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20Character page for ''Series/TheBorgias''.
21----
22[[foldercontrol]]
23
24![[UsefulNotes/TheBorgias The Borgia Family]]
25
26[[folder:General Tropes]]
27
28* AffablyEvil: Everyone except Juan (because he fails at affability), Vannozza (who's not evil), and Joffre (because he's an innocent child).
29* AntiVillain: Lucrezia and Vannozza are Type IV, Rodrigo's a type III, Juan's a type II and Cesare is Type I (barely).
30* BadassFamily: They're all Badass, in one way or another. Except for Juan.
31* CainAndAbel: Cesare and Juan. It doesn't end well.
32* DysfunctionalFamily: They're the Borgias, after all.
33* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Evil as they may be (which actually isn't all that much), they love each other and have no problems befriending others.
34* HeroicBastard: Cesare, Lucrezia and Joffre are all illegitimate children.
35%%* ALighterShadeOfGrey
36* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Inverted by everyone except Juan, who plays it painfully straight.
37* SelfMadeMan: They're a family of social climbers with no blood ties in Italy who have risen to the Papacy.
38* {{Villain Protagonist}}s: Though they often are {{Nominal Villain}}s, as good or as bad as required to survive and prosper.
39[[/folder]]
40
41[[folder:Rodrigo Borgia / Pope Alexander VI]]
42[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rodrigoborgiafortvtropes_2675.jpg]]
43[[caption-width-right:300:"The vultures are circling our family, our Rome. We most protect ourself."]]
44->'''Played By''': Creator/JeremyIrons
45
46A scheming, ambitious cardinal who, after the death of Pope Innocent, uses all the power at his disposal—including bribery, extortion, murder, and his children—to become the new Pope. Despite his willingness to use his family as pawns, he does care for them a great deal.
47
48!!Tropes:
49
50%%* AffablyEvil
51* AmicableExes: With Vannozza, though he'd clearly still like to be sleeping with her. [[spoiler: And does, in "The Purge".]]
52%%* AntiHero / AntiVillain
53* AwesomeMomentOfCrowning: When he becomes pope.
54* BadassPreacher: ''Pope'', thank you.
55* BigBad: If you view him as the villain. It's certainly how his enemies (della Rovere and Savonarola in particular) see him.
56* TheChessmaster: Whatever Rodrigo's failures of judgment in regards to his family/personal life, when it comes to politics, he is always ten steps ahead of everyone else.
57* CloudCuckoolander: It's unclear how much of [[ObfuscatingStupidity his apparent goofiness is an act]].
58* ContrastingSequelProtagonist: He is this to the Tudors king Henry VIII. King Henry VIII allies with the Protestant Reformation solely to increase his own wealth and power, undermines the church while increasing the power of the state and is an all around unlikeable guy. Pope Alexander VI is the leader of the Catholic Church, is trying to fight both political and religious corruption, views the state/monarchy as an inferior instiution to the Catholic Church and is not really an unlikable guy despite his flaws.
59* DashingHispanic: Older example and less so than Cesare, but Rodrigo is dashing in his own way.
60* DeadpanSnarker: It's Creator/JeremyIrons, you have to expect this one. Rodrigo has a sharp and sardonic sense of humour and isn't afraid to use his biting wit on his cardinals, his family and (most of all) his enemies.
61* DecoyProtagonist: Played with. Although he's definitely a main character, some reviewers have pointed out that much of the character development and "journey" goes to his children.
62* DidntThinkThisThrough: He's not an idiot by any stretch of the imagination but he is somewhat naive and makes several bad decisions as a result of that. Most strikingly, he orders a grand festival in Rome despite the cardinals warning him of the enormous costs and the hostile French army parked in Naples. Rodrigo only orders preparations to defend the city when the French are already marching back north. Because of this, Cesare discovers that they don't have enough time nor enough bronze to build the cannons they need to repell the French. Luckily, Cesare and Vittoria are able to build fake ones.
63* EqualOpportunityEvil: Rodrigo is not HolierThanThou like the other cardinals, nor a KnightTemplar like Savonarola, nor a HeManWomanHater or elitist SmugSnake like Juan and other nobles, and all in all NOT a PoliticallyIncorrectVillain. He is willing to try making peace with Moors and Jews both.
64* EvenEvilHasStandards: Rodrigo isn't all that evil in comparison to others, but he's still a ruthless schemer who will use his power and influence to enhance his own position and that of his family. However, he does have a firm set of morals.
65** Rodrigo may not be against killing his enemies or others if it will enhance his position or bid him rid of opposition, but he will NOT tolerate innocents being murdered for no reason. [[spoiler:When Juan admits to Paolo's murder, he ''rushes'' at his son with venomous rage and only stops when the others intervene.]] He's also ''very much'' against harming children no matter the reason.
66** In keeping with his strong Catholic faith, he is vehemently against abortion and takes it with the utmost seriousness.
67** He's grief-stricken by [[spoiler:the destruction of the Sistine Chapel that claims the lives of innocent alter boys]] and begs his cardinals aid him. He later fasts for days in recompense for the incident and begs forgiveness from God.
68** Rodrigo is genuinely disgusted by the {{Greed}} of the Cardinals who embezzled the money of the treasury meant for the poor to enrich themselves and has many of them stripped of their ranks and cast out of Rome for their treachery.
69** [[spoiler:He's horrified and devastated by the horrific fate of his lover Bianca and cradles her in his arms as she dies a tragic death. He also ensures her husband Francesco pays for what he did.]]
70* HeelRealization: [[spoiler: His conversation with Cesare in "The Confession" has him admitting his sins as a father, after so much time of obliviousness.]]
71* HistoricalBeautyUpgrade: The real Rodrigo was an overweight Churchill-esque bulldog of a man. Creator/JeremyIrons is ''really not''. Irons himself has said that if they were aiming for authenticity in the looks department, they should have hired Creator/JamesGandolfini.
72* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: Especially when it comes to his own children. While Cesare and Lucrezia deserve his trust, he puts way too much faith in Juan. Rodrigo hopes that he will become a great General, but in truth Juan is a spiteful SmugSnake and GeneralFailure who completely botches the first Siege of Forli and does everything he can to turn his other family members against him.
73* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler: In season three, Rodrigo remembers who he is, the circumstances of his poisoning, and that della Rovere was probably behind it, but he doesn't remember that Cesare confessed to murdering Juan. This is likely due to his grief over Juan that still hasn't gone away.]]
74* MayDecemberRomance: Rodrigo and Giulia, who's several decades his junior.
75* {{Nepotism}}: Rodrigo makes sure his oldest son has a high-ranking position in the church and puts his second son in charge of the Papal armies. Cesare's case can be excused because Cesare IS very competent and talented, far more than all other cardinals combined. Juan's... yeah, it's pure nepotism.
76* NobleDemon: He's ''undeniably'' corrupt and power-hungry, but he's also a wise and open-minded individual who doesn't discriminate against anyone (being an outsider himself, as he's a Spaniard), does have compassion for others and is committed to his family, in spite of the manipulations.
77* ThePatriarch: Of the Borgia family.
78* PapaWolf: Do not hurt any children around Rodrigo. If you do, God ''help'' you, especially if that child is one of Rodrigo's biological children.
79* ParentsAsPeople: Rodrigo genuinely loves each and every one of his children and tries to take care of them, but this love blinds him to each of his children's flaws (Cesare's ambition, Juan's incompetence and self-destructive tendencies, etc.). He also tries to put aside his children's desires for what he feels the family as a whole needs.
80* ParentalFavoritism: So much so that he ends up unintentionally pitting his kids against each other. [[ForegoneConclusion Tragedy]] [[TruthInTelevision ensues.]]
81%%* ParentalHypocrisy
82* PetTheDog:
83** He has several of these moments throughout the series, most notably when he risks his own life in the collapsing Vatican in an attempt to save the lives of the altar boys and a few other members of clergy left behind.
84** As a whole, he defies the historical RealLife claims about Alexander VI. While he is indeed corrupt and manipulative, he's far less rampant than the rest of the cardinals ([[{{Hypocrite}} who yet somehow think they have the right to judge him]]), and both he and his family actually make a point of making Rome a good, prosperous place to live, and not just because of PragmaticVillainy.
85* RoyalWe: It's rather telling to listen to when he chooses to use this, in how he keeps his personal and professional lives apart. As far as he is concerned, "I" am Rodrigo Borgia, and "We" are Pope Alexander VI.
86* SelectiveObliviousness: One of his fatal flaws. He refuses to see that favorite son Juan is actually an [[GeneralFailure incompetent idiot]], and that [[TheDutifulSon dutiful son]] Cesare is a monster in the making.
87* SlouchOfVillainy: Not necessarily a villain, but indeed a MagnificentBastard.
88* SinisterMinister: At his most villainous, but it is a little downplayed.
89* TallDarkAndSnarky: Even as he does his papal duties, the snark never stops.
90* VisionaryVillain: As of season 2, he declares he wants Rome to shine as it did under the Caesars. For the most part, he and his family are very against the economical and elitist corruption in the college of cardinals, mainly because it drives Rome into poverty and decadence. [[spoiler: In the show finale, he also explained he wanted Cesare to stay a cardinal so they could have a perpetual Borgia-Pope dynasty, and would be willing to give Cesare and his descendants that divine right. That, alligned with Cesare's desire to unite Italy under papal control, is one hell of a vision.]]
91%%* WellDoneSonGuy: Particularly to Cesare.
92[[/folder]]
93
94[[folder:Cesare Borgia]]
95[[quoteright:269:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Cesare-cesare-borgia-25454348-430-573_2633.jpg]]
96[[caption-width-right:300:"Only God forgives. We are Borgias, and we do not forgive."]]
97->'''Played By''': Creator/FrancoisArnaud
98
99The oldest son of Rodrigo and Vannozza, and older brother of Juan, Lucrezia, and Gioffre. Cesare is as ambitious as his father, but while Rodrigo works through the church, Cesare wants political power. While he resents his father for refusing to allow him to leave the clergy, he is also Rodrigo's strongest ally.
100
101!!Tropes:
102
103* AffablyEvil: Zigzagged constantly between genuinely this and FauxAffablyEvil. Though he is ruthless and calculating, he is also capable of great amounts of charm. He's also quite chivalrous and sweet to women and members of his family. Underneath it all, he's a narcissistic, unscrupulous schemer to rival his whole family. However, some of his positive qualities ''are'' genuine. The first season has him at his most affable, but he delves further into the latter as the series goes on; though he ''still'' has his moments of the former.
104* AntiHero: He's initially one of the more sympathetic members of the family and seems like he goes along with his father's schemes to ensure the safety and security of the family. While he certainly may have started out this way, it's clear by the end of it all that it's gone right out the window.
105* AxCrazy: [[spoiler: Giovanni Sforza]] definitely got the worst of Cesare's occasional bouts with crazy.
106* BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork: After [[spoiler: Juan]] dangles baby Giovanni off a balcony, a furious Lucrezia asks Cesare about poison to kill him. Cesare talks her down, only to do the deed himself.
107* BadassBoast: [[GratuitousLatin "Aut Caesar, Aut Nihil"]]! [[labelnote:*]]"Either Caesar or nothing!"[[/labelnote]]
108* BadassPreacher: He's a terrible priest, but he does retain the title of Cardinal.
109%%* BastardBastard
110* BigBrotherInstinct: You harm a single hair on Lucrezia's head, you answer to Cesare.
111* BrokenAce: Those who start watching the show with zero knowledge of the real Cesare think that he's TheDutifulSon and/or TheAce. After a few episodes, it's quite clear that he's actually a walking storm of brilliance, charm, and crazy ([[TruthInTelevision much like the man himself was said to be]]). His remarkably tenuous grasp on sanity/occasional lack of social skills is basically a running joke in the fandom.
112* BrotherSisterIncest: [[spoiler: Kisses Lucrezia in "Siblings" and sleeps with her in the same episode. On her wedding night, no less.]]
