Cantarella

"[Cantarella] is a most effective form of arsenic and difficult to trace."

―Silvio Barbarigo.

Cantarella was a variation of arsenic, which was often used by the Borgia family and other Templars who wished to rid themselves of unwanted people or enemies.

In particular, Pope Alexander VI and his daughter Lucrezia Borgia used it for political assassinations.

Victims

In 1485, after failing to recruit the Doge Giovanni Mocenigo to the Templar cause, Carlo Grimaldi placed cantarella into the Doge's wine, which killed him within the Palazzo Ducale di Venezia.

In 1503, Cesare Borgia ordered Micheletto Corella to poison Pietro Rossi, because he was jealous of Pietro's relationship with Lucrezia. As Pietro was playing Jesus Christ in the Passion Play held at the Colosseo, Micheletto placed cantarella into the wine fed to Christ during his crucifixion. Despite this, Pietro was saved by Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who quickly brought him to a doctor.

Later that same year, in August, Lucrezia Borgia ordered a shipment of cantarella to be delivered to the Castel Sant'Angelo, though her intentions for it were unknown. The following day, Rodrigo Borgia secretly took the shipment for himself.

On the 18th of August 1503, Rodrigo Borgia attempted to poison his own son Cesare with cantarella concealed within an apple, after Cesare abused his position as Captain General of the Papal army. Cesare did not consume a lethal amount of the poison however, but it did render him ill for months after.

Following Rodrigo's attempt to poison his son, Cesare force-fed him the same cantarella-filled apple, resulting in his death.

Gallery

• 
  Doge Mocenigo dying from cantarella.
• 
  Cesare Borgia suffering from the cantarella poisoning.

Trivia

• It is mentioned by the doctor who cure Pietro Rosi from Cantarella that leech could be used to neutralize Cantarella