Vannozza dei Cattanei

Vannozza dei Cattanei (Giovanna de Candia, contessa dei Cattanei) (1442 – November 24 1518) was one of the many mistresses of the Pope Alexander VI, and among them, the one whose relationship lasted the longest. Her parents were Jacopo (Giacommo de Candia, conte dei Cattanei) and Mencia Pinctoris.

Born in 1442 to Mantuan parents, she moved to Rome where she ran several inns ("Osterie"), at first in Borgo, then in Campo de' Fiori. Before becoming Alexander's mistress, she had an alleged relationship with Cardinal Giulio della Rovere, the future Pope Julius II.

She was the wife of three successive husbands.

The connection with Alexander VI began in 1470, and she bore him four children whom he openly acknowledged as his own:
* Giovanni, afterwards duke of Gandia (born 1474);
* Cesare (born 1475);
* Lucrezia (born 1480);
* Gioffre (born 1481 or 1482) [I. Cloulas, "The Borgias", p. 52]

Before his elevation to the papacy, Alexander VI's passion for Vannozza somewhat diminished, and she subsequently led a very retired life.

Her place in his affections was filled by the beautiful Giulia Farnese, wife of an Orsini, but Alexander VI's love for his children by Vannozza remained as strong as ever and proved, indeed, the determining factor of his whole career. He lavished vast sums on them and lauded them with every honour.

References

*cite book|first=Ivan |last=Cloulas |title=The Borgias
*cite book|first=Antonio|last=Spinosa|title=La saga dei Borgia|publisher=Mondadori|year=1999