Character Relationship Map: Borgia

Characters

• Rodrigo Borgia (played by John Doman) — protagonist

  Historical figure, Pope Alexander VI, central to the Borgia family power struggle in Renaissance Italy.

• Cesare Borgia (played by Mark Ryder) — supporting

  Historical figure, Rodrigo's son, a ruthless condottiero and key political figure in the Borgia saga.

• Vannozza Catanei (played by Assumpta Serna) — supporting

  Historical figure, Rodrigo Borgia's mistress and mother of his children, central to family dynamics.

• Lucrezia Borgia (played by Isolda Dychauk-Ott) — supporting

  Historical figure, Rodrigo's daughter, navigates political marriages and family intrigue in Renaissance Rome.

• Giulia Farnese (played by Marta Gastini) — minor

  Historical figure, mistress of Pope Julius II, appears in Borgia series court intrigue.

• Francisco de Remolins (played by Jiří Mádl) — supporting

  Physician to the Borgia court, provides medical and political counsel in the historical series.

• Felice della Rovere (played by Ellie Darcey-Alden) — supporting

  Nephew of Pope Julius II and key political adversary to the Borgias in Renaissance Italy.

• Ardicino della Porta, iuniore (played by Jiří Ornest) — supporting

  Cardinal and court figure navigating the complex alliances and betrayals of the Borgia era.

• Giovanni Colonna (played by Karel Dobrý) — supporting

  Nobleman and historical rival of the Borgia family, featured in the Renaissance political drama.

• Paul III (played by Diarmuid Noyes) — supporting

  Future Pope Alessandro Farnese, rising cardinal navigating Borgia rivalries.

• Leo X (played by John Bradley) — supporting

  Future Pope Giovanni de' Medici, rising cardinal and patron of the arts.

• Prospero Santacroce (played by Nicholas Amer) — supporting

  Cardinal and political ally of the Borgia family, navigating Vatican intrigue.

• Raffaele Riario (played by Scott William Winters) — supporting

  Italian cardinal and nephew of Pope Sixtus IV, rival of the Borgia family.

• Georges d'Amboise (played by Antoine Cholet) — supporting

  French cardinal and diplomat, ally of Charles VIII, involved in Italian campaigns.

• Giulio d'Este (played by Ferdinand Kingsley) — supporting

  Italian nobleman and cardinal, member of the powerful Este family.

• Marcantonio I Colonna (played by Richard Southgate) — supporting

  Italian condottiero and nobleman, rival and ally to the Borgia family.

• Charlotte of Albret (played by Stéphane Caillard) — supporting

  French noblewoman, wife of Charles II of Albret, involved in court diplomacy.

• Gioffre Borgia (played by Adam Mišík) — supporting

  Son of Pope Alexander VI, Duke of Gandia, involved in family power struggles.

• Anne of Brittany (played by Héléna Soubeyrand) — supporting

  Queen of France, political pawn in European royal marriages and alliances.

• Niccolò Machiavelli (played by Thibaut Evrard) — supporting

  Florentine diplomat and political philosopher, observer of Renaissance power plays.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Rodrigo Borgia → Cesare Borgia (family)

  Rodrigo is Cesare's father and mentors him in political and military strategy

• Ippolito d'Este → Ferrante d'Este (family)

  Brothers from the powerful Este dynasty sharing political and ecclesiastical goals

• Rodrigo Borgia → Lucrezia Borgia (family)

  Rodrigo is Lucrezia's father and uses her marriages for political alliances

• Cesare Borgia → Lucrezia Borgia (family)

  Cesare and Lucrezia are siblings who collaborate on family power strategies

• Rodrigo Borgia → Vannozza Catanei (romantic)

  Vannozza is Rodrigo's long-term mistress and mother of his children

• Gioffre Borgia → Michelotto Corella (professional)

  Mercenary captain enforcing family orders and eliminating rivals

• Rodrigo Borgia → Innocent VIII (family)

  Rodrigo serves under Innocent VIII and leverages family connections for advancement

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Rodrigo Borgia → Julius II (conflict)

  Julius II succeeds Rodrigo and actively works to dismantle Borgia power

• Rodrigo Borgia → Giulia Farnese (Defining Passion) — A narrative thread that humanizes Rodrigo and highlights the tension between desire and duty.

  "Their relationship serves as a recurring motif for Rodrigo's humanity, contrasting with his political ruthlessness."

• Cesare Borgia → Girolamo Savonarola (conflict)

  Cesare opposes Savonarola's moral reforms and political influence

• Cesare Borgia → Caterina Sforza (conflict)

  Cesare campaigns against Caterina to expand Borgia territorial control

• Cesare Borgia → Giulia Farnese (Tragic Romance) — A narrative foil to Rodrigo's romance, emphasizing the personal toll of Cesare's relentless pursuit of power.

  "Their past and present interactions highlight themes of lost love, political sacrifice, and the cost of ambition."

• Giovanni Colonna → Felice della Rovere (conflict)

  Rival noble families competing for papal influence and territorial control in Renaissance Italy

• Giovanni Sforza → Gioffre Borgia (conflict)

  Political and military rivals in Italian power struggles following broken alliances

• Prospero Santacroce → Georges d'Amboise (alliance)

  Political allies navigating French and Papal interests during Italian campaigns

Story Analysis

Overall narrative architecture across all 3 seasons

Plot Progression

1. Season 1: Papal Ascent — Rodrigo secures the papacy through strategic alliances and political maneuvering, while Cesare begins his military and political education under his father's guidance. Their early partnership establis...
2. Season 2: Imperial Ambition — Cesare expands his territorial control while Rodrigo's health declines, forcing a shift in leadership dynamics. Political alliances are tested, religious reforms clash with secular ambitions, and the...
3. Season 3: Fractured Legacy — Rodrigo's retreat and eventual death trigger a succession crisis, leaving Cesare to face rebellion and isolation. Military defeats and diplomatic failures accelerate the family's decline, culminating...