History Recap / Borgia

# [[Recap/BorgiaS3E71501 "1501"]]

# "The Time of Sweet Desires"
# "Ash Wednesday"
# "Palm Sunday"
# "Pax Vobiscum"
# "Ascension"
# "Pentecost"
# "The Blessed Trinity"
# "A Morality Play"
# "Transfiguration"
# "The Assumption"
# "The Seven Sorrows"
# "Who Is Like God?"

# "1495"
# "1496"
# "1497"
# "1498"
# "1499"
# "1500"
# "1501"

# [[Recap/BorgiaS1E12TheSerpentRises "The Serpent Rises"]]

# [[Recap/BorgiaS1E2OndataDiCalore "Ondata di Calore"]]

[[folder:"1492"]]
!!"1492"
-->''March, 1492. The peninsula of Italy is threatened by invasion from France, and the Muslim Turks. Italy itself is divided into 10 warring kingdoms. At the center are the Papal States, ruled by Pope Innocent VIII. Rome, it's capital, is also divided into warring factions--the Orsini, the Colonna, and... the '''Borgia'''.''

It opens with Cesare's EstablishingCharacterMoment: A ContrastMontage, cutting back and forth between him delivering a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown while explaning AndThisIsFor--and him flagellating himself at a chapel. In the beatdown scene, friend tells him to stop, and he won't--but then a girl tells him too, and he does. He kisses her too.

After a brief scene of Lucrezia, who thinks she's dying (she's not, she just got her period) we go to the Vatican, where Rodrigo Borgia and Giuliano della Rovere are engaging in petty rivalry. Rodrigo--a Spaniard--wants the Spanish to be named the Most Catholic Majesty, and Giuliano wants it to go to France. They put it to a vote, and Rodrigo wins by a landslide. With that under his belt, he goes on to ask a favor for someone he knows...

In Pisa, Cesare and his friends are in seminary school. A letter arrives, for Giovanni de Medici--it's the favor Rodrigo was asking for: He's been named a cardinal. Cesare watches jealously, but goes over and gives the guy a kiss anyways.

Rodrigo is playing cards with some other patriarchs, talking politics. Rodrigo points out that DividedWeFall, but the others don't listen. Tempers are short, and someone pulls a knife because he was accused of cheating--but then Rodrigo steps in, {{Invok|edTrope}}ing EnemyMine. "When the city is safe, you can kill each other." They agree, grudgingly.

Back to Lucrezia, who claims she will become an OldMaid because she doesn't have anyone to [[ArrangedMarriage arrange a marriage for her]]. Her mother Vannozza says her uncle, Rodrigo of course--and that she should stop hurrying to get married anyways. Lucrezia says TellMeAboutMyFather, and Vannozza obliges. Then she says Lucrezia is WrongGenreSavvy and ThinksLikeARomanceNovel--"I'm sad to say, but soon you will learn there is very little real romance in the world."

Juan arrives in Rome from Valencia, to tell Rodrigo that [[PlotTriggeringDeath Pedro Luis is dead]]. Rodrigo tells him to go to Pisa to bring Cesare home at once.

In Pisa, Cesare is playing ball with his friend Alessandro when Juan arrives with the news. He says Pedro Luis was killed by assassins, sent by the Moors--though he killed all the assassins before he could learn much.

Rodrigo goes to talk to to Vannozza, lamenting the pain of OutlivingOnesOffspring. He wants his other kids closer to him--namely, his ''[[FamilyRelationshipSwitcheroo daughter]]'' Lucrezia. He still can't acknowledge his children as ''his'' thought, and Goffredo most of all--MamasBabyPapasMaybe, and while Vannozza says Goffredo's his, he doesn't believe her.

Lucrezia moves in with Rodrigo, and their cousin Adriana shows her around--Lucrezia seems happy, [[RunningAwayToCry in private, she starts to cry]], because IWantMyMommy.

They all go to Juan's funeral. Juan has a HeldGaze with some girl a row behind them.

After the funeral, Rodrigo sits Juan and Cesare down for a serious chat. The Pope is going to die soon, and when he does, it's going to be a Orsini-Colonna-Borgia bloodbath... unless they can keep them focused on della Rovere as a common enemy. Pedro Luis was Duke of Gandia, and with him dead, either Juan or Cesare will become the next one. He {{Invoke|dTrope}}s SiblingRivalry between them, thinking it will drive both boys to be the best they can be. He gives him both missions: Juan is to go butter up Virginio Orsini, and convince him the Borgia side with them, and turn him against della Rovere. Cesare is to do the same with Fabrizio Colonna.