113* BrotherSisterTeam: With Lucrezia.
114* ButIWouldReallyEnjoyIt: Cesare knows that he shouldn't sleep with his little sister. Doesn't mean that it's easy for him to resist. [[spoiler: And that resistance doesn't last long anyway.]]
115%%* ByronicHero: Even more so then the rest of his family.
116* CainAndAbel: His rivalry with Juan is escalating into something much more sinister. [[spoiler: He ends up murdering Juan in "World of Wonders".]]
117* TheChessmaster: Evolves into probably the show's best.
118* ChickMagnet: [[BrotherSisterIncest Lucrezia]], [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold Ursula]], [[DatingCatwoman Caterina Sforza]] and [[spoiler:his wife]] [[BirdsOfAFeather Charlotte of Albret]] are all very attracted to him or in love with him. He's shown having sex with a random woman in his opening scene and it's heavily implied he has slept with several other women in the past.
119* CombatPragmatist: He's actually very skilled, but anything is fair game against those with ''more'' skill.
120* CoolUncle: To baby Giovanni. Well, you know. When he isn't killing people and stuff.
121* DarkIsEvil: The show very deliberately frames multiple shots wherein Rodrigo or Lucrezia is in the light, while Cesare is in the shadows/dark. (He likes lurking.) He also usually wears black to their white, when not in his cardinal robes.
122* DashingHispanic: Born in Spain.
123* DatingCatwoman: He engages in a sexual relationship with Caterina Sforza, an enemy of his family.
124* DeadpanSnarker:
125-->'''Ludovico Sforza''': Do you know what we all share?\
126'''Cesare''': Suspicion? Or is it hatred?
127* DeathGlare: Is a big fan of this. It's usually directed at a relative.
128* DeclarationOfProtection: A lot of his less rational actions have to do with protecting/avenging Lucrezia, due to his incredible emotional dependency on her.
129* TheDragon: To Rodrigo.
130* DressCodedForYourConvenience: "I prefer black myself." He almost always wears black when not in the cardinal's red. Especially justified in that the real Cesare Borgia often wore black to intimidate his enemies.
131* TheDutifulSon: Zigzagged. On the one hand, it's clear he does value his father's approval and goes along with his schemes both for this and to protect his family. However, Cesare has his own ambitions and way of doing things and has no problem going around Rodrigo in order to get what he wants and he distances himself from his father more and more as the series goes on. That being said, he's still devoted to his father and will be there when the time is right.
132* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Rolling around on the ground with [[IncestSubtext Lucrezia]]. Literally minutes after sex with some random lady. To whom he just admitted his position as a [[SexyPriest cleric]]. And then, while rolling on the grass, he [[SinisterMinister discusses politics with Lucrezia]]. Yep, that's Cesare.
133* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: And fathers, and sisters. But really, don't insult Cesare's mother.
134* EvenEvilHasStandards: Cesare may be an unscrupulous and power-hungry schemer, but he does have lines he won't cross.
135** He's ''very'' reluctant to kill [[NiceGuy Prince Djem]] even for the money and takes his fate pretty harshly.
136** He expresses distaste at the Spaniards enslaving the Native Americans in the new world.
137-->'''Cesare:''' ''(seeing a chained NA man recite holy scripture in broken Latin)'' What Eden have they torn you from....?
138** Cesare may be a GreenEyedMonster, but he has shown the ability to sacrifice his own happiness for Lucrezia's sake, with her being one of the few people he unambiguously cares for.
139** He's against familicide and [[spoiler:is genuinely guilt-ridden after he kills Juan (though of course he does get over it pretty quickly). He also finds Micholetto's praise of killing his own brother to be disgusting, especially since the latter killed his own father.]]
140** Unlike Juan or the Cardinals, he doesn't express any hatred towards the Spanish Jews in Rome.
141** He is appalled by the Friar Savonarola's fanaticism and his followers burning innocent women at the stake and manipulating the more devout lords into destroying all their earthly possessions via fear-mongering.
142* EvilGenius: Sarah Bradford, a biographer of the real Cesare and Lucrezia, even specifically called him the evil genius of his sister's life.
143* EvilGloating: To Juan after he returns from the defeat at Siege of Forli.
144* GreenEyedMonster: It's one of his defining traits. He wants Juan's position and job; he's explicitly envious of Paolo, Lucrezia's lover. Jealousy's kind of his thing.
145* HellBentForLeather: Francois Arnaud has said that the things that people talk to him most about [[JustHereForGodzilla are the incest and the leather pants.]] Apparently, it's fine by him. He's talked about [[http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/04/the-borgias-francois-arnaud-on-cesare-and-lucrezia-borgia-incest-and-season-2.html becoming annoyed]] with his cardinal robes, which he called "the red dress," so we're apparently going to see him in the leather even more now.
146* HiddenDepths: Cesare yearns to be a soldier and rivals if not surpasses his father in ruthlessness and cunning, but he does demonstrate a more romantic and poetic side to himself. Additionally, even as his SanitySlippage and his budding sociopathy grows, he does occasionally express some self-loathing of his more chaotic nature and acknowledges how far gone he is.
147* ItsAllAboutMe: Acquires this worldview at some points of season 3.
148* ItsAllMyFault: Though rarely guilty about anything, he takes complete blame [[spoiler: for having sex with Lucrezia]] though she initiated it.
149* JizzedInMyPants: Implied to do this while [[spoiler: getting Lucrezia off with EYE CONTACT as she has sex with her husband.]] And Cesare's pants are leather. It's an intense experience.
150* KickTheDog: This guy can pet a dog with his left hand, kick one with each foot and shoot a fourth with his right all at the same time (sometimes all to the same dog).
151* KickTheSonOfABitch: His murder of [[spoiler:Giovanni Sforza]], first stabs him in the hand with a fork, a blade to his throat, and multiple times in the stomach.
152%%* KnightTemplarBigBrother: And how!
153* LackOfEmpathy: Didn't even try to empathize with [[spoiler: his parents' grief for Juan. Though considering [[{{Jerkass}} who Juan was]] and how he almost killed baby Giovanni in a fit of madness, it's not hard to see why he wouldn't be all that upset for him or his parents.]]
154* LaserGuidedKarma: [[spoiler: Not only murders his brother, but brutally and matter-of-factly confesses his crime to his father and demands that Rodrigo see that he had been blind to Juan's faults. Rodrigo tells him that he had indeed been blind: he hadn't seen the monster Cesare was becoming until it was too late.]]
155* LikeFatherLikeSon: According to Rodrigo, this applies to Cesare. Indeed it does, if you take away virtually all of Rodrigo's redeeming qualities and add a good deal of ruthlessness.
156* LoveMakesYouEvil: Is pushed to the edge by [[spoiler: Ursula's death.]] Murders [[spoiler: Giovanni Sforza]] while avenging [[spoiler: Lucrezia's]] honor. Partially [[spoiler: murders Juan because of Lucrezia and his nephew as well.]]
157* MommasBoy: Doesn't have any of the traditional weaknesses involved with the trope, but he's definitely Vannozza's favorite of her children.
158* MoralityPet: His sister and mother are both this for him. Even as he goes further and further off the deep end, his love and protectiveness over them remains and he never does anything to (intentionally) harm them.
159* MySisterIsOffLimits: Unless you're... [[BrotherSisterIncest him.]] [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy Or someone]] [[PetTheDog she really likes.]]
160* NayTheist: By the end of the series, his views on God have been made pretty clear.
161-->'''Cesare:''' She chose God, Micheletto. [[spoiler: [[TheLostLenore And God repaid her with mutilation]].]]\
162'''Micheletto:''' I know little of God, Your Eminence.\
163'''Cesare:''' God is deaf, God is blind, and pitiless.\
164...\
165'''Cesare:''' [[TheAntiNihilist There's no hell. No heaven either. This world is what we make of it.]]\
166...\
167'''Cesare:''' I lost my faith.\
168'''Cardinal:''' In God?\
169'''Cesare:''' I woke up one morning and I realized He is not in His heaven. And the world will not change, if I do nothing to change it.
170* NoSenseOfPersonalSpace: With Lucrezia, obviously, and occasionally with Micheletto.
171* PapaWolf: Towards his family, especially his nephew and godson Giovanni. [[spoiler: So much so that he kills Juan partially because of this.]]
172* ProtagonistJourneyToVillain: His [[ForegoneConclusion inevitable]] [[TruthInTelevision fate]]. [[spoiler: By the end of season two, his complete lack of remorse for Juan's murder confirms this. Rodrigo even lampshades it.]]
173* ReallyGetsAround: His ''opening scene'' has him having sex with a random woman (and Lucrezia's jab at him suggests she's caught him with many other girls in the past). Then there's the fact his [[BrotherSIsterIncest own sister]] wanted him. The guy was clearly doing ''something'' right.
174* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: The French troops made a ''colossal'' mistake in [[spoiler: burning down St. Cecilia convent]] - it tipped Cesare over the edge into sociopath.
175* SanitySlippage: As of 2x04, it appears to be in gear. He's definitely not as cautious as he used to be. [[spoiler: The Giovanni Sforza incident kind of sealed the deal.]]
176* SexyPriest: Did we mention the leather?
177* SiblingsInCrime: With Lucrezia again; also occasionally with Juan, however unwilling they both may be.
178* SiblingYinYang: Unlike Juan, he's startlingly efficient and cunning; also unlike Juan, he's almost completely devoid of human warmth (unless you're his MoralityPet or someone he's obsessed with. Or both.).
179* TheSociopath: Confirmed as of [[spoiler: "The Confession".]] This was all a ForegoneConclusion, based on the fact that the historical Cesare was famed for his sociopathic nature and lack of deep feeling for anyone but Lucrezia. Almost all of his "good" behavior in season 2 was based on vengeance, personal gain, or the necessity of maintaining his father's affection. Once he [[spoiler: stopped caring]] all that went out the window.
180* SociopathicHero: He becomes less and less heroic with each episode, but he still has moments that prove there are still some traces of good left in him; usually when it comes to the safety of his family.
181* SonOfAWhore: But don't you dare [[SchmuckBait say that]] [[TooDumbToLive to his face!]]
182* StalkerWithACrush: Towards Ursula. Probably more so towards [[IncestSubtext Lucrezia]]. It's all a part of his inevitable SanitySlippage.
183* TheStrategist: Maybe even better than his father.
184* UnscrupulousHero: The best way to describe him on his good days. Especially in later seasons.
185* TheUnfettered: Becomes this with [[spoiler: his murder of Juan and subsequent release from the cloth]], which is, after all, what he's wanted all along.
186* VillainousFriendship: With Micholetto. While it started off as purely transactional, the two form a very close bond and go through much together as the series goes on. [[spoiler:He's heartbroken when Micheletto leaves his service after Pascal's death and outright tells his other generals that none of them could ever hope to replace him even if they tried.]]
187* VillainProtagonist: More so than the rest of his family, which is saying something.
188* WithUsOrAgainstUs: Believes this so much he made it his motto.
189* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: [[spoiler: After he kills Juan.]]
190-->'''Micheletto''': I am in awe, Your Eminence.\
191'''Cesare''': But [[spoiler: you killed your father.]]\
192'''Micheletto''': Still, I am in awe.
193[[/folder]]
194
195[[folder:Lucrezia Borgia]]
196[[quoteright:275:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Lucrezia400_9830.jpg]]
197[[caption-width-right:300:"I will not be beaten."]]
198->'''Played By''': Creator/HollidayGrainger
199
200The naive, yet intelligent daughter of Rodrigo and Vannozza. She loves her family, particularly her brother Cesare. She is married to Giovanni Sforza, but falls in love with the stable boy, Paolo.
201
202!!Tropes:
203
204* ArrangedMarriage: To Giovanni Sforza. She is afforded more choice in her second marriage, but it is clear that she ''will'' marry soon, or Rodrigo will choose again for her.
