BORGIA, GIOVANNI

BORGIA, GIOVANNI. - Cardinal, known as the elder to distinguish him from a namesake. Born around 1447 at Valenza, died on 19 August 1503. He was the son of Galcerán Gil, brother of Jofré, father of Alexander VI (cf. G. B. Picotti, review of the fascicle of the *Liber notarum* of Burckard edited by Celani at Città di Castello in 1914, in *Archiv. Soc. rom. Storia patria*, 38, pp. 387 ff.). He was assiduous at the court of his cousin Cardinal Rodrigo; as Apostolic protonotary he was created Archbishop of Monreale on 13 September 1483, and governor of Rome under Innocent VIII; he was the first cardinal created by Alexander VI on 31 August 1492 with the title of S. Susanna and at the same time Vice-Chancellor. In 1494 he was sent to Naples to execute the agreements made with King Alfonso; on 7 May he attended the marriage of Gioffré Borgia to Sancia and the following day solemnly crowned the king. On 24 December of that year he was sent to Bracciano to meet Charles VIII, who was marching on Rome, to negotiate with him regarding his entry into the city. On 6 March 1495, at the Pope’s wish, he went to Nepi as a hostage for the arrival in Rome of Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, the Vice-Chancellor, as desired by the Pope; he returned to Rome on the 9th. He attended the wedding of Lucrezia B. to Alfonso, Duke of Bisceglie, on 21 July 1498. On 24 April 1503 he received in commendam the patriarchate of Constantinople; it was the last favour granted him by the Pope, who held him in high esteem.