Borgias

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A reference to a powerful and notorious Italian family from the Renaissance noted for political ambition, intrigue, and alleged corruption
2. Denoting a dynasty famous during the Renaissance for influence, scandal, and battles for power within Italy and the Catholic Church
3. Identifying a historical lineage recognized for its role in political machinations, high-ranking church positions, and a reputation for controversy and strategic alliances

Etymology: Few surnames have become shorthand for scheming power as thoroughly as this one. The family name comes from Borja, a town in Aragon in northeastern Spain, which the Romans likely knew as Bursau. The clan's Spanish form, Borja, was Italianized to "Borgia" after its members moved to Italy in the fifteenth century. Its rise came through the Church. Alfonso de Borja, a Valencian jurist, became Pope Callixtus III in 1455, and his nephew Rodrigo was elected Pope Alexander VI in 1492. Rivals and later writers portrayed the family as ruthless and corrupt, and that reputation attached itself to the name. The plural "Borgias" now refers to the clan as a whole rather than to any single member.