205%%* BewareTheNiceOnes: Just ask Giovanni Sforza and Juan.
206%%* BreakTheCutie
207* BrotherSisterIncest: [[spoiler: Kisses Cesare in "Siblings" and seduces him at the end of the episode. On her wedding night, no less.]]
208* BrotherSisterTeam: With Cesare.
209* CharacterDevelopment: She goes from an innocent and naive victim to a cunning and manipulative woman.
210* ComingOfAgeStory: Lucrezia goes from being a naive and idealistic teenage girl who has to grow up fast when she is used as a pawn in her father's political schemes and abused by her new husband.
211* CorruptTheCutie: As she is broken, she slowly becomes more like Cesare and Rodrigo.
212* CuteAndPsycho: Lucrezia Borgia is the most loving and adorable of all the Borgias, but piss her off and she will do everything she can to end you. Just ask her ex-husband with the broken leg or [[spoiler: Juan, whom she tried to drop a chandelier on.]] She also seems perfectly aware that Cesare [[spoiler: murdered Juan]] and is not only fine with this, but still wants him to marry her to [[spoiler: Alfonso]].
213* DaddysGirl: Very clearly Rodrigo's favorite of his children.
214%%* DatingWhatDaddyHates: Played with in season 2.
215%%* EthicalSlut
216* {{Expy}}: Possibly an expy of Jane Seymore from the Tudors. Both are often potrayed in light settings, are fair haired and are desperately trying to the right thing in a decadent society.
217* FilleFatale: At a an age even contemporaries would probably wince at, Lucrezia has little choice but to cultivate her powers of seduction.
218* GlamorousSingleMother: She wears the finest clothes, has a pretty good social life, and is a hands-on mom.
219* GoodIsNotSoft: While she is primarily kind, she is more than willing to push back if someone mistreats her...as her first husband learned the hard way.
220* GuileHero: Lucrezia solves most of her problems through manipulation.
221%%* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: So far. [[spoiler: Though slowly Subverted.]]
222* HerHeartWillGoOn: In the second season, she must overcome the death of her lover.
223* HeroicBastard: Out of her siblings, she's the most heroic, well-meaning one.
224* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler: After Paolo's death]].
225* JadeColoredGlasses: She starts out as a happy and idealistic girl who happily acts as a pawn in her father's game and becomes becomes jaded and disillusioned.
226* LadyMacbeth: [[spoiler: Is somewhat unintentionally this when Cesare decides to kill Juan. She doesn't verbally tell him to do it, but her eyes say it all.]]
227* LieBackAndThinkOfEngland: Tries do this while being forced to have [[spoiler: public]] sex with her husband. [[spoiler: Then she makes eye contact with Cesare...]]
228* MagneticHero: She will befriend anyone, regardless of social standing or ethnicity and most people that meet her become attached to her quite quickly (Djem, Paolo, Francesca) to the extent that they would willingly hurt anyone that poses a threat to her. Not even her brother, who is a budding sociopath, or the [[spoiler: French King who invades Rome]] are immune to her charms. Giovanni Sforza is a double subversion. He was perhaps the first time her charisma failed her but even he began to warm up to her towards the end. All it took was a broken leg to show him the error of his ways.
229* MamaBear: She is very protective of her son, enough so that she contemplates poisoning her brother who threatened him and a man who keeps her from him.
230* ManipulativeBastard: Manipulates Paolo into injuring her husband; the French King into [[spoiler: sparing Juan's life]]; her father into [[spoiler: giving Paolo a Christian burial]]; and Cesare into... whatever she wants, for the most part.
231* MercyKill: [[spoiler: Reluctantly poisons Alfonso at his request to end his suffering after he's stabbed by Cesare in a fight.]]
232* MoralityPet: To Cesare.
233* OldManMarryingAChild: Lucrezia and Giovanni Sforza.
234* TheOphelia: [[IronicNurseryTune ''My mother said/ Now go to bed/ Or I'll have to lock you in, in, in.'']]
235* SiblingsInCrime: With Cesare again.
236* SilkHidingSteel: She never takes to battle or physical violence. But as Giovanni, Juan and everyone else who messes with her find out, that doesn't mean you're safe if you piss her off.
237* SympatheticAdulterer: She cheats on her first husband with a stable boy after he physically and verbally abuses her. Then, when her father wants her to marry again and she is more attracted to her would-be fiance's brother, Vannozza suggests she have both. She tries to, though it doesn't work out. As it's the dominant ship, most fans don't mind her bedding [[spoiler: Cesare]] on her wedding night either.
238* TeenPregnancy: Noblewomen were wed off at a young age in the time period, though she conceived the child with a commoner she fell in love with instead of her (much older) husband.
239* TokenGoodTeammate: Only in season 1. She quickly becomes just as corrupt and vice-ridden as the rest. [[AllThereInTheManual According to Neil Jordan's screenplay for the finale movie that never was]], she would have eventually regained this role, realizing how far she had fallen in her relationship with Cesare, fleeing him, and eventually becoming a beloved patroness of the arts remembered for her good works.
240* TookALevelInBadass: In "The Art of War", where she plays King Charles like a Stradivarius, keeping the French from invading Rome.
241* TheVamp: Played with. She's certainly using an innocent, helpless act to seduce Raffaelo, but her motives aren't exactly clear. She definitely doesn't love him, and is possibly going to marry his brother... It's probably a mixture of sticking it to her dad and having fun.
242* VillainessesWantHeroes: Takes an interest in men noticeably gentler/kinder/stupider than herself and her family, though this could be because she wants the upper hand in her relationships.
243* YouAreInCommandNow: Lucrezia takes her father's place as pope in his absence.
244[[/folder]]
245
246[[folder:Vannozza dei Cattanei]]
247[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vannozzadeicattaneifortvtropes_5867.jpg]]
248[[caption-width-right:300:"Don't you want them to hear that you have a new whore?"]]
249->'''Played By''': Creator/JoanneWhalley
250
251Rodrigo's former long-time mistress and mother to his children, actually married to a commoner named Theo. She is quite displeased when Rodrigo casts her aside and takes up with Giulia.
252
253!!Tropes:
254
255* AmicableExes: What she and Rodrigo settle into eventually. [[spoiler: So amicable that they end up sleeping together in "The Purge".]]
256* ApronMatron: Surprisingly enough, ''Juan'' is the one to acknowledge this. Regardless, she is a fierce mother and counselor to her children.
257* BerserkButton: Don't lie to Vannozza, or she'll come charging into the Vatican itself to smack you around.
258* BrainyBrunette: She seems to be the one whom all the Borgias go to for advice; season two has Giulia asking her former rival's advice multiple times.
259%%* TheConsigliere: To Cesare, Lucrezia, and surprisingly enough, to Giulia.
260* EthicalSlut: Advises her daughter point-blank to do as she likes regardless of any wedding vows; case in point - marry Rafaello Paloviccini, and sleep with Calvino Paloviccini.
261* EvilMatriarch: Rome sees her as such, even daring to call her a whore to her childrens' faces. She actually is one of the least "evil" of the Borgias.
262* HighClassCallGirl: The 15th/16th century version, anyway; Vannozza was a renowned courtesan in Spain.
263* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: From what we can gleam from the letters of the real Vannozza, she was a rather sour, greedy woman, hungry for riches and honors, often pestering her daughter Lucrezia for money and trying to get out of paying her debts. She was far from the loving mother figure she is in the show, and her relationship with her children (except perhaps Cesare) was so cold that Lucrezia even noted how emotionless she felt when she died.
264* InsistentTerminology: ''Courtesan'', not whore/streetwalker/prostitute. TruthInTelevision, as the distinction was an important one, and courtesans were afforded privileges and status above everyday prostitutes - it's discussed in "The Choice".
265* MamaBear: She makes it clear that, had she been the one in Cesare's place in Forli, [[spoiler: she would have gutted Giovanni herself.]]
266* TheMistress: She was Rodrigo's mistress for years before the series opens.
267* OnlySaneMan: Rodrigo-related jealousy aside, she seems to be the peacemaker in the Borgia family; at the very least, she's accustomed to breaking up fistfights at the dinner table.
268%%* SilkHidingSteel
269* WhereDidWeGoWrong: In contrast to [[ParentalObliviousness Rodrigo]], Vanozza is all too aware that Juan is an idiotic coward, Cesare is a ruthless monster-in-the-making, and Lucrezia is as lustful as her father. She even seems suspicious of Cesare and Lucrezia's relationship, as seen in "The Confession".
270* WomanScorned: Mostly in early season one; she's accepted it in season two.
271* WomenAreWiser: She is often schooling Cesare, Juan, and Rodrigo on how to handle situations.
272* WorthyOpponent: Eventually concedes that Giulia is this for her.
273[[/folder]]
274
275[[folder:Juan Borgia]]
276[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/juanborgiafortvtropes_5045.jpg]]
277[[caption-width-right:300:"I am the gonfaloniere of the Papal Army, brother! Go back to the College of Cardinals."]]
278->'''Played By''': Creator/DavidOakes
279
280The second Borgia brother, chosen by his father to follow the path of a soldier, a role envied by his older brother Cesare. He is sadistic, spoiled, jealous, and extremely quick-tempered. His inadequacies are obvious to everyone except Rodrigo.
281
282!!Tropes:
283
284* AdaptationNameChange: Giovanni Borgia becomes Juan, likely due to the large number of Giovannis already in the show.
285* AndThereWasMuchRejoicing: [[spoiler: Played for tragedy. With the exception of his father, none of his family truly mourn his death.]]
286* BastardBastard: He is the most openly venal of Rodrigo's illegitimate children, being a cowardly, arrogant, sniveling wretch deeply insecure about his status.
287* BoomerangBigot: Feels insecure because of his illegitimacy and insists on defending his privileges as a "noble" from commoners and illegitimate children.
288* BreakTheHaughty: The combination of his sexually transmitted disease and his loss to the Sforzas really do a number on him.
289* TheBrute: Shares the role with Micheletto to the Borgias as a whole.
290* CainAndAbel: Despite his own sadistic nature, Juan is probably the Abel to Cesare's Cain. [[spoiler: In "World of Wonders" he is killed by Cesare.]]
291* CassandraTruth: [[spoiler: He's the only member of the family to suspect the depth of Cesare's dark side, and all but predicts his own murder at his brother's hands. He's also the only person to pick up on the developing incestuous romance between Cesare and Lucrezia.]]
292* DeathSeeker: [[spoiler: One interpretation of his actions on the night of his murder. He was quite possibly trying to provoke his siblings into killing him, as he was pretty much guaranteed to die from syphilis anyway.]]
293* DirtyCoward: [[spoiler:He proves himself one after the siege of Farli fails and he flees the battlefield after sustaining an injury to the leg. He then uses said injury as a means to prove his "valour".]]
294* EtTuBrute: [[spoiler: Interestingly, he ''still'' seems somewhat surprised his brother is stabbing him, as he asks "Brother...what is this?" when he is knifed.]]
295* EvilIsPetty: Cesare and Rodrigo are pretty conniving, but often for higher purposes. Juan is just an asshole.
296* EvilUncle: He attempts to drop his nephew off a balcony.
297* GeneralFailure: Was groomed to wear "the armor" in the family and be the military leader, only to be constantly outfought by the French, the Sforza, and ultimately his brother.
298* HairTriggerTemper: Prone to violent outbursts at the drop of a hat.
299* {{Hypocrite}}: Painfully so.
300** He loudly complains about his family home being a "whorehouse" because of [[spoiler: Lucrezia's]] [[PuppyLove romantic]] affair with a commoner in it, even though he is a reliable patron of actual whorehouses.
301** He derives his fortune from being the Pope's illegitimate son and brutally beats his mother's (common) husband at the thought he might be a legitimate child of his. Only to go to great lengths insisting he is "too good" to be married to a(nother) bastard of noble birth.
