Los Borgia (2006)

After the death of Pope Innocent VIII, the Spanish cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (Lluís Homar) is elected pope at the 1492 conclave and takes the name Alexander VI. From the outset, the new pope pursues a policy of nepotism: he marries his eldest son, Juan (Sergio Muñiz), to María Enríquez de Luna to win the favor of the Catholic Monarchs, and appoints him commander-in-chief of the papal armies; he makes César (Sergio Peris Mencheta) a cardinal of Valencia, much to César’s dismay; he marries Jofré (Eloy Azorín) to Sancha of Aragon to gain the support of the city of Naples; and he marries his youngest daughter, Lucrecia (María Valverde), to Giovanni Sforza, a bastard son of the Sforza family. But conflicts soon arise, owing to the many problems caused by the Borgia family’s killings and their unpopularity among Roman families, who begin spreading rumors that the pope and César are having incestuous relationships with Lucrecia. Lucrecia’s separation from Sforza only intensifies the conflicts. This sets off Juan’s mysterious death, which deeply affects the pope, and everyone begins to suspect César of instigating the murder. After Juan’s death, César finally gets what he has long wanted: his father strips him of his cardinalate and appoints him commander of the papal armies. César launches a campaign of conquest across Italy to conquer the scattered Italian kingdoms in the name of the Church and the pope. Lucrecia, for her part, marries Alfonso of Aragon y Gazela, Prince of Salerno, after retreating to a convent. César begins his campaigns in Italy, conquering the divided kingdoms in the pope’s name. He eventually reaches the city of Forlì, which is defended by Caterina Sforza (Paz Vega). After taking the city, César captures Caterina and forcibly makes her his lover. Meanwhile, the pope orders the murder of Alfonso of Aragon, despite his daughter’s pleas. The conquest of Forlì, together with César’s friendship with the King of France, earns César the titles of Duke of Valence and Duke of Romagna. During a banquet held at a cardinal’s home, the pope begins to suffer severe stomach pains, and César falls gravely ill as well. César recovers, but Rodrigo Borgia is left in very poor health and soon dies. After the conclaves and the early death of his successor, Pius III, Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, a declared enemy of the Borgias, is elected pope and takes the name Julius II. He instructs César to meet the Spanish army to fight the French, but the Spaniards arrest César, accusing him of murdering his elder brother. César is imprisoned at Medina del Campo but manages to escape and flees to Navarre. His sister Lucrecia, now married to the Duke of Ferrara, tries to help him but cannot. César eventually dies in a skirmish with Spanish soldiers.