Giulia farnese biography sample

Giulia Farnese, the young and beautiful lover of the Pope, also shared a residence as she was married to Adriana's son.

Her extramarital affair played a significant role in promoting her family's status. Giulia's husband was described as cross-eyed and lacking self-confidence. It is unclear when the young Giulia caught the attention of the already aging Borgia, replacing Vannozza dei Cattanei, the mother of Cesare and Lucrezia. However, Adriana de Mila, his cousin, eventually gave her consent to the extramarital affair, with the purpose of raising Orsino's status in the Vatican.

On May 21, , at just 15 years old, Giulia married Orsino Orsini in Rome, bringing with her a dowry of 3, gold florins.

In November , Giulia, together with Adriana and her lover's daughter Lucrezia Borgia, whom they befriended, moved to a palace near the Vatican. Rumors of their relationship quickly spread, and Giulia became known as the "papal whore" and the "bride of Christ" concubina papae; sponsa Christi. Thanks to her intimate relationship with the pontiff, Giulia secured a cardinal's hat for her brother Alessandro.

Giulia gave birth to a daughter named Laura, but it is uncertain whether her husband or lover was the father. Giulia adamantly claimed that her lover, Pope Alexander, was the father, but this may have been a way to solidify her own status and her daughter's position. In , Giulia angered the Pope by going to Capodimonte to be by her dying brother Angelo's bedside.

Consequently, she refused to return to Rome even after her brother's death. Eventually, she surrendered and decided to return to her lover. However, at that time, the French were at war in Italy, and Giulia was captured by French Captain Yves d'Allegre, who demanded and received a ransom of 3, scudi from the Pope. She remained the Pope's mistress until around , when she was likely dismissed due to her age.

Her husband Orsino also died around the same time.