302* KickTheDog: Several, most significantly when he beats the crap out of his mother's husband because of rumors that Theo was actually his father.
303%%* NoHoldsBarredBeatDown: Of Theo.
304* OnlyAFleshWound: [[AvertedTrope Averted]] realistically when he is shot in the thigh at Forli. The wound causes him considerable pain and incapacitates him to the point that his father forces him out of his position as head of the Papal army.
305* OpiumDen: Frequents one on the advice of his physician to cope with his wounded leg and STD. This contributes to his falling sanity and [[spoiler: eventual death due to irrational thinking and acting.]]
306* PetTheDog: He does have a few moments of this throughout the series, mostly towards his family, especially his little brother Joffre... though he's having sex with Joffre's wife.
307* ProperlyParanoid: In season two, he questions Cesare's love for him and in previews for episode 2x08, implies to his father that he thinks Cesare is out to get him. Needless to say, Rodrigo doesn't take Juan's concerns seriously enough. [[spoiler: Needless to say, Juan was right.]]
308* ReallyGetsAround: Arguably moreso than Cesare. He ''did'' contract an STD, after all.
309* RoyalBrat: He sees himself as above others because of his status as the son of the pope.
310* SanitySlippage: In the second season, he contracts a sexually transmitted disease and must rely on drugs to temper the pain. The combination of this leads him to lose his grip on reality.
311* SiblingsInCrime: Rodrigo sometimes forces him to be this with Cesare.
312* SiblingYinYang: Unlike Cesare, he's irrational and sometimes idiotic; also unlike Cesare, he at least shows his emotion and wants to be accepted (albeit with terrible results).
313* TheSociopath: If anything proves to be a better example for most of his run than Cesare. A complete lack of empathy or morality, HairTriggerTemper, no impulse control, [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered morality]], and sadism all come more and more to the forefront.
314* SonOfAWhore: Like his siblings, he is the son of a former courtesan, although he denies his lineage from anyone but his holy father.
315%%* STDImmunity: Averted.
316* TheStrategist: That was supposed to be the plan - in reality, Juan sucks at long-term strategy.
317* TokenEvilTeammate: Out of all Borgias, he's the one that fits the Real Life myths of them being AxCrazy and evil.
318* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler: Right, Juan. Dangle Lucrezia's baby over a balcony in front of Cesare, who is not only extremely protective of said baby and its mother, but desperate to find a reason to kill you. And this is made worse by the fact that Juan believes that Cesare is the kid's father.]]
319* UsedToBeASweetKid: According to Vannozza. She finds him contemptible now.
320* WouldHurtAChild: He abuses Caterina's son and threatens to drop his nephew off a balcony.
321[[/folder]]
322
323[[folder:Joffre Borgia]]
324->'''Played By''': Creator/AidanAlexander
325
326The youngest of the Borgia children and the only one still behaving like a child. Aside from having an ArrangedMarriage, his political value is negligible.
327
328!!Tropes:
329
330* ArrangedMarriage: He was married to Sancia at the age of 13 for the political advancement of his family.
331* ChildrenAreInnocent: Though surrounded by corruption, he remained naive and well-meaning.
332* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Joffre disappeared along with Sancia by the time the second season rolled around and was only mentioned once in passing. But come season 3, the show is treating the character as though he never existed. The Showtime website even notes that his mother only has three children instead of four.
333* ConstantlyCurious: All the better for Rodrigo to InfoDump for the audience on.
334* PutOnABus: Ever since season two. One presumes he's in Squillace with Sancia?
335* TokenGoodTeammate: The only Borgia to stay out of the assorted debauchery going on, probably due to his age.
336* TheWatson: Other than acting as a political game piece during season one, Joffre's purpose seemed to be asking questions resulting in information the audience needed to know.
337* WhiteSheep: In all adaptations, he is never shown doing anything duplicitous or shady. [[TruthInTelevision In fact]], Rodrigo questioned whether Joffre [[InTheBlood was even his biological son]].
338[[/folder]]
339
340!Allies of the Borgias
341
342[[folder:Giulia Farnese]]
343[[quoteright:249:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/giuliafarnesefortvtropes_4955.jpg]]
344[[caption-width-right:249:"Beauty can be deadly when well used."]]
345->'''Played By''': Creator/LotteVerbeek
346
347A renowned Roman beauty who becomes Rodrigo's mistress and Lucrezia's mentor, having separated herself from her husband. We later learn she is quite skilled at diplomacy and finances.
348
349!!Tropes:
350
351* AmbiguouslyBi: In addition to the LesYay subtext with Lucrezia, Giulia certainly doesn't shy away from touching Vittoria.
352* CoolBigSis: She helps her brother get a cardinals hat and even assists him with his work. She also warns him to stay away from the Banquet of Chestnuts.
353%%* DarkMistress
354* DemotedToExtra: Barely even appears in Season 3.
355* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Kisses Vittoria to bring Rodrigo's attentions back to her.
356* GreenEyedMonster: Is quite concerned about Vittoria stealing away Rodrigo and taking away her power. She's perfectly fine with sharing him, as long as she's the dominant party.
357* HiddenDepths: In "Paolo", Rodrigo appoints her to the Consistatorial Council, in charge of Vatican finances. You'd think it was simply Rodrigo being his usual indulgent self, but then Giulia starts lecturing Piccolomini on Florentine bookkeeping.
358* InSeriesNickname: "La Bella Farnese".
359* MayDecemberRomance: Giulia and Rodrigo, who's several decades her senior.
360* {{Mentors}}: She serves as Lucrezia's teacher.
361* MsFanservice: Almost her role as Rodrigo's mistress, really.
362%%* SilkHidingSteel
363* UnusualEuphemism: Her [[CountryMatters "source of disquiet"]].
364* WorthyOpponent: Considers Vannozza this, and seeks out her counsel on matters both financial (such as how to ferret out the unscrupulous Cardinals) and personal (how to keep Rodrigo's attentions).
365[[/folder]]
366
367[[folder:Micheletto]]
368[[quoteright:228:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/michelettofortvtropes_3515.jpg]]
369[[caption-width-right:228:"I think someone as pitiless as you, Cardinal, may have need of someone as pitiless as me."]]
370->'''Played By''': Creator/SeanHarris
371
372An extremely skilled and apparently emotionless assassin who is recruited by Cesare after failing to poison him and his father. Becomes TheDragon to Cesare.
373
374!!Tropes:
375
376* AmbiguouslyBi: Is usually seen with men, but he has slept with a woman onscreen. Nobody knows if that was just for the job or if he is attracted to females (though the fact he didn't ''have to'' sleep with her but chose to anyway implies the latter). He also notes that he's killed many while abed with them, and does not specify men, making it possible he has slept with other women in the past. It does seem that he prefers men to women, in any case.
377* AxCrazy: Subverted: he's not actually unstable, but he's so paranoid and ruthless that he'll emotionlessly kill people for almost any remotely practical reason.
378-->'''Micheletto''': I have murdered infants in their beds... but only when the parents paid me.
379* BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork: Micheletto is usually the guy who kills or offers to kill otherwise harmless and innocent people to protect the Borgias(i.e. the maid who was to testify on Rodrigo's lechery accusations, the prostitute spying on Lucrezia for Juan, offering to drown Benito and [[spoiler: later kill him with an arrow to the heart]]).
380* BattleButler: His relationship with Cesare sometimes veers into this.
381* BewareTheQuietOnes: Not at all a talkative one, he is sparse with words and uses silence as a weapon.
382* BirdsOfAFeather: To Cesare. They hit it off quite well despite meeting under rather unfortunate circumstances.
383-->'''Micheletto''': I think someone as pitiless as you, Cardinal, might have need of someone as pitiless as me.
384* BondOneLiner: He doesn't say much, but when it does it's often an excellent mic-drop moment. In season two, Cesare allows Benito Sforza to go home to his mother, and Micheletto warns "that dog will come back to bite," and his existence does indeed cause problems. A full season later, they finally kill him:
385-->'''Micheletto:''' That dog will bite no more.
386* BrutalHonesty: Micheletto gives it cold and true to everyone unless it's a target.
387* DontTellMama: When Micheletto and Cesare visit the former's hometown Forli, Cesare discovers Micheletto not only has a mother, but she's rather doting and completely oblivious about what [[ProfessionalKiller her son really is]], believing he is studying to become a doctor. Cesare plays along with this lie by posing as his mentor, out of his own amusement. She also has no idea [[spoiler: he killed his own father.]]
388* TheDragon: To Cesare, becoming his lieutenant, his second-in-command and his most trusted ally. [[spoiler:So much so that the safety of baby Giovanni is entrusted to him on more than one occasion.]]
389* EtTuBrute: [[spoiler: Reacts this way to Pascal's betrayal, which is ''really'' saying something for a man like [[TheSociopath Micheletto]].]]
390* EvenEvilHasStandards: Micheletto doesn't emote much and won't shy from killing, but he has morals, even as he acts and tries being TheSociopath completely.
391** He stops Juan from raping a poor girl. Micheletto doesn't shy from killing women if need be, but he's not a rapist or a sadist.
392** He notes that the French brigade of men responsible for [[spoiler:the RapePillageAndBurn of the nunnery where Ursuala was]] are known for their sadism and cruelty and notes that they keep body parts as souvenirs.
393** He takes no pleasure in seeing an innocent woman get burnt at the stake for "witchcraft" and is vehemently against Friar Savonarola for his fanaticism and homophobia. The latter is more personal considering Micheletto's attraction to men.
394** Separating a child from its parent is the only act that Michelleto openly reviles. [[spoiler: In fact, this causes him to murder the King of Naples out of his own will, something uncharacteristic for Micheletto.]]
395* FauxAffablyEvil: Because of his role as TheSociopath, he never raises his tone and is always polite to his victims before he murders them in the most brutal of ways.
396* {{Foil}}: Plays the stoical, methodical professional to Cesare's dark, charismatic genius.
397* HiddenDepths: He shows a more human side to himself as the show goes on. [[spoiler:The way he holds baby Giovanni and the envious and sad look he gives the Borgia family when they are united implies on some level he does crave family and human connection.]]
398* LackOfEmpathy: At first, he's every emotionless and apathetic to what goes around him. [[spoiler: He later does admit to Lucrezia he has a heart, because it is suffering for her parting with her son.]]
399* LightningBruiser: Perhaps not particularly strong, but so fast that Cesare, no slouch with a sword, is stunned by his quickness, and that he can stoically endure torture.
400* MoralityPet:
401** In the third season, he had a lover named Pascal that allowed him to connect with his more human side. [[spoiler: It doesn't end well for either of them.]]
402** Likewise, Lucrezia and her son. [[spoiler: He kills the freaking King of Naples so they'll be reunited.]]
403* NotSoStoic: His stoicism goes through the window [[spoiler: When he discovers Pascal's betrayal, to the point ''he actually cries'']]
404* PhotographicMemory: Implied to have one. He cannot read, but is able to remember the shapes of the letters he sees and copy them perfectly.
405* PsychoForHire: He's not really psychotic, but the trope is still in play.
406* SelfMadeOrphan: He told Cesare he killed his father for very good reasons but still not clear what age he was when he killed him.
407* TheSociopath: While Micheletto does have some morals and isn't outright cruel or manipulative, he is very cold and apathetic to many things and seems to enjoy killing and will do so completely free of remorse or regret. This exchange sums it up quite well:
408-->'''Micheletto:''' What is your name, boy?\
409'''Paolo:''' Paolo.\
410'''Micheletto:''' Tell me of love, Paolo. I know nothing of it.
411* TheStoic: Barely bats an eyelid to being whipped.
412%%* ThenLetMeBeEvil
413* TooKinkyToTorture: His requests that Cesare whip him harder suggest that he might've been enjoying his beating a little more than intended.
414* TortureTechnician: The French scouting party pays for [[spoiler: Ursula's ear and life]]. ''Painfully''.
