History Series / Borgia

[[caption-width-right:300:Do not have faith in them ]]

** Subverted in a very interesting way. Cesare and Lucrezia [[spoiler: never ''actually'' have sex--the definition of incest--but get very close to it multiple times. They have a romantic dynamic, and never have sex more due to ''circumstances'' rather than ''lack of interest''.]] The more-likely historical truth (that people made up rumors they were incestuous to hurt the Borgias) is also present in the story, and discussed. These rumors are an AccidentalTruth, [[spoiler:and predate their first kiss.]]

In 1492 Italy is divided into warring states and at the centre lies Rome where the ageing Pope Innocent VIII rules. As Vice Chancellor of the College of Cardinals Rodrigo Borgia plans to use all his influence in order to become the next Pope and create a great dynasty. Following the death of his eldest son he summons his other children; Juan, Cesare and Lucrezia, back to the Rome. Soon all three are embroiled in the plotting of the noble families and the church and the series follows their development from pawns to skilled players of the game [[spoiler: or into a corpse if your name is Juan]].

Not to be confused with ''Series/{{The Borgias}}'', the 2011 Showtime series based on the the Borgia family in renaissance Italy (note the ''"the"'' and plural ''"s"''). How anyone could possibly confuse them is a mystery.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The Laocoon sculpture being discovered earlier than it really was so it can provide a metaphor of a father and his sons being dragged down by snakes.
** SecretHistory: Rodrigo is so perturbed by the implication that he orders it reburied, presumably to be later rediscovered ([[FridgeBrilliance and put on public display]]) by Julius II.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: [[spoiler: Or at least the nicer ones; Lucrezia stabs Juan nine times and when he refuses to die has her lover cut his throat.]]

* BrotherSisterIncest: Subverted in a very interesting way. Cesare and Lucrezia [[spoiler: never ''actually'' have sex--the definition of incest--but get very close to it multiple times. They have a romantic dynamic, and never have sex more due to circumstances rather than lack of interest.]] The more-likely historical truth (that people made up rumors they were incestuous to hurt the Borgias) is also present in the story, and discussed. These rumors are an AccidentalTruth, [[spoiler:and predate their first kiss.]]
** [[spoiler: [[AttemptedRape And one time, Juan briefly tries to rape Lucrezia, until she blackmails him into stopping.]]]]
*** [[spoiler: In a later episode, Juan also claims that [[AllLoveIsUnrequited Lucrezia is]] [[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove "the only one" he loves.]] Lucrezia responds by (repeatedly) stabbing him.]]
* CainAndAbel: Juan and Cesare. [[spoiler: {{Subverted|Trope}}, because just as it's really starting to look like he did, it's revealed that Cesare ''didn't'' kill Juan. And then {{Double Subver|sion}}ted, because Juan's other sibling--his unsuspected, seemingly innocent little sister Lucrezia--''did''.]]

* TheFundamentalist: Savonarola, whose preaching against greed and corruption angers the established church
* GreyAndGrayMorality: Try and count the characters that haven't plotted/committed at least one murder--you probably won't run out of fingers

* HotBlooded: Good GOD where to start? Its a show set in Renaissance Italy, so pretty much everyone except maybe Lucrezia [[spoiler: and even she has blood on her hands]].

* LawOfInverseFertility: TruthInTelevision for Lucrezia and Alfonso D'Este: after delivering two healty sons before their marriage, Lucrezia has a long series of miscarriages and babies who died in infancy. Considering her value as Alfonso's wife is in her ability to bear an heir, the whole thing is not only devastating but dangerous to her position.

* MoralityPet: To Cesare, Lucrezia, his children, his wife Charlotte when he remembers her, his mother Vannozza sometimes…

* OneSteveLimit: Very much averted with two regally appearing noblemen named Alfonso and FAR too many people called Giovanni.

* WorldOfHam: The streets and inns of Rome most of all--full of violent, hotheaded, Italian young men.

'''''Borgia''''', also known as '''''Borgia: Faith and Fear''''', is a 2011 Channel+ and EOS Entertainment production based on the rise and fall of the Borgia family in renaissance Italy. The series had three seasons and aired in Italy, France, Austria, Germany and Belgium as well as US and UK Netflix.

* CityStateEra: Complete with an ever changing web of alliances.