Cesare gets mad at Fabrizio's nephew Marcantonio, and [[SpitefulSpit spits in his face]]. After he leaves, Marcantonio vows to kill him.

Rodrigo is furious at Cesare, and proud of Juan. Juan becomes the next Duke of Gandia.

The cardinals come over for dinner--the Pope needs money. Lucrezia, Cesare, and Juan talk outside--Juan rubs his new dukedom is Cesare's face. It looks like it's just back to Pisa and the priesthood for Cesare. Lucrezia would even prefer that Juan tuck her in than Cesare--he's shaping up to be AlwaysSecondBest.

Alessando's hanging out with his sister, Giulia, and her husband, Monoculus. Giulia and Monoculus are living here in Rome because of Monoculus's mom, Adriana, is a Borgia cousin. But Monoculus wants to move out, and asks Rodrigo if he can. Giulia gives Rodrigo a MeaningfulLook, and Rodrigo says that Monoculus can go, but Giulia needs to stay. Giulia gives Adriana another MeaningfulLook, and she agrees: Giulia needs to stay.

The next scene explain it all: Giulia, and Rodrigo are fucking.

Adriana is Lucrezia's MatronChaperone of sorts, and they're having a battle of wills over learning needlepoint. Giulia backs up Adriana, and Lucrezia gives her a [[YoureNotMyFather "You're not my mother!"]]. Giulia stabs Lucrezia with a needle.

A whole line of naked cardinals [[HandOrObjectUnderwear covering themselves with theirs hands]] come into the courtyard. They were robbed by [[TheHighwayman highwaymen]], just outside Rome. They claim the highwaymen were from Milan.

Juan, Cesare, and Alessando meet some Colonna men in the street. Cesare wants to fight them; Juan insists they go another away.

Remember Juan's HeldGaze girl from Pedro Luis's funeral? He goes to see her later. He uses EnterStageWindow, and they fuck.

Giulia is with Rodrigo. There's a KissKissSlap when he says he's only truly loved two women in his life. "Monster. No woman wants two names on such a list. Especially when the other is Vannozza Catanei." She says she's leaving with Monoculus tomorrow--unless he can get Lucrezia to show her respect. He [[IKissYourHand kisses her hand]]. She's satisfied, and they fuck. Lucrezia [[PrimalScene sees them]], though she doesn't say anything.

Back with Juan, he's getting dressed, and HeldGaze girl says ComeBackToBedHoney. Then [[{{Cuckold}} her husband]] walks in. It's Fabrizio Colonna. Juan escapes on a LoversLedge. HeldGaze girl doesn't. [[TilMurderDoUsPart Fabrizio kills her.]]

Cesare goes to Rodrigo, asking if he has any grand plans for him, as he does for Juan. Rodrigo says no, not really: Cesare needs to go back to Pisa and become a priest.

Rodrigo tells Lucrezia she needs to treat Giulia with respect, and [[DistractedByTheLuxury bribes her with a bracelet]].

Cesare is hanging out with Alessandro again. (He's also having a servant hold a lit candle, and trying to a whip to put it out.) Juan shows up. He's mad about Fabrizio, so Cesare suggests they go after Marcantonio for revegene. (Remember Marcantonio? The guy who's face Cesare spat in?)

So they go off to a nunnery, where Marcantonio is having sex with NaughtyNuns. Juan and Cesare go BashBrothers on him.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo's trying to make Cesare Bishop of Valencia.

Later, Rodrigo pulls Juan and Cesare in for a lecture: "You, my nephews, separately and in tandem, have, at a time when we need friends, created enemies. Sleeping with another man's wife must be based on the husband's lack of character, ''not the woman's lust.'' Before beating a man senseless, learn his family's history. The Colonna ''invented vendetta''." To smooth things over with the Colonna, Rodrigo has to help make Fabrizio prefect of Rome.

Cesare still becomes Bishop of Valencia, though.

