Pedro Luis de Borja Lanzol de Romaní
Encyclopedia
Pedro Luis de Borja Lanzol de Romaní, O.S.Io.Hieros.
(1472–1511) was a Roman Catholic cardinal
and cardinal-nephew
and papal military leader. He received a wide variety of sinecure
s during the papacy of his great-uncle, Pope Alexander VI
, but was exiled to Naples
on the election of Borja rival Pope Julius II
. Borja also fought with the Knights Hospitaller
in Jerusalem and Rhodes
.
and Knight of Rhodes
. When he tried to take Fray Francisco de Boxols's post as the priorate of the Order in Cataluña in 1498, Ferdinand II of Aragon
("Fernando the Catholic") through his ambassador in Rome attempted to have Borja's appointment annulled; Borja was instead made prior of the Order in Santa Eufemia
.
On March 20, 1500, his grand uncle Pope Alexander VI
created him cardinal deacon in pectore
; Borja's cardinalate was published during another consistory on September 28, 1500 and he was formally given the red hat
on October 2, 1500; effective October 5, 1500, his deaconry was S. Maria in Via Lata.
While already a cardinal, Borja was elected archbishop of Valencia, a post he would hold until his death, on July 29, 1500, succeeding his brother, Juan. Bojia would never visit the diocese
as archbishop; instead he took possession of it through a procurator, Guillem Ramón de Centelles, on August 29, 1500. There is no evidence that he was ever consecrated, although he received the post of penitentiary major
on the condition that he receive priestly ordination, which he did in 1502, assuming the post on December 7, 1503; he would remain penitentiary until his death. After his ordination, he became cardinal priest S. Marcello
on December 7, 1503, retaining his deaconry (and its revenues) in commendam
.
Through the influence of his grand uncle, Borja also was given the titles of Governor of Spoleto (August 10, 1500), Governor of Bagnoregio, Abbot
commendatario
of the Cistercian monastery of Valdigna, and of the Benedictine monastery of S. Simpliciano
in Milan
. Alexander VI's bull creating the University of Valencia on January 23, 1501 is attributed to Borja's influence.
When Borja reached Rome on June 17, 1501 (through the "Popolo
" gate), he was received by his brother Rodrigo, the captain of the Palatine Guard
.
s of September and October 1503. The latter elected Pope Julius II
, despite the opposition of Borja, and Julius II proceeded to detain Cesare Borgia
, causing Pedro to flee Rome on December 20, 1503, along with Cardinal Francisco de Remolins. With him he came to Naples
.
Julius II invited Borja to return to Rome on January 2, 1504, and freed his brother Cesare from jail so that he could join him in Naples in April. A February 3, 1504, letter from the Spanish monarchs to their ambassador in Rome inquired whether the pope was amenable to Borja and Remolins in Naples, shortly after which rumors of Borja circulated in Spain. He later became the archpriest
of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
in Rome (May 1510). King Fernando wrote again requesting that a successor archbishop be named without his nomination. Upon hearing similarly false news of the death of Julius II, Borja and Remolins together set out for Rome.
Borja died on October 4, 1511, by falling from a horse while returning from Rome to Naples. He was buried in the church of S. Pier Celestino in Rome without a funerary monument.
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
(1472–1511) was a Roman Catholic cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
and cardinal-nephew
Cardinal-nephew
A cardinal-nephew is a cardinal elevated by a Pope who is that cardinal's uncle, or, more generally, his relative. The practice of creating cardinal-nephews originated in the Middle Ages, and reached its apex during the 16th and 17th centuries. The word nepotism originally referred specifically to...
and papal military leader. He received a wide variety of sinecure
Sinecure
A sinecure means an office that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service...
s during the papacy of his great-uncle, Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol i Borja was Pope from 1492 until his death on 18 August 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his Italianized surname—Borgia—became a byword for the debased standards of the Papacy of that era, most notoriously the Banquet...
, but was exiled to Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
on the election of Borja rival Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II , nicknamed "The Fearsome Pope" and "The Warrior Pope" , born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513...
. Borja also fought with the Knights Hospitaller
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
in Jerusalem and Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
.
Early life
He was born in Valencia, Spain, the third of the eight children of Jofré de Borja Lanzol de Romaní and Juana Moncada in 1472. In his early military career, he became a Knight of the Order of St. John of JerusalemKnights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
and Knight of Rhodes
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
. When he tried to take Fray Francisco de Boxols's post as the priorate of the Order in Cataluña in 1498, Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
("Fernando the Catholic") through his ambassador in Rome attempted to have Borja's appointment annulled; Borja was instead made prior of the Order in Santa Eufemia
Santa Eufemia
Santa Eufemia may refer to:*Santa Eufemia, Córdoba, Spain*Santa Eufemia del Barco, Spain*Santa Eufemia del Arroyo, Spain*Sant'Eufemia a Maiella, Italy*Santa Eufemia, Juárez Celman Department, Córdoba Province, Argentina...
.