* ForegoneConclusion: The fates of many of the historical characters.

* HotBlooded: Both Borgia brothers.

* OneSteveLimit: Very much averted with two regally appearing noblemen named Alfonso and too many people called Giovanni.

* CainAndAbel: Juan and Cesare. [[spoiler: Subverted, because it's revealed that Cesare ''didn't'' kill Juan. And then double subverted, because Juan's other sibling--his unsuspected, seemingly innocent little sister Lucrezia--''did''.]]

* MagnificentBastard: Cesare grows to be one over the course of the series, going from a self doubting priest in training to the most feared man in Italy.

* DawsonCasting: Lucrezia is a 14-years-old girl in the first season. Isolda Dychauk… isn't.

*** [[spoiler: In a later episode, Juan also claims that [[AllLoveIsUnrequited: Lucrezia is]] [[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: "the only one" he loves.]] Lucrezia responds by (repeatedly) stabbing him.]]

* BigBrotherBully: Juan to both Cesare and Lucrezia.

* BloodSplatteredInnocents: Rodrigo is covered in blood when [[spoiler:Cesare stabs Perotto a foot in front of him with the Lance of Longinus]]. While the Borgia pope can [[CorruptChurch hardly be called "innocent"]], it does seem to badly unsettle him and affect how he sees his family.

* RefugeInAudacity: Cesare [[spoiler:''stabs Perotto to death with the Holy Lance on the floor of the Vatican, in front of all the cardinals, while he's clinging to the Pope's robes.'' '''And he gets away with it.''']]

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The Laocoon sculpture being discovered earlier than in really was so it can provide a metaphor of a father and his sons being dragged down by snakes.

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: UpToEleven. ''Borgia'' is a complete exploration of this trope. ''Borgia'' could be renamed ''EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: The Show''.

* MoralityPet: To Cesare, Lucrezia, his children, his wife when he remembers her, his mother sometimes…

* OneSteveLimit: Very much averted; with two regally appearing noblemen named Alfonso and too many people called Giovanni.

-->'''Cesare:''' A son exists to glorify the life of his father--as meaningless and worthless and that life might be. But if a boy is to become a man, he must glorify himself… and make a name even greater than his father's. A name… that will shout throughout history. ''I am '''Cesare Borgia'''!''

* RapeByProxy: On Lucrezia and Alfonso de Calabria's wedding night, they are forced to consummate their marriage before two witnesses… one of whom makes them get graphicer and graphicer.

* RefugeInAudacity: Cesare [[spoiler:''stabs Perotto to death with the Holy Lance on the floor of the Vatican--in front of all the cardinals--while he's clinging to the Pope's robes.'' '''And he gets away with it.''']]

* RapeByProxy: On Lucrezia and Alfonso de Calabria's wedding night, they are forced to consummate their marriage before two witnesses… one of whom makes them get graphicer and graphicer.

* DawsonCasting: Lucrezia is a 14-years-old girl in the first season. Isolda Dychauk... isn't.

* RomancingTheWidow: Lucrezia is surprisingly distraught after the death of her husband, [[spoiler: Alfonso de Calabria. Lucky, her longtime lover (the other Alfonso) is still around to marry.]]

* TheMistress: ''Everyone'' has mistresses.
* MoralityPet: To Cesare, Lucrezia, his children, his wife when he remembers her, his mother sometimes…
* NaiveNewcomer: Giovanni de' Medici: a young, naive cardinal who really doesn't know how much the corruption runs deep in the Church.
* {{Nepotism}}: At times Rodrigo seems to think the name Borgia is the only qualification needed for a job. He insists on trying to give Cesare jobs that he doesn't even want
* MayDecemberRomance: Rodrigo and Giulia, though her age is never explicitly stated she does not appear to be much older than Lucrezia

** [[spoiler: [[AttemptedRape And one time, Juan briefly tries to rape Lucrezia.]]]]

** …and Vannozza favors Ceare to Juan. Juan laments that she let him be sent away to Spain when he was 12.

-->[[spoiler:'''Cesare:''' ''You?'' You stabbed him nine times?]]
* WhosYourDaddy

* YourCheatingHeart: Lucrezia would much rather sleep with Alfonso D'Este than her husband [[spoiler: Alfonso di Calabria]]