Lucrezia Borgia (18 April 1480 – 24 June 1519) is a character who is mentioned in Assassins Creed II. She is the illegitimate daughter of Rodrigo Borgia and younger sister of Cesare Borgia. She was betrothed ruthlessly by her father twice before her 13th birthday to secure political alliances. She is also rumoured to have been sexually abused by her father. After these incidents, she was taken care of by her brother Cesare.
Lucrezia Borgia was born in Subiaco, a little town near Rome, on 18 April 1480. Her mother was the Countess of Cattanei, Vanozza dei Cattenei, one of the many mistresses of Rodrigo Borgia.
At the young age of 13, she was engaged twice, but her father, Pope Alexander VI (better known as Rodrigo Borgia), called off the engagements and later forced her to marry Giovanni Sforza, the purpose being to establish an alliance with the powerful Milanese Ducal family.
But it was for a short time, due the Sforzas no longer being useful for Alexander VI. Soon after, he gave the order to Cesare and Lucrezia to send Giovanni away from Rome. Alexander VI made an offer to Giovanni’s uncle, the Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, to persuade him to agree for the divorce. Instead, Giovanni accused Lucrezia of having an incestuous relationship with her father and brother, and supposedly the marriage was not consummated, so the Pope said that the marriage was not valid.
Second marriage
The second marriage was with the Alfonso de Aragon (Duke of Bisceglie). Before the marriage took place, Cesare was impressed by the Duke's good looks and nature, but this soon changed to jealousy and hatred. It was said that Cesare did not like Alfonso because Lucrezia was very happy with him and had, since her marriage to him, stopped giving Cesare as much attention, and that might be the reason why years later Cesare sent his servants to kill him.
Third marriage
Lucrezia's third marriage was with Alfonso d'Este (Duke of Ferrara). After the death of her second husband, Alexander VI wanted to arrange a third marriage. This time she gave a number of children and proved at last to be a respectable Renaissance duchess, rising effectively above her questionable past and surviving the fall of the Borgias after Alexander VI's death.
Lucrezia gave birth to seven or eight children. Giovanni Borgia, who seemed to be Cesare's child, Rodrigo Borgia de Aragon, Ercole II d'Este, Ippolito II d'Este, Alessandro d'Este, Leonora d'Este, Francesco d'Este. Isabella Maria d'Este was born sometime in 1519, but died later that same day. Sadly, complications of this birth caused the death of Lucrezia 10 days later.
One of the most notorious rumors of Lucrezia Borgia is that she is a collateral relative of the actress Brooke Shields and also of most of the royal families of Europe.
It is rumored that the famous term "Femme Fatale" was created as a result of her actions.This is because it is rumored that Lucrezia was in possession of a hollow ring that she used frequently to poison other people's drinks.
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Lucrezia is stated to appear in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood along with her brother Cesare, but it is not yet known what role she will have within the game.
