LUCRETIA BORGIA.
From a portrait attributed to Dosso Dossi, in the possession of Mr. Henry Doetsch, London.
FERDINAND GREGOROVIUS
LUCRETIA BORGIA
ACCORDING TO ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
AND CORRESPONDENCE OF HER DAY
TRANSLATED FROM THE THIRD GERMAN EDITION
BY JOHN LESLIE GARNER
TO
DON MICHELANGELO GAETANI
DUKE OF SERMONETA
First published New York 1904
Reissued 1968 by
Benjamin Blom, Inc. 10452
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 68-20226
Manufactured in the United States of America
BENJAMIN BLOM—New York/London
TO DON MICHELANGELO GAETANI DUKE OF SERMONETA
...My honored Duke: I am induced to dedicate this work to you bythe historical circumstances of which it treats and also by personalconsiderations.
In it you will behold the founders of your ancient and illustriousfamily. The Borgias were mortal enemies of the Gaetani, who narrowlyescaped the fate prepared for them by Alexander VI and his terrible son.Beautiful Sermoneta and all the great fiefs in the Maremma fell into themaw of the Borgias, and your ancestors either found death at their handsor were driven into exile. Donna Lucretia became mistress of Sermoneta,and eventually her son, Rodrigo of Aragon, inherited the estates of theGaetani.
Centuries have passed, and a beautiful and unfortunate woman may beforgiven for this confiscation of the appanages of your house. Moreover,it was not long before your family was reinstated in its rights by abull of Julius II, which is now preserved—a precious jewel—in yourfamily archives. To your house has descended the fame of its founders,but to yourself is due the position which the Gaetani now again enjoy.
The survival of historical tradition in things and men exercises anindescribable charm on every student of civilization. To recognize inthe ancient and still nourishing families of modern Rome the descendants[Pg viii]of the great personalities of other times, and to enjoy dailyintercourse with them, made a profound impression on me. The Colonna,the Orsini, and the Gaetani are my friends, and all afforded me thegreatest assistance. These families long ago vanished from the stage ofRoman history, but the day came, illustrious Duke, when you were to makea place again for your ancient race in the history of the Imperial City;the day when—the temporal power of the popes having passed away, apower which had endured a thousand years—you carried to King VictorEmmanuel in Florence the declaration of allegiance of the Romanpopulace. This episode, marking the beginning of a new era for the city,will live, together with your name, in the annals of the Gaetani, andwill preserve it forever in the memory of the Romans.
Rome, March 9, 1874.