Cardinal and bishop
Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol i Borja was Pope from 1492 until his death on 18 August 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his Italianized surname—Borgia—became a byword for the debased standards of the Papacy of that era, most notoriously the Banquet...
created him cardinal deacon in pectore
In pectore
In pectore is a term used in the Catholic Church to refer to appointments to the College of Cardinals by the Pope when the name of the newly appointed cardinal is not publicly revealed...
; Borja's cardinalate was published during another consistory on September 28, 1500 and he was formally given the red hat
Red hat
Red Hat is a software corporation.Red hat or Red Hat may also refer to:* Red Hat sect, a sect of Tibetan Buddhism* Galero, a red hat used as religious garb* Trainee in a volunteer fire department...
on October 2, 1500; effective October 5, 1500, his deaconry was S. Maria in Via Lata.
While already a cardinal, Borja was elected archbishop of Valencia, a post he would hold until his death, on July 29, 1500, succeeding his brother, Juan. Bojia would never visit the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
as archbishop; instead he took possession of it through a procurator, Guillem Ramón de Centelles, on August 29, 1500. There is no evidence that he was ever consecrated, although he received the post of penitentiary major
Apostolic Penitentiary
The Apostolic Penitentiary, formerly called the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, is one of the three tribunals of the Roman Curia. The Apostolic Penitentiary is chiefly a tribunal of mercy, responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sins in the Catholic Church.The...
on the condition that he receive priestly ordination, which he did in 1502, assuming the post on December 7, 1503; he would remain penitentiary until his death. After his ordination, he became cardinal priest S. Marcello
San Marcello al Corso
San Marcello al Corso is a church in Rome, Italy, devoted to Pope Marcellus I. It is located in via del Corso, the ancient via Lata, connecting Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo....
on December 7, 1503, retaining his deaconry (and its revenues) in commendam
In Commendam
In canon law, commendam was a form of transferring an ecclesiastical benefice in trust to the custody of a patron...
.
Through the influence of his grand uncle, Borja also was given the titles of Governor of Spoleto (August 10, 1500), Governor of Bagnoregio, Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
commendatario
In Commendam
In canon law, commendam was a form of transferring an ecclesiastical benefice in trust to the custody of a patron...
of the Cistercian monastery of Valdigna, and of the Benedictine monastery of S. Simpliciano
Basilica of San Simpliciano
The Basilica of San Simpliciano is a church in the centre of Milan, northern Italy, the second oldest in the form of a Latin cross, first erected by Saint Ambrose. It is dedicated to Saint Simplician, bishop of Milan.-History:...
in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. Alexander VI's bull creating the University of Valencia on January 23, 1501 is attributed to Borja's influence.
When Borja reached Rome on June 17, 1501 (through the "Popolo
Piazza del Popolo
Piazza del Popolo is a large urban square in Rome. The name in modern Italian literally means "People's Square", but historically it derives from the poplars after which the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, in the northeast corner of the piazza, takes its name.The piazza lies inside the northern...
" gate), he was received by his brother Rodrigo, the captain of the Palatine Guard
Palatine Guard
The Palatine Guard was a military unit of the Vatican. It was formed in 1850 by Pope Pius IX, who ordered that the two militia units of the Papal States be amalgamated...
.
After the death of Alexander VI
As a cardinal elector, he participated in the papal conclavePapal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
s of September and October 1503. The latter elected Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II , nicknamed "The Fearsome Pope" and "The Warrior Pope" , born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513...
, despite the opposition of Borja, and Julius II proceeded to detain Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia , Duke of Valentinois, was an Italian condottiero, nobleman, politician, and cardinal. He was the son of Pope Alexander VI and his long-term mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei. He was the brother of Lucrezia Borgia; Giovanni Borgia , Duke of Gandia; and Gioffre Borgia , Prince of Squillace...
, causing Pedro to flee Rome on December 20, 1503, along with Cardinal Francisco de Remolins. With him he came to Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
.
Julius II invited Borja to return to Rome on January 2, 1504, and freed his brother Cesare from jail so that he could join him in Naples in April. A February 3, 1504, letter from the Spanish monarchs to their ambassador in Rome inquired whether the pope was amenable to Borja and Remolins in Naples, shortly after which rumors of Borja circulated in Spain. He later became the archpriest
Archpriest
An archpriest is a priest with supervisory duties over a number of parishes. The term is most often used in Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches, although it may be used in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church instead of dean or vicar forane.In the 16th and 17th centuries, during...
of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
The Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major , known also by other names, is the largest Roman Catholic Marian church in Rome, Italy.There are other churches in Rome dedicated to Mary, such as Santa Maria in Trastevere, Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, but the greater size of the...
in Rome (May 1510). King Fernando wrote again requesting that a successor archbishop be named without his nomination. Upon hearing similarly false news of the death of Julius II, Borja and Remolins together set out for Rome.
Borja died on October 4, 1511, by falling from a horse while returning from Rome to Naples. He was buried in the church of S. Pier Celestino in Rome without a funerary monument.