Cesare goes home to pout. His mother Vannozza says "I'm SoProudOfYou," but Cesare points out that it's all {{Nepotism}}, and he didn't earn it in any way. They talk about if he can make something of his new posiontion, or not really. Cesare tells his mother he [[OpenSecret knows he's Rodrigo's son]], and that he can't go back to Pisa because there's a girl--he can't do the VowOfCelibacy thing. Vannozza asks an ArmorPiercingQuestion: "You will rule the world. Question is, with that make you any happier?"

Giulia found out Rodrigo bribed Lucrezia to play nice. Rodrigo says, [[BlackmailIsSuchAnUglyWord "Bribe is a harsh word."]] She says Lucrezia needs to get married, and get out of here--soon. Rodrigo [[DistractedByTheLuxury gives Giulia a necklace to pacify her too]].

He's found a fiance for Lucrezia: Querubi de Centelles, Lord of Val d'Ayora, son a Spanish nobelman. She's excited. Giulia is trying to play nice.

Juan, Cesare, and Alessandro see Marcantonio again. They get into a BarBrawl, and [[{{Fingore}} cut off one of Marcantonio's fingers]].

When they come home after that, Rodrigo sees them, and at first the boys think he's going to rant at them again... but he doesn't, and just tells them to keep their weapons ready.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Ondata di Calore]]
!!"Ondata di Calore"
-->''July, 1492. Rome and the Papal States are ruled by one authority: Pope Innocent VIII. He is advised by the College of Cardinals, comprised of ambitious men, sons of Rome's ruling families. They all hate each other. The Pope's most powerful adviser is Vice-Chancellor Rodrigo Borgia, a man determined to forage a legacy. A legacy many wish to prevent. He draws support from his married lover Giulia Farnese, and his family: Juan, Cesare, and Lucrezia. His trust may be misplaced. Still, Rodrigo is determined that none shall forget the name '''Borgia'''.''

Cesare has a feeling he's going to die soon, so him and and Alessandro go to a seer. He gets a [[TheProphecy prophecy]]:
-->You will not die soon. But five ''will'' die before the summer heat cools. Deaths that will change you.

Alessandro plays MrExposition on the way home, reminding Cesare and the audience that the pope doesn't like witches, and wouldn't like him going to one.

There's a banquet in honor of Giovanni de Medici being made a cardinal.

At the banquet, Lucrezia finds out she's not going to marry Querubi de Centelles after all. Now it's Don Gaspare de Procida, son of the count of Almenara and Aversa--richer and handsomer, Giulia promises.

Then a girl throws up. She has [[ThePlague the fever]]. Then Giovanni says his father is sick.

Rodrigo pulls Juan and Cesare aside to tell them that in Turkey, Bajazet has defeated his brother Djem, and Djem is being sent to France.

The frail Pope gives a not-very-inspiring speech to the peoples of Rome... and the Shahzadeh Djem shows up! And as a present, he brings the Pope the TheLanceOfLonginus, the blade that stabbed Jesus. And then the Pope turns to Rodrigo, and quietly thanks ''him''.

Goffredo shows up at the Cancelleria, telling Lucrezia that their mother is sick with the fever, and that Lucrezia has to come to her. Adriana says no: Lucrezia is preparing to meet her future husband, and being exposed to the sickness is dangerous. Giulia encourages Lucrezia to go, but Lucrezia says Giulia is just baiting her, knowing that Rodrigo would be mad if she went. Lucrezia says no, she can't go, an Goffredo leaves in tears.

Lorenzo de Medici--Giovanni's father, who he said was sick--has died. Cesare says it's the first of the 5 deaths. Giovanni mourns for his father, and fears for him--the monk Savonarola refused to grant him absolution. Cesare is a good friend, and tells him not to worry. Cesare, Giovanni, and Alessando have a ThreeAmigos ManHug, while Juan watches jealously.

Later, Alessandro is TheConfidant while Cesare talks about his emotions--how he always feels that there's a beast and archangel struggling inside him, and the beast usually wins. He's consumed with jealousy, of Juan and of Giovanni. He's DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife. Alessandro says Cesare can find greatness though another route--that he's nice, when he's calm. He should make restituion to those he's sinned agaist...

