Catholic New Times: Money and ambition among the Borgias

The Cardinal's Hat by Mary Hollingsworth. New York, The Overlook Press, 2005.275 pp.

This is a brilliant piece of historical detective work uncovering the schemes by which Ippolito d'Este, second son of Lucretia Borgia, became the Archbishop of Milan at the age of nine.

If you believe there is, or at least should be, a link between the position of cardinal and piety, this book is not for you. The Cardinal's Hat, by academic historian Mary Hollingsworth, focuses on the years during which Columbus discovered the new world--while the papacy was suffering through an era of wickedness. The subtitle says it all: Money, Ambition and Everyday Life in the Court era Borgia Prince.

The flamboyant cardinal is Ippolito d' Este, the son of Alfonso d'Este and Lucretia Borgia, daughter of Pope Alexander VI. When he was nine years old, Ippolito was appointed Archbishop of Milan. On his father's death in 1534, he became the beneficiary of the cash he needed to make a determined attempt to reach his goal--a cardinal's hat. It took him a mere five years to become Cardinal of Santa Maria in Aquiro, after wheeling and dealing with the pope, the Holy Roman Emperor and the king of France.

Over time he became one of the leading cardinals of the 16th century, a patron of the arts, and even a serious contender for papal election on a few occasions.

In 1536, Ippolito was sent on a diplomatic mission to the French court with the assignment of keeping King Francis I onside in various run-ins with the Holy Roman Emperor. He made an ally of Francis in order to obtain French support for his cardinal's hat. It was a logical choice for a man who loved gambling, wine, women and song. We learn some interesting details of the French court as Francis travelled around his kingdom.

This social history is the result of Mary Hollingsworth's finding a treasure trove of 2,000 of Ippolito's letters and over 200 of his account books. From these documents she pieced together a detailed account of a Renaissance prince. The lives of shopkeepers, bookkeepers, courtiers and clergy emerge, underlining what appears to be their chief preoccupation --seeking money. One learns details about every gift given or received; indeed one can conclude that gifting made the Renaissance world work. In France, for example, Ippolito gave gold rosaries stuffed with musk to the royal women. In return he received an abbey with its annual proceeds to help pay for his lavish lifestyle. It took four days to make an inventory of his clothes when he moved into his palazzo!

This book is highly recommended for those who would like to learn details of the inner workings of court life and episcopal behaviour at the time of the Borgias.

Jim Doris volunteers as a proofreader for CNT.