son of an estate owner at Játiva outside Valencia. He studied, then taught at Lérida; at thrity-eight, was appointed to post of private secretary to his King, Alfonso V of Aragon. He would stay in that job for forty-two years. [p. 12]

As Alfonso was the private secretary to the King of Aragon who became King of Naples (1442), so was Poggio Bracciolini secretary to the popes of the same period. Alfonso de Borja would write frequently to the pope in this period on behalf of his King. For this work, Alfonso was involved in bridging the gaps between King and pope Eugenius IV, who then made him a cardinal in the church [p. 12].

Alfonso, as pope Calixtus III also made Enea Silvio Piccolomini, cardinal of Siena. Piccolomini would become, among other things, one of the greatest chroniclers and diarists of the era [p. 13].

Though Alfonso's extreme age and gout slowed him down, his energy and determination for a crusade surprised many. He sold many artworks that his predecessors had bought for the papcy, stopped many building projects in Rome, and raised taxes in order purchase galleys and muster troops for a crusade.

Of course, the time for a crusade had already arguably passed. Maybe as much as several generations prior to his time in office. But Calixtus III was seen as self-willed and obstinate to many, and many monarchs and leaders in Europe would not comply with sending troops or funds to help his crusade. His belligerence may have helped give him the reputation as a nepotist. Two of his nephews he made cardinal were under thirty years of age. One of these was Rodrigo de Borja. who later became pope Alexander VI. Another nephew, Rodrigo's elder brother was made captain general to the pope, prefect of Rome and governor of the fortress of Castel Sant' Angelo [p. 14].

When Calixtus died, August 6, 1458, riots engulfed Rome. The next election would go to Piccolomini with help from Rodrigo de Borja [p. 16]. His name would be Pius II.
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notes culled from, and pagination from, Christopher Hibbert and Mary Hollingsworth: The Borgias and Their Enemies , Harcourt Inc., Houghton Miflin, Harcourt, Orlando, FL 2008