415* VillainousFriendship: With Cesare; originally Micheletto viewed their partnership as nothing more than another job he took on and Cesare viewed him simply as a useful tool, but the two grow a genuinely strong bond with each other as the series goes on. [[spoiler:Even after he leaves Cesare's service, he still provides his former employer with the means to destroy Fort Forli as a final favour.]]
416* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Views himself this way.
417* WouldHitAGirl: He doesn't discriminate on gender, especially when it comes to killing. Just ask that maid and the prostitute.
418* WouldHurtAChild:
419** Let's just say that if there's a type of person Micheletto won't kill, he hasn't met them and declined to kill them yet. Though it does perhaps make it somewhat more understandable that [[spoiler:the child in question had helped him with a potential assassination]].
420** He also claims to have killed babies in their cradles, but only when their parents paid him. So, yeah, he is ''willing" to kill children, [[PunchClockVillain but as part of his job, not for pleasure]].
421[[/folder]]
422
423[[folder:Sancia of Aragon]]
424[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Sancha_6634.jpg]]
425->'''Played By''': Creator/EmmanuelleChriqui
426
427The duchessa of Squillace, illegitimate daughter of the king of Naples, and the wife of Joffre Borgia. She carries on an affair with her husband's older brother, Juan.
428
429!!Tropes:
430
431* AffablyEvil: She's nice enough to Joffre ... even though she has sex with his brother right outside their bedroom before going to consummate their marriage.
432* ArrangedMarriage: To Joffre
433* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: After being PutOnABus during season 2, Sancia essentially stops existing come season 3, just like her husband, Joffre. Neither of them are mentioned even though Sancia's brother became engaged to Joffre's sister during season 2.
434%%* FemmeFatale
435* MakingLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces: On top of a table surrounded by dead people can uncontroversially count as a very wrong place.
436* PutOnABus: In season 2 and season 3.
437* SiblingTriangle: During season 1 she is at the center of one with Joffre and Juan Borgia, though Joffre seems blissfully unaware of this.
438* SympatheticAdulterer: She cheats on Joffre repeatedly before and after they marry. But he's 12. And she's a grown woman. It's not that hard to sympathize with her attraction to his older brother, Juan.
439[[/folder]]
440
441[[folder:Apprentice/Master Vittorio/Vittoria]]
442[[quoteright:325:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Vittoria_9465.jpg]]
443->'''Played By''': Creator/JemimaWest
444
445A youthful apprentice artisan whose cleverness and talent draws Rodrigo's attention, and is shortly thereafter promoted to master. In reality a young woman disguised as a boy because women, of course, can't become artisans. Rodrigo is taken with her, probably because he knows she is very capable of discretion.
446
447* AmbiguouslyBi: She didn't seem at all unwilling or surprised when Giulia kissed her. She also didn't mind when Rodrigo joined them.
448%%* GirlOnGirlIsHot
449* LivingADoubleLife: She is a woman disguised as a boy so she can become an artisan.
450* PutOnABus: Hasn't been seen since mid-season 2.
451* SexierAlterEgo: To the point Rodrigo is sincerely confused as to why she hides her beauty.
452* TheSmartGuy: Painting, sculpture, history, medicine - can even design and build cannons.
453* SweetPollyOliver: Though Rodrigo and Cesare see through her disguise fairly quickly.
454[[/folder]]
455
456[[folder:Niccolò Machiavelli]]
457[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/machiavellifortvtropes_3894.png]]
458[[caption-width-right:300:"We let those French barbarians march through our principality and do nothing? Cardinal, that is a different kind of nothing. That will cost you something."]]
459->'''Played By''': Creator/JulianBleach
460
461!!Tropes:
462
463* TheConsigliere: To the Medici and, increasingly, to Cesare.
464* DeadpanSnarker: The Borgias' equal in sarcasm and witty declarations.
465* DoubleAgent: He tips Cesare off on where to locate a cache of Medici gold owed to the Church.
466* {{Doublespeak}}: Does this with the word "''[[ExaggeratedTrope nothing]]''."
467* ForYourOwnGood: His likely justification for revealing the cache's whereabouts, as it’s in Piero de Medici’s best interest not to piss off Rome.
468* HypercompetentSidekick: Despite officially being recognized as the Medici family banker, the way he handles Piero when the Pope comes to Florence makes him look more like a glorified babysitter. And as he puts it to Cesare; "Signor de Medici values my opinion; especially as he does not have one of his own."
469* KnowledgeBroker: Machiavelli is Cesare’s go-to man for news on Florence and Savonarola.
470* MentorArchetype: Something of one to Cesare, who puts his ruthless philosophy to practice.
471* OnlySaneMan: In all of Florence, he's the only person to realize the idiocy of surrendering the city to the French King and the excesses of Savonarola's theocratic regime.
472* PragmaticVillainy: Machiavelli regularly imparts the merits of this to Cesare.
473* PunchClockVillain: So far his 'villainy' has amounted to advising/dealing with Cesare and, to the Florentines, serving the Medicis and opposing Savonarola. He treats his ruthless philosophy as theory and he’s one of the few characters on the show who has not performed, solicited, actively consented to or ordered an act of violence. Otherwise, he seems like a decent enough guy, if also very sardonic.
474* ShoutOut: As they watch a woman being burnt at the stake for witchcraft, Machiavelli educates Cesare on the use fear has as a tool. This is likely a nod to Machiavelli's (in)famous adage that it is [[BeamMeUpScotty "better to be feared than loved"]] from ''Literature/ThePrince'', which was inspired by his interactions with the real-life Cesare.
475* TheSpock: He's all about logic and pragmatism, and never loses his cool.
476* TheStoic: Even watching his hometown fall under the control of a zealot who hates everything he and those he serves represent fails to elicit much, if any, visible reaction from him. He does lament the destruction of a Creator/SandroBotticelli painting during the Bonfire of the Vanities, however.
477%%* TallDarkAndSnarky: Emphasis on Dark and Snarky.
478[[/folder]]
479
480[[folder:Alfonso d'Aragona]]
481->'''Played By''': Creator/SebastianDeSouza
482
483Lucrezia's young, innocent suitor. He appears somewhat naive in the world of Italian politics thus far, and is instantly taken with Lucrezia though he at first has no idea that it's her. He soon becomes betrothed to Lucrezia, and will, according to history, be her second husband.
484
485* AccidentalMurder: PlayedWith. [[spoiler:Cesare fully intended to kill Alfonso, but he wanted Rufio to kill Alfonso in the streets of Rome at night. Instead, Cesare killed Alfonso by accidentally impaling him in self-defense.]]
486-->'''Cesare'''[[spoiler:''(seeing Lucrezia watching this in shock)'':[[OhCrap It's not what you think!]]]]
487* AlcoholInducedIdiocy: Probably what induced him to [[spoiler: provoke Cesare into a "sparring" contest.]] And [[spoiler: ask him about his very dead brother.]] Not that he doesn't have good reason to be mad.
488* BettyAndVeronica: Cesare, of all people, invokes this trope when talking about Alfonso. He's a sharp contrast to Lucrezia's first husband, and more specifically, Cesare himself. Lucrezia's sweet, chaste dance with Alfonso versus her close, intimate dance [[IncestSubtext with her brother]] versus her strictly professional and mechanical dance with Giovanni Sforza illustrates their differences. Basically, he's the Betty to Lucrezia's [[TheSociopath very]], very, Veronica brother. And he doesn't miss it.
489* {{Foreshadowing}}: Lucrezia's repeated declaration of "poor boy". This is specific to him because [[spoiler: he is destined to be the victim of Cesare's jealousy, and will be murdered at his order.]] That is, if the show sticks to history, which it most likely will in this case. [[spoiler: Confirmed in 3x10, albeit accidentally.]]
490* FourthDateMarriage: Well, first date [[spoiler: betrothal]].
491* HenpeckedHusband: Comes off as this. He generally follows Lucrezia's lead, which makes sense as she is more experienced than him in every way.
492* MercyKill: [[spoiler:Asks Lucrezia to end his life after he's slowly dying from being fatally stabbed by Cesare. She reluctantly complies and is found by Cesare numbly lying on top of Alfonso's body.]]
493%%* ReplacementGoldfish: Bears many similarities in temperament to Paolo.
494* SexlessMarriage: [[spoiler: Implies in "Tears of Blood" that aside from their consummation, he and Lucrezia have this.]]
495* SmarterThanYouLook: He comes off as kind of ditzy for most of "The Confession." Yet, his suspicious expression as he watches Lucrezia and Cesare dance indicates that he's sharper than he looks, and is beginning to wonder what he got himself into. It's also pretty clear [[spoiler: he's figured out Cesare killed Juan.]]
496* TheirFirstTime: Well, not Lucrezia's, but his. And he gets to do it [[spoiler: with his uncle watching and his wife getting off to eye contact with her brother.]] [[SarcasmMode Good times for Alfonso.]]
497[[/folder]]
498
499[[folder:Bianca Gonzaga]]
500->'''Played By''': Creator/MeliaKreiling
501
502Bianca is introduced in season 2 as a mistress of Rodrigo Borgia's. He later discovers that she has married Francesco Gonzaga, an ally of Rodrigo's.
503
504!!Tropes:
505
506* BathSuicide: [[spoiler:What Cardinal Sforza sets her death up to look like, instead of having slit her throat in the Pope's rooms.]]
507* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Realizing Rodrigo wants to send her to a convent rather than let her stay with him and have his "child".]]
508* EstablishingCharacterMoment: When Rodrigo mentions that Giulia will be jealous if she found out about them, her response is "Why?" She does not care about monogamy and even seems to find it funny.
509* TheMistress: She is introduced as a secondary mistress to Rodrigo.
510* SanitySlippage: In "The Wolf and the Lamb", her [[spoiler: forced abortion by Francesco makes her believe she is still pregnant, carrying Rodrigo's child. She seems to be on her way to stealing baby Giovanni before [[DrivenToSuicide things get worse]].]]
511[[/folder]]
512
513[[folder:Charlotte d'Albret]]
514->'''Played By''': Creator/AnaUlaru
515
516Charlotte d'Albret is introduced in season 3 as Cesare's wife and a key to his political alliance with France. Depending on how closely the show follows history, we may not see her much, as the historical Charlotte married Cesare, got pregnant by him, and never saw him again.
517
518* DeadpanSnarker: She matches Cesare's wit with her own. [[TypeCasting It's Ana Ularu. What do you expect?]]
519* EstablishingCharacterMoment: In her first meeting with Cesare, she states that she wants a child, a hot husband who can ensure that the kid will be beautiful, and to be left in France with her own relative independence. She's exceedingly practical and witty.
520* FourthDateMarriage: They not only became politically engaged, but quite intimate in a span of days. Justified, because Charlotte, as Cesare, mean for it to be a friendly political alliance.
521* FriendsWithBenefits: Seems to share this relationship with Cesare. They get along quite well both platonically and sexually, and she has no problem with the fact that he doesn't love her romantically.
522* HappilyMarried: Though he [[spoiler: leaves]] after the wedding night and there's no deep love between them, Cesare and Charlotte easily have the most functional marriage on this show. At very least, they get along and are BirdsOfAFeather concerning cunning and sarcams.
523* PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: In terms of both parties getting what they want from each other.
524[[/folder]]
525
526[[folder:King Louis XII]]
527->'''Played By''': Creator/SergeHazanavicius
528
529The successor of King Charles of France, but unlike his predecessor, an ally to the Borgias who seeks to have annulment for his marriage.
530
531%%* BlueBlood
532* TheQuietOne: In contrast to [[LargeHam Charles]], Louis doesn't speak all that much.
533* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: He's seen leading his army alongside Cesare.
534* TheStoic: Unlike his predecessor, he is calm and stony all the time.
535* TeethClenchedTeamwork: Cesare and Rodrigo don't exactly love King Louis [specially since he seeks to claim Milan for himself], nor does Louis, but they have a [rather uneasy] alliance over the Sforza Problem.
