Cantarella (manga)
Encyclopedia
is a manga
series by You Higuri
, serialized in the Japanese monthly comic magazine Princess Gold Magazine and published in tankoubon format by Akita Shoten. The first volume was published March 2001 and there have been 12 volumes published in Japan
as of July 2010. The series went on a four-year two-month hiatus in Princess Gold Magazine (resuming in the September 2009 issue) while Higuri's other series Crown finished its serialization in the same magazine. Cantarella has also been translated into French by Asuka
(first volume May 2005), German by Carlsen Comics, English by Go! Comi
(first volume October 2005) and Russian by Palma Press (Палма Пресс) (first volume July 2010).
, an Italian
aristocrat
during the Renaissance
. In the manga
, Cesare
's father Rodrigo Borgia, a Cardinal
, sells his infant son's soul to the Devil
as part of a deal that will one day make him Pope
(Rodrigo will become Pope with the name of Alexander VI
). Cesare is consequently shunned by his father, who is unable to see him as anything but an agent of darkness and reminder of his sin
. Increasingly alienated, Cesare eventually comes to rely on the dark powers within himself. He becomes obsessed with the idea of conquest, and is aided in his political machinations by the assassin
Don Michelotto.
Illegitimate son of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, his soul was sold to the Devil by his father. Ever since his birth, he has been surrounded by evil spirits, who protect him from those who would harm him physically. The birth of Cesare was ominous: his pregnant mother, Nachine, had been struck by lightning and forced to deliver the baby earlier. After she gave birth to Cesare, she said that she felt like the lightning was meant for her and she heard a voice announcing that "the pact has been sealed". When the nun carries the baby away, she sees a monstrous shadow and confronts Rodrigo about the baby. The Cardinal denies everything and leaves. Terrified of what had happened to her child, the mother decides to strangle him, but that moment she is pushed behind by the evil spirits that surrounded her son and a candle falls down, starting a fire from which only Cesare survived. The baby is then given into the care of Vannozza dei Cattanei, the Cardinal