ALEXANDER VI. (BoitorA), 1492-1503, the most celebrated of the eight popes (see PorEs) of this name, but at the same time the most infamous one that ever lived, as well as the most vicious prince of his age. His most conspicuous qualities were a cunning and insidious cruelty, united with great fearlessness in danger, an unwearied persever ance and vignance in all his undertakings, a soft and plausible manner towards his inferiors, a harsh and grasping spirit towards the rich. In spite of his talents and his. love of art and science, lie disdained, throughout his dissolute career, no means of rati fying his lust—not even perjury, murder, and poisoning. He was born at Valencia, in Spain, 1430. His own name was Rodrigo Lenzuoli, but he assumed the ancient and famous one of his mother's family, Borgia. He had five children by Rosa Vanozza, a woman celebrated for her beauty, two of whom equaled himself in criminality, Ctrsar and Lucretia (see BORGIM. A. was made a cardinal by his uncle Calixtus III., and on
the death of Innocent VIII., was elevated to the papal chair, which he had previously secured by flagrant bribery. The long absence of the popes from Italy had weakened their authority and curtailed their revenues. To compensate for this loss, A. endeavored to break the power of the Italian princes, and to appropriate their possessions for the benefit of his own family. To gain this end he employed the most execrable means_ He died in 1503, from having partaken, by accident, as is commonly believed, of poisoned wine intended for his guests. Under his pontificate, the censorship of books was intro duced, and Savonarola, the earnest and eloquent Florentine priest, who had advocated his deposition, was condemned to be burned as a heretic.