536[[/folder]]
537
538[[folder:Mattai]]
539->'''Played by:''' Brendan Cowell
540
541The leader of a band of Jewish refugees who seek a new life in the province of Rome.
542
543* AllJewsAreCheapskates: Downplayed. He bickers with Rodrigo over the taxes he and his people must pay in order to be allowed into Rome. Justified, as the prices Rodrigo demands are shown to be highly detrimental to their wares and what little money they still have.
544* GreedyJew: He and Rodrigo scheme to corner the market on sulphur so they can control the production of gunpowder in Italy. He also seeks to gain much through his alliance with Rodrigo.
545* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He may be quite the schemer himself, but he's also a good man underneath it all and does much of what he does for the sake of his people and clearly doesn't want others to get hurt because of him. [[spoiler:In fact, his heartfelt plea to Cesare and Rodrigo about the bonds of family is what makes them finally reconcile.]]
546* TheLeader: Mattai is the clever and resourceful leader of the Jewish community that have arrived in Rome.
547* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: Zigzagged. He is reluctant to shed his traditional curls and beard for the sake of appearing as a Catholic and considers it an offence to his faith, but he does so out of pragmatism and reminds his fellow Jews that doing so secures their access to Rome. He also doesn't mind playing along with being Catholic when all the others express anger at the idea.
548* SnakeOilSalesman: Zigzagged. It's unclear whether or not the Spear of Longinus he possesses is truly the fabled lance from the bible (though it most likely isn't) and he proves himself to be quite the shifty tradesman and negotiator, but he also expresses dismay when he thinks Rodrigo will destroy it, proving that while he uses it as a means to hold sway over the Vatican, he seems to genuinely believe it to be real as well.
549* ThickerThanWater: Per his Jewish faith, he believes the bonds of family to be unbreakable and is distraught to see the Borgias fighting amongst each other.
550* WarRefugees: It seems that he and his people were cast out of their homes due to the war and fled to Rome to seek new lives.
551* WorthyOpponent: Both Cesare and Rodrigo come to respect him and neither give him any grief for being Jewish despite their strong Catholic beliefs.
552[[/folder]]
553
554!The Sforza Family
555
556[[folder:General Tropes]]
557
558%%* AffablyEvil: They all have it in them to very dark degrees.
559%%* BadassFamily: Mostly Caterina, however.
560* DysfunctionalFamily: Oh, boy. While the Borgias are pretty bad at family relationships, the Sforza come across as even worse, mostly because of Giovanni and Ludovico.
561* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes:
562** They might be pretty unscrupulous, but for the most part, they seem to care about each other. Ascanio might be the exception since he basically tells Rodrigo he has no problem with him going after Caterina because she is a woman who doesn't know her place.
563** Downplayed heavily, especially considering what we see of their interactions. Ascanio, Caterina and Ludovico don't hold Giovanni in high regard. Ascanio is a Wild Card towards everyone, [[spoiler: and betrays Caterina by trying to sell her son out to Cesare]]. Ascanio leaves everyone to their fate after Ludovico kills one of their cousin Gian to remain Duke of Milan. Caterina loves her son, but is willing to let him be tortured and killed for the sole purpose of defying Rodrigo. They all see Ascanio as a convenient resource in the Vatican. They seem to have the same ThickerThanBlood philosophy Rodrigo tries installing in his own family, swearing to help one another, but they are far less sincere and affectionate in their bonds, their alliance being mostly political.
564* EvilIsPetty: Caterina, Ludovico and Giovanni hate the Borgias to a passion... because they're from Spain.
565* EvilVersusEvil: The Sforzas vs. the Borgias. Unlike what you see in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'', they're just as bad as, if not worse than, the Borgias, especially because their sole motivation is greed and prejudice.
566* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain:
567** Their whole reason for hating the Borgias is one: they're from Spain and AmbiguouslyJewish. Also because Rodrigo's children are legitimized bastards.
568** Giovanni is cruel to Lucrezia because Cesare brought his mother, a former courtesan, to her own child's post-wedding party. Also, he didn't like the theater Juan put up.
569%%** Ludovico. Period.
570%%Not enough context. Period. Do not uncomment this without expanding it to explain what makes Ludovico politically incorrect.
571* StupidEvil: They started the whole conflict out of petty prejudice and arrogance, and continued making matters worse out of pride and stubbornness, despite numerous attempts by Rodrigo and Cesare to try and make peace.
572[[/folder]]
573
574[[folder:Cardinal Ascanio Sforza]]
575[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ascaniosforzafortvtropes_4890.jpg]]
576[[caption-width-right:300:"I would say that the one who would be suitable to become vice-chancellor would be wise to support the vice-chancellor who would be pope."]]
577->'''Played By''': Creator/PeterSullivan
578
579Part-time [[TheDragon Dragon]] to Rodrigo, in the first two seasons, Ascanio's loyalties seem to lie with his family and the church in general. Things look to be changing in season three.
580
581* AffablyEvil: Not to the same extent as the Borgias, but he's usually reserved and well-mannered even in the face of all the chaos around him and out of all his family, he has the firmest sense of honour and morals.
582* TheComicallySerious: Most of time, Ascanio is completely stoic and calm. While paired to the CloudCuckoolander Rodrigo Borgia and his BigScrewedUpFamily, HIS OWN BigScrewedUpFamily or his fellow belligerent, corrupt GenreBlind JerkAss cardinals. In the end, he seems to be OnlySaneMan around, which makes his stoic reactions all the more funny.
583* DeadpanSnarker: One can't help but comparing him to [[Franchise/HarryPotter Severus Snape]], with his dry, stoic wit and being TheComicallySerious.
584* TheDragon: Maneuvers himself into being Rodrigo's, in exchange for taking over Rodrigo's old position.
585* DragonWithAnAgenda: Unfortunately, he's still a Sforza.
586* EvenEvilHasStandards: Ascanio has all the looks and demeanors of a SinisterMinister, but he is horrified and disgusted by the things done around him, both by the Borgias AND his own family.
587** His face to when Ludovico poisons their cousin just to remain Duke of Milan, right in front of him. The Borgias have their flaws, but they don't kill their own kin for power.
588** [[spoiler:He's horrified by the collapse of the Sistine Chapel that claims the life of an innocent young alter boy and is one of the only people to stay behind to help Rodrigo rescue the survivors and the injured.]]
589** [[spoiler: He is clearly in TranquilFury mode while dealing with Francesco for what he did to Bianca.]]
590* EvilChancellor: [[spoiler:Subverted, believe it or not. He has all the necessary ingredients for the trope, but he ultimately proves to be an honourable man and only partakes in the treachery and corruption as much as is necessary for him to remain. In fact, he's probably one of the only genuinely decent chancellors and cardinals in the entire college.]]
591* GetOutOfJailFreeCard: In exchange for [[spoiler: helping the Borgias purge the Vatican of many of the corrupt cardinals and turning his back on his family,]] Ascanio becomes an even more trusted Dragon to Rodrigo and Cesare and given more power.
592* HalfheartedHenchman: Not actually too evil; he was born into a BigScrewedUpFamily and must serve a ManipulativeBastard of a Pope.
593* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:However begrudgingly he kept himself from murdering Rodrigo when he had the chance, he still warned Cesare about the plot against Lucrezia, Vannozza, and Giovanni, and has served the Borgias well ever since.]]
594* HypercompetentSidekick: Seems to be growing into this, if his actions after [[spoiler:Bianca's suicide]] in "The Wolf and the Lamb" are any indication.
595* KissingCousins: In "The Borgias In Love", Rodrigo catches him in bed with a woman. He makes an excuse for the liaison by revealing she is his cousin (twice removed, to Rodrigo's mild relief).
596* OnlySaneEmployee: His bitchfaces during Rodrigo's CloudCuckoolander antics in consistory are ''hilarious''.
597* OnlySaneMan: Seems to be the sole Sforza who doesn't want to go for broke when it comes to killing the Borgias. Whether that's because he's nicer or because it's not politically expedient or whether Ascanio's only in it for himself is anyone's guess.
598* PetTheDog:
599** He's not known for his warm, fuzzy feelings towards the Borgias, but in "The Confession", he handles the search for [[spoiler: Juan's body]] with surprising sensitivity, even breaking the news to Rodrigo gently.
600** When the lightning bolt strikes the Art/SistineChapel and kill the choir boys, Ascanio is so horrified he can't leave the church, and was implied to be one of the few who dared helping gather the bodies.
601** He is also [[spoiler: horrified by what Francesco did to Bianca, and comforted the Pope as he cradled her body that he would deal with it.]]
602* ShedTheFamilyName: [[spoiler:Only metaphorically, but as of "The Purge", Ascanio admits he's more of a Borgia now than a Sforza.]]
603* SinisterMinister: Downplayed. He is corrupt and self-interested like almost every cardinal, but he's far more benevolent and friendly.
604* WhatYouAreInTheDark: [[spoiler:When Caterina's [[TheDragon Dragon]] urges him to kill the poisoned Rodrigo and end the Borgia reign, he has the dagger in hand and contemplates it... until Cesare comes in and asks if everything is alright. He could've easily lied and led Cesare away, instead he tells Cesare the truth and saves them from being killed, earning their trust and proving he's not the same as the rest of his family.]]
605* WhiteSheep: Downplayed. [[spoiler:He's still out for himself and has the same scheming angle as his family, but he's also nowhere near as ruthless or cruel as them and adheres to his sense of honour and morals far better than the others do.]]
606[[/folder]]
607
608[[folder:Giovanni Sforza]]
609[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Sforza_8656.jpg]]
610[[caption-width-right:350: "Good, then we need hardly see each other except when marital duties call. Then I will keep them brief and businesslike."]]
611->'''Played By''': Creator/RonanVibert
612
613A noble from a formidable Roman family, married to Lucrezia for the benefit of political connections.
614
615!! Tropes:
616
617* AgeLift: Giovanni Sforza was 28-years-old when he married Lucrezia, while Ronan Vibert was in his late forties when they filmed the series.
618* TheBrute: It's hard to say who's worse, Giovanni or Ludovico.
619* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler:In real life he outlived both Rodrigo and Cesare]].
620* DumbMuscle: According to Ascanio. He inherited the Sforza name, but not the Sforza cunning.
621* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: The real Giovanni Sforza didn't touch his childlike wife for months.
622* HumiliationConga: Rodrigo puts him through one in front of the entire College of Cardinals and later, the people of Rome, for abusing Lucrezia.
623%%* MaritalRapeLicense: Poor Lucrezia...
624* PetTheDog: The part where, [[spoiler: after his "accident"]] he accepts that he "was not kind" to Lucrezia and "forgives [her] for the accident of her birth" (ie. being lower-born than him) may be a combination of massive understatement and truly staggering arrogance, but it is at least some attempt by him to be nice to his wife.
625* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:Taunting Cesare, insulting his sister and father, after Cesare and Micheletto kidnapped him in his very home and brought him all the way to Rome. While they're alone and Cesare's holding a knife. ''Being aware of the IncestSubtext between him and Lucrezia.'' At this point, Giovanni should have realized by now Cesare is TheUnfettered {{Yandere}}. Plus, there's the whole sending French scouts to destroy one of Cesare's monasteries and ended up killing Ursula...]]
626[[/folder]]
627
628[[folder:Caterina Sforza]]
629[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Caterina1_5600.jpg]]
630[[caption-width-right:350: "I will never, NEVER bend my knee to the whoremaster of Rome!"]]
631->'''Played By''': Creator/GinaMcKee
632
633Cousin of Giovanni, Lodovico, and Ascanio; she emerges as a force to be reckoned with.
634
635* BadassBoast: In "The Siege of Forlì":
636-->'''Caterina''': This is my answer. You can take my son, but do you see? Here! I have the means to produce ten more sons, and they will hunt you down, and send you to your grave!
637%%* TheBaroness: Sexpot variety.