...so Cesare goes to apologies to Marcantonio, the guy who's finger he cut off. Marcantonio tells him to go to hell, and shoots arrows at him. Cesare says PleaseKillMeIfItSatisfiesYou--if it could end the Borgia-Colonna fued, then do it. Marcantonio doesn't--thought he's still mad, and says the Borgia will all be screwed when the Pope dies.

Lucrezia meets her fiancé, and there's a party. Juan and Cesare gossip about politics. Turns out Djem's brother Bajazet is offering a lot of money to the man who kills his brother. There's one man--Castanea--they think is planning to go that, so they plot against him. They go to a brothel with Castanea, to befriend him and find out his plan. Yup, he plans to Djem. They give Castanea their man Rudolfo as his valet, and head out.

Lucrezia was underwhelmed by her fiancé, and is now refusing to marry him. Giulia, and later Rodrigo, say whatever--she has to. Rodrigo asks Giulia to talk Lucrezia into it.

The Pope is sick, and on his deathbed. The doctor says there's nothing more he can do, so the cardinals scramble to get ready. They all have to secure their palaces, and they all want to control the treasury when he dies.

Giulia talks to Lucrezia's Don Gaspare, and convinces him that he really should seduce Lucrezia. So he goes to Lucrezia and gives her a rose, saying that with the city in turmoil, he was thinking of her.

Goffredo shows up again, this time going to Juan and Cesare, telling them that their mother is sick and dying, and that they must come. Cesare goes.

The cardinals all gather for the reading of the Pope's will, which gives the keys of the treasury to della Rovere. The will was changed 5 days ago--and 5 days ago, the Pope was too sick to speak. They get into a fist-fight, right then and there, in front of the dying pope. The Pope's son tells them off.

Borgia says he has to keep the Pope alive until he can get this will stuff dealt with, and he must move the money from the treasury to secret location of theirs.

Goffredo takes Cesare home, where they mother Vannozza, her husband, and their little brother Octavio, are dying of the fever. Cesare sends for the witch, the one who read his fortune.

Giulia talk to Lucrezia about her engagement, and Lucrezia confesses that she's starting to like him. Giulia talks about how as women, and they can use their sexuality as power. "Are you shocked because you have never heard such words, or do you pretend to be shocked because you know if your heart that I speak true?"

To keep the Pope alive a little longer, Rodrigo brings a wet-nurse for him.

The frail Pope gives a not-very-inspiring speech to the peoples of Rome... and the Shahzadeh Djem shows up! And as a present, he brings the Pope the [[LegendaryWeapon the Lance of Longinus, the blade that stabbed Jesus]]. And then the Pope turns to Rodrigo, and quietly thanks ''him''.

-->''March, 1492. The peninsula of Italy is threatened by invasion from France, and the Muslim Turks. Italy itself is divided into 10 warring kingdoms. At the center are the Papal States, ruled by Pope Innocent VIII. Rome, it's capital, is also divided into warring factions--the Orsini, the Colonna, and... the Borgia.''

[[/folder]]

Rodrigo goes to talk to to Vannozza, lamenting the pain of OutlivingOnesOffspring. He wants his other kids closer to him--namely, his [[FamilyRelationshipSwitcheroo daughter Lucrezia]]. He still can't acknowledge his children as ''his'' thought, and Goffredo most of all--MamasBabyPapasMaybe, and while Vannozza says Goffredo's his, he doesn't believe her.

It opens with Cesare's EstablishingCharacterMoment: Cutting back and forth between him delivering a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown while explaning AndThisIsFor--and him flagellating himself at a chapel. His friend tells him to stop, and he won't--but then a girl tells him too, and he does.

He's found a fiance for Lucrezia: Querubi de Centelles, Lord of Val d'Ayora, son a Spanish nobelman. She's excited. Giulia is trying to play nice.

[[folder:1492]]
!!1492

In Pisa, Cesare and his friends are going to school. A letter arrives, for Giovanni de Medici--it's the favor Rodrigo was asking for: He's been named a cardinal. Cesare watches jealously, but goes over and gives the guy a kiss anyways.

Rodrigo is playing cards with some other patriarchs, talking politics. Rodrigo points out that DividedWeFall, but the others don't listen. Tempers are short, and someone pulls a knife because he was accused of cheating--but then Rodrigo steps in, {{invok|deTrope}}ing EnemyMine. "When the city is safe, you can kill each other." They agree, grudgingly.

!Season 2
!Season 3