Cantarella
- "It is a most effective form of arsenic and difficult to trace."
- ―Silvio Barbarigo explaining cantarella to Rodrigo Borgia.[src]
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 a large dosage of cantarella into the Doge's wine during a chess game with him in the Palazzo Ducale di Venezia. Surprisingly, the Doge did not immediately succumb to the poison despite Grimaldi's assurances that the dosage was enough to fell a bull, and actually managed to stand and walk for several minutes before eventually dying.[1]
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, Brunelleschi.[2]
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.[2]
On the 18th of August 1503, Rodrigo Borgia attempted to poison his own son Cesare with the stolen shipment, after Cesare abused his position as Captain General of the Papal army, by lacing a bowl of apples with the cantarella. Cesare was warned of the poison by his sister after taking several large bites, and responded by forcing the rest of it down his father's throat. Cesare was unconcerned about the poison already in his system, having taken a prophylactic antidote prior to the meeting and dismissing the notion that he had consumed a fatal dose. While this was true, the antidote was not strong enough to dispel the poison and Cesare was left hospitalized for months afterwards.[2]
Trivia
- Both in the game as well as in the novelization, it was mentioned by the doctor who cured Pietro Rossi that in addition to the antidote, leeches would ensure full recovery.
- In the novel it was further elaborated that the doctor, Brunelleschi, had developed an effective antidote due to experience with numerous victims of the poison.
- In reality, cantarella was said to merely have simulated death – the victim would fall asleep for a few hours. However, its very existence is in conjecture.
Gallery
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Doge Mocenigo dying from cantarella -
Cesare Borgia suffering from cantarella poisoning