638* BigBad: Is the main antagonist to the Borgias after King Charles and Cardinal Della Rovere are out of the picture.
639* TheChessmaster: Caterina is the brains behind the entire Sforza family, and much of the money too.
640* DatingCatwoman: She manages to seduce Cesare.
641* AFateWorseThanDeath: [[spoiler: At least in her conception. She wanted to go out in a blaze of glory in a legendary way, instead she was stripped of all her lands, titles, riches and carried in chains towards her worst enemy, completely humiliated.]]
642%%* FemmeFatale: Even Cesare is stunned by her.
643* {{Hypocrite}}:
644** She calls Cesare a murderer for [[spoiler: killing Giovanni]]. That after she tried murdering his whole family indirectly through helping the French TWICE.
645** While she hates the Borgias for being Spaniards, she clearly has no problem [[spoiler: fucking with Cesare.]]
646%%* IronLady
647* LadyOfWar:
648-->'''Charles''': You think the blood of the Borgia pope could cure us, Catherina Sforza?\
649'''Caterina''': We could bathe in it together, Your Majesty.
650* LastOfHisKind: [[spoiler: By the end of the third season, she's the last survivng Sforza (with the exception of Ascanio, who ShedTheFamilyName).]]
651* MamaBear: As Juan finds out, it's not a good idea to fuck with her son.
652%%* ManipulativeBitch
653* MoreDeadlyThanTheMale: The Sforza men tend to be overblown, blustering physically-imposing lugs; Caterina runs rings around them and is acknowledged by the Borgias to be the most dangerous of the lot.
654* OutGambitted: [[spoiler: Twice by Cesare. The first time, Cesare manages to sneak through the entire French army without her realizing, leaving her unable to prepare for a siege. The second time, Cesare repeatedly fires at the ground in front of the gate, with her failing to realize that he's trying to make the ground collapse until it's too late.]]
655* RedBaron: The Tigress Of Forli.
656%%* SilkHidingSteel
657* TookALevelInBadass: Several. From simpering before Charles to taunting Juan from the battlements of Forli to masterminding two plots on the lives of the Borgia family. She's definitely not done yet.
658* VillainousBSOD: [[spoiler: When Cesare reaches the gates of Forli in a surprise attack, Catarina is practically catatonic. She does manage to recover briefly, but she never quite returns to her normal mood ever again, spending the entire episode with a empty gaze.]]
659[[/folder]]
660
661[[folder:Ludovico Sforza]]
662->'''Played By''': Creator/IvanKaye
663
664Cousin of Caterina, Ascanio, and Giovanni, Ludovico is the Duke of Milan.
665
666!!Tropes:
667
668* AxCrazy: You thought Charles was slightly off his rocker? Ludovico beats him by miles. You know how Charles had some SanitySlippage [[spoiler: because of the Naples plague]]? That's Ludovico, 24/7. And he is disappointed and annoyed if he CAN'T act like that all the time.
669* BoomHeadshot: [[spoiler:Courtesy of Cesare and his new gun.]]
670%%* TheBrute: Both in role and personality.
671* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler: Type II. In the show's canon, he dies in 1498 in an open field at the very start of the Italian Wars, but in real life Ludovico was merely captured along the same period, and only died, still incarcerated by the French, in 1508.]]
672* EvenEvilHasStandards: He seems pretty enraged that [[spoiler: Cesare killed Benito when he just promised to arrest him]], this might be a case of PragmaticVillainy, however, and he doesn't seem overly pissed off by it.
673* EvilUncle: [[spoiler: To Benito, selling him out to the Borgias. On his defense, he was told Benito would be incarcerated, not ''killed''.]]
674** Before that, he was pressured into giving up his duchy to his nephew the rightful Duke of Milan. This lasts for all of a minute before Ludovico poisons the nephew, settling the issue.
675%%* FalseFriend: [[spoiler: To Benito.]]
676* HairTriggerTemper: Just try suggesting he's not the rightful Duke of Milan.
677%%* HotBlooded
678* InSeriesNickname: "Il Moro" ("the Moor").
679* NiceJobFixingItVillain: It's quite clear Ascanio's reluctance at betraying the Borgias for his family started when Ludovico poisoned their cousin in front of him.
680* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: [[spoiler: Tries selling Benito out to the Borgias. This gets both of them killed.]]
681* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:Trusted [[MagnificentBastard Cesare Borgia]]. Who is actively seeking to destroy the entire Sforza line. And is holding a gun during their meeting.]]
682[[/folder]]
683
684[[folder:Benito Riario]]
685->'''Played By''': Noah Silver
686
687The son of Caterina Sforza who accompanies her mother during some of her dealings with the Borgias in order to learn how to become a leader.
688
689!!Tropes:
690
691%%* CanonForeigner
692* EtTuBrute: [[spoiler: "I entrusted you...your barbarian.."]]
693* FollowInMyFootsteps: Caterina is training Benito to become a leader like her, though she knows he will not be a warrior.
694* IHaveYourWife: Juan kidnaps Caterina's son Benito to force her to surrender Forli.
695%%* LuredIntoATrap
696* OverlordJr: Though, both Cesare and Caterina admit, he's no soldier material.
697[[/folder]]
698
699[[folder:Rufio]]
700->'''Played By''': Thure Lindhardt
701
702An assassin in the employ of the Sforza family.
703
704!!Tropes:
705
706* TheDragon: To Caterina Sforza, sent to Rome to kill the Borgias.
707* EvilCounterpart: To Micheletto, even similar in looks. He lampshades this.
708* GeniusBruiser: Any man who can use chemical warfare in the middle of the renaissance qualifies.
709%%* ProfessionalKiller
710%%* PsychoForHire
711* TheSpymaster: Controls and coordinates all of Caterina's [many] spies.
712[[/folder]]
713
714!Enemies of the Borgias
715
716[[folder:Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere]]
717[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dellaroverefortvtropes_2547.jpg]]
718[[caption-width-right:300:"Sometimes goodness is in need of a little badness."]]
719->'''Played By''': Creator/ColmFeore
720
721Rodrigo's most persistent opponent among the college of cardinals, and the man who will eventually become Pope Julius II.
722
723!!Tropes:
724
725* ActionSurvivor: Has survived stabbing, strangling, and poisoning so far.
726%%* BadassPreacher
727* {{Determinator}}
728--> [to Rodrigo] "I will fight you, with all the resources at my disposal. I will fight you to the end...and beyond, if need be."
729* EvilMentor: To Antonello.
730* ForegoneConclusion: della Rovere will become Pope Julius II.
731* GuileHero: While he is frequently OutGambitted by the Borgias, he is quite clever.
732* HeroAntagonist: Though calling him "hero" might be pushing it.
733* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Slowly becomes more and more ruthless in his quest to destroy The Borgias.
734* HistoricalInJoke: della Rovere names his capuchin monkey Julius, the name he historically takes when he himself becomes pope.
735* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: He is sure inviting the French army to invade Italy is a good thing, until he sees the [[RapePillageAndBurn results]] of his actions. Cue this trope.
736* ProperlyParanoid: At the beginning of season 2, the Borgias [[spoiler:''poison his communion wine'']]. From that point on he refuses to eat or drink anything that has not been tested by a Capuchin monkey he acquires. Which is a CallBack to Cesare's monkey from "The Assassin" that drinks the poisoned wine.
737* ReligiousBruiser: della Rovere is pretty handy with a knife, for a priest.
738%%* SlowlySlippingIntoEvil: Not that he was wholesome good to start with.
739* TookALevelInBadass: Being continuously in fear for his life has really toughened this guy up.
740* TheUnfettered: While he doesn't enjoy carrying out evil deeds, he has no problem calling them NecessarilyEvil, single-mindedly continuing his efforts to destroy Rodrigo.
741* WellIntentionedExtremist: In his worst moments: He's merely trying to restore the state of the holy church, whatever it takes. [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation However, how sincere that is, and what he regards as "restoring" is rather ambiguous]]. While Rodrigo is rather lecherous and scheming, he is mostly a NiceGuy and does try making Rome a better place to live(i.e. [[VisionaryVillain "make it shine as it did beneath the Caesars"]]) and ensuring the cardinals won't corrupt what he builds for their own benefit, and [[IDidWhatIHadToDo most of his cruel actions are to defend himself and his family]], and [[HeelRealization he himself feels he's being a bad person]]. della Rovere's whole motivation begins and ends with "dethroning the Borgias because I don't like them and consider them evil", with no clues or indications whether he would be better than Rodrigo, has even less PetTheDog moments than Rodrigo has (and is real quick to ignore or dismiss any redeeming moment or quality Rodrigo has) and is only a step away from Savonarola's brand of SinisterMinister KnightTemplar.
742* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The show's third and final season finishes most of the plot points well, but Cardinal della Rovere simply vanishes off the show.[[labelnote:*]] In real life, della Rovere emerged again after Rodrigo's death three years after his last appearance in the show, Rovere OutGambitted Cesare, became the Pope, destroyed all political power the Borgia lineage ever had and had Cesare killed.[[/labelnote]]
743* WithUsOrAgainstUs: "If goodness is at the service of badness, can it still be called such?"
744* WorthyOpponent: Certainly regarded as such by Cesare (who, in fact, uses these precise words to describe him).
745[[/folder]]
746
747[[folder:King Charles VIII]]
748->'''Played By:''' Michel Muller
749
750The arrogant, warmongering King of France. He believes Naples is his by birthright, and the Borgias are standing in his way.
751
752!!Tropes:
753
754* AFatherToHisMen: Part of reason he attacks Lucca: his men won't fight for him unless they can get some spoils of war, and whatever he pays them is not enough to make them march all the way to Naples.
755* AffablyEvil: He's extremely blunt but he also shows that he's willing to PetTheDog at times. Fittingly, in real life he was known as "the Affable."
756* AgeLift: The real Charles VII of France was only in his mid to late 20s during the events of the series and only 27 [[spoiler: when he died]]. In the series, he is portrayed by the older Michel Muller and seems to be a veteran military leader and commander.
757* AntiVillain: Like the Borgias themselves, he comes off as this because he's merely ruthless and AffablyEvil in a series full of AxCrazy {{Jerkass}}es.
758* BigEater: His first scenes are of eating rather voraciously.
759* BirdsOfAFeather:
760** With Rodrigo Borgia, due to TheChainsOfCommanding. Reaches into WorthyOpponent level.
761** Also with Caterina Sforza. He seems quite turned on by her own BloodKnight demeanor.
762* BloodKnight: He even warns Della Rovere about this when the latter wants to sic him on Italy. Later on, he sacks Lucca without provocation (apparently not TruthInTelevision) and then berates the horrified cardinal when the latter gets cold feet.
763* BrutalHonesty: Expects this from everyone.
764%%* BusCrash
765* ButtMonkey: He really is unattractive, but people take great pains to point out his shortcomings. However, he insists on BrutalHonesty from everyone around him. He has no interest in polite lies, and refuses to talk to della Rovere until he acknowledges his ugliness.
766* TheChainsOfCommanding: Rodrigo correctly calculates that behind his image of a powerful king, Charles is a man who very much feels burdened by the enormous task that God put on his shoulders and is in need of spiritual guidance.
767* DeadpanSnarker: BrutalHonesty is his shtick, after all.
768* DroppedABridgeOnHim: [[spoiler: In-universe, his death is considered so ignominious (bashing his head on a door frame, which he somehow managed despite being very short), that the cardinals can't help but chuckle.]]
769* NobleDemon: Not a very nice person, but he is nowhere near Ludovico and Giovanni Sforza's levels of cruelty and brutality.
770* PayEvilUntoEvil: He believes Alfonso of Naples set the plague on his own city. In return he hunts him down, forces him to give him a tour through his father's torture chambers, and then subjects him to them.
771* PragmaticVillainy: Willing to use whomever comes his way, whether it be della Rovere, Giulia Farnese, or Lucrezia.
