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How did Cesare Borgia try to create a principality in central Italy?
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Papal States
The Papal States in 1815 (left) and at their annexation by Italy in 1870.
Cesare Borgia sought to establish a principality in central Italy by leveraging his position as captain general of the Papal States and utilizing the political and financial support of his father, Pope Alexander VI.12
After resigning his cardinalate in 1498, Cesare secured a strategic alliance with the French king Louis XII, which provided him with the military backing necessary to systematically occupy cities in the Romagna and the Marches that were held by semi-independent papal vicars. His methods included:32
- Military Conquest: He led campaigns to capture cities such as Imola, Forlì, Rimini, Urbino, and Faenza.2
- Ruthless Political Maneuvering: He utilized assassination, diplomacy, and the strategic execution of rivals—such as the conspirators at Senigallia—to consolidate his power and neutralize opposition.32
- Resource Management: He used papal funds to rebuild his army when threatened by conspiracies, demonstrating a single-minded determination to secure his own state before his father’s death.2
His efforts ultimately collapsed following the death of Alexander VI in 1503 and the subsequent rise of his enemy, Pope Julius II.2