772* SelfDeprecation: Considers his head ugly, and actually admits he's not a good person, being a BloodKnight and all.
773%%* TheStrategist
774* UndignifiedDeath: [[spoiler:Hitting his head on a door frame. Rodrigo is NOT pleased by it, nor by the cardinals' jesting.]]
775* VillainousCrush: He's pretty smitten by Lucrezia, and will not harm her.
776* WarIsHell: Firmly believes in and embodies the concept, and is contemptuous of the Italians for the supposed "honor" in their wars.
777* WorthyOpponent: Rodrigo clearly considers him this. [[spoiler: The fact that he doesn't see anything remotely amusing about his rather pathetic end, and tells the chuckling cardinals that Charles had more steel in him than both the cardinals put together, almost brings him into AntagonistInMourning territory.]]
778[[/folder]]
779
780[[folder:Girolamo Savonarola]]
781->'''Played By''': Creator/StevenBerkoff
782!!Tropes:
783
784* BadassPreacher: "World of Wonders" shows him [[spoiler: walking through a pathway of fire, and even when he fails and is brought to Rome in chains, he still retains his badassitude.]]
785* {{Cult}}: The people of Florence are still Catholics, but they are so devoted to Savonarola they probably count.
786* DarkShepherd: Out of all clerics in this story, he's the scariest, most sinister and easily the most cruel.
787* TheDayOfReckoning: Preaches it early and often.
788* DefiantToTheEnd: [[spoiler: Rodrigo offers him one last chance of redemption. Savanarola spits at him.]]
789* EasyEvangelism: Some of his converts are obviously intimidated, but the vast majority seem to truly believe. It helps that Berkoff, as a veteran actor, is quite charismatic.
790%%* FatBastard
791%%* TheFundamentalist
792* TheHeretic: See also {{Cult}}; because of his disobedience and preaching against the Pope, this is Alexander's plan to get rid of him.
793* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: The real Savanarola broke under torture.
794* HolierThanThou: Noteworthy in that Savonarola ''turned down'' a cardinalship, which has apparently never been done.
795* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler: Burned at the stake, with the flame lit by a sodomite.]]
796* KnightTemplar: While della Rovere has moments where he shows regret for his actions, Savonarola thinks he's 100% right.
797* LaserGuidedKarma: [[spoiler: The Friar who used his tongue to cause great trouble...having his tongue cut out.]]
798* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Burns women as witches, and has hunted down homossexuals before, as he boasts to Micheletto.
799* SinisterMinister: Not violent yet, though his preaching has inspired much violence, some self-inflicted, some...not. Still utterly devoted to God and utterly unafraid of the Borgias.
800%%* SuspiciouslySpecificSermon: In-universe version.
801%%* TurbulentPriest
802[[/folder]]
803
804[[folder:Cardinal Julius Versucci]]
805[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/001_Paolo_screencap_of_Julius_Versucci_250px_9865.png]]
806->'''Played By''': Vernon Dobtcheff
807
808A cardinal during the first three seasons of the show.
809
810!!Tropes:
811* BathSuicide: [[spoiler: Rather than allow the pope's assassin to kill him, he took his own life.]]
812%%* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: [[spoiler: See BathSuicide.]]
813* CanonForeigner: Versucci is not based on any historical cardinals.
814* DidntSeeThatComing: Rodrigo laughs when he finds out that Julius didn't just take his dismissal from the college of cardinals well and had a fiery response.
815* HeManWomanHater: The two times he speaks in season 2, it's to complain about having his position as accountant taken from him (rightfully so, given his corruption and embezzlement of Papal finances) and given to Julia Farnese, and then later complain about letting Lucrezia sit on the pope chair while Rodrigo is away. He is polite to the nuns he gives money to in season three, but seeing how he's doing that to get back at Rodrigo... Or because they're nuns. You know, those women who are convinced or forced into becoming servants of the church, which is controlled by males? They count as "acceptable female servants" for him.
816%%* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Read HeManWomanHater above.
817* SinisterMinister: He uses his position in the church to make a profit while the Roman poor go hungry. After Rodrigo is poisoned, he is among the cardinals who tries to position himself to benefit.
818* TooDumbToLive: Crossing Rodrigo Borgia, or those he loves, is a good way to get yourself screwed. He fails at understanding that reality constantly.
819* UndignifiedDeath: [[spoiler:Thought he would cripple Rodrigo and rob him of his chance of revenge by committing suicide. As Micheletto informs him right before his death, Rodrigo merely laughed. Julius' face goes from amused to disappointed right before he dies pathetically from bloodloss.]]
820[[/folder]]
821
822!Others
823
824[[folder:Johannes Burchard]]
825->'''Played By''': Simon McBurney
826
827Burchard is an expert in canon law who is brought in frequently throughout season one to interpret canon law in the Vatican and keep records of all the happenings.
828
829!!Tropes:
830* TheBusCameBack: Come season three, he returned for an episode where he narrated and took records of the Banquet of the Chestnuts.
831* CaptainsLog: He often narrated during season one, having a voice over that told the story through his record keeping.
832* PutOnABus: Burchard disappeared without any mentions during season two, despite how involved he was in the previous season's plot and storytelling format. Justified, as he simply wasn't needed for any scheme or investigation.
833* TheShortGuyWithGlasses: Describes his physical characteristics to a tee.
834* TheSmartGuy: As an expert on canon law and precedent, he is the one with the answers to all the questions either Rodrigo and Della Rovere have during their powerplay.
835[[/folder]]
836
837[[folder:Prince Djem]]
838->'''Played By''': Creator/ElyesGabel
839
840An Ottoman prince who stays with the Borgia family as a hostage so his brother no longer has to worry about him taking his throne. He develops close relationships with the family, but his brother pays Rodrigo to murder him.
841
842!!Tropes:
843
844%%* BloodFromTheMouth
845* DanceOfRomance: With Lucrezia. This makes Rodrigo decide to kill him, plus the need for money.
846* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Juan - at least before things got ugly.
847* ImpliedLoveInterest: To Lucrezia. Though their romantic inclinations toward each other are never stated, they develop a close relationship where they share each other's cultures and Djem promises to avenge her should her husband harm her. The dance they share also heavily implies romance, scaring Rodrigo to the point where he agrees to have Djem killed, and after his death Lucrezia tells Giulia she dreamed about kissing him.
848* MoralityPet: For Cesare, for a little while. Cesare at least liked him, and didn't want him killed, even though he was so close to Lucrezia ([[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy and probably because of it]]).
849* SacrificialLamb: [[spoiler:After forming positive relationships with most of the Borgia family members, Rodrigo has Juan kill him for the money Djem's brother will pay them.]]
850* WideEyedIdealist: He thinks Catholics and Christians are all great and friendly compared to his family and religion back home. Only at the end does he realize it was them (or at least Juan) who poisoned him.
851[[/folder]]
852
853[[folder:Paolo]]
854->'''Played By''': Creator/LukePasqualino
855
856A young stable boy in the employ of Giovanni Sforza. Falls in love with Lucrezia and is the father of her child. Killed by Juan when his affair with Lucrezia is discovered.
857
858!!Tropes:
859
860* CanonForeigner: He replaces Lucrezia's real life lover Perotto.
861* GoodIsDumb: Yes, Paolo, it's a ''fantastic idea'' to wander the streets of Rome declaring your love for the Pope's daughter. In his defense, he only told a handful of prostitutes, and was otherwise discreet.
862* NeverLearnedToRead: [[spoiler:Juan's one mistake - writing [[NeverSuicide a suicide note for the kid who couldn't even write his own name]].]]
863%%* SacrificialLion
864[[/folder]]
865
866[[folder:Ursula Bonadeo]]
867->'''Played By''': Ruta Gedmintas
868
869A beautiful woman who caught Cesare's eye at Lucrezia's wedding, she was married to an abusive husband. Cesare [[MurderTheHypotenuse takes care of that]], but it drives [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Ursula to a convent]]. Even though she is a nun, she cannot escape Cesare's influence.
870
871!!Tropes:
872
873%%* CanonForeigner
874* CollateralAngst: [[spoiler: Ursula's death is purely meant as a means to get to Cesare and cause him pain. This is all but lampshaded in-universe, with Cesare actually stating "[her death] has released my heart of all emotions but one: vengeance".]]
875%%* DamselInDistress
876* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: She did become a nun.
877* MoralityPet: For Cesare; he certainly goes off the rails when [[spoiler: she is murdered]].
878* NaughtyNuns: Subverted. Ursula takes vows to escape Cesare's possessiveness, and she makes it clear she no longer returns his affections.
879* ReplacementGoldfish: Let's see - blonde, mostly innocent, married to an abusive husband, in need of rescue, attracted to Cesare . . . who else does she remind you of?
880[[/folder]]
881
882[[folder:Raffaello di Pallivinci]]
883[[quoteright:331:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Raffaello_9824.jpg]]
884->'''Played By''': Creator/TomAusten
885
886A season two recurring character who is the brother of Lucrezia's suitor, Calvino di Pallivinci. Though Calvino is the older brother and therefore the better catch, Lucrezia is more attracted to Raffaello.
887
888!!Tropes:
889
890%%* CanonForeigner
891* EatingTheEyeCandy: Lucrezia is so enchanted the first two times she sees him, she can't hear her mother speaking directly in her ear and his brother doesn't seem to exist for her.
892* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: He's the quiet, sensitive type who wants to do the right thing.
893%%* MrFanservice
894%%* NiceGuy
895* NiceGuysFinishLast: He does the right thing and tells his brother about his relationship with Lucrezia before they marry instead of carrying on an affair with her behind his brother's back. Both brothers go home alone.
896%%* RomanticFalseLead
897* SiblingTriangle: Raffaello/Lucrezia/Calvino -- though Calvino is oblivious to it at first.
898* StarvingArtist: He isn't exactly starving, but he is not as well off as his brother and is completely dependent on his family.
899%%* TemporaryLoveInterest
900[[/folder]]
901
902[[folder:Calvino di Pallivinci]]
903[[quoteright:340:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Calvino_1467.jpg]]
904
905-->'''Played By''': David Alpay
906
907A season two recurring character who is Lucrezia's suitor and the brother of Raffaello. Though Lucrezia accepts his proposal, he withdraws his off when he finds out she slept with his brother.
908
909!!Tropes:
910
911%%* CanonForeigner
912%%* DisposableFiance
913* NiceGuy: He was, for all intents and purposes, a nice person. You can't fault him for not being happy about his brother sleeping with his intended bride.
914%%* RomanticFalseLead
915%%* SiblingTriangle: Deconstructed.
916%%* TemporaryLoveInterest
917[[/folder]]
918
919[[folder: Frederigo Of Naples]]
920
921-->'''Played By''': Creator/MatiasVarela
922
923One of the men in line for the throne of Naples, but with no desire for power or ambition of his own, despite being kind.
924
925!!Tropes:
926
927%%* BitchInSheepsClothing
928%%* CainAndAbel: The Abel to his brother's Cain. [[spoiler: Turns out, it's the other way around.]]
929* TheChessmaster: [[spoiler: He was able to outwit ''Lucrezia'' and would have out-played freaking ''Cesare'' had Micheletto not caught Pascal's letter.]]
930%%* ConsummateLiar
931%%* EvilAllAlong
932* FauxAffablyEvil: [[spoiler: He can put on the smile and the chivalry, but it's just an act to hide his much more sinister personality.]]
933* GoodIsDumb: Good as he is, he can't match his brother's Machiavellian wit. [[spoiler: Except not really]].
934* TheGoodKing: After he receives the crown of Naples.
935* NiceGuy: He comes around as possibly the only royal in the entire show who isn't a scheming bastard. [[spoiler: Subverted.]]
936* TheSociopath: [[spoiler: Nothing will stand in the way of the throne.]]
937* WideEyedIdealist: Noted by Lucrezia. [[spoiler: Subverted, he is just pretending.]]
938[[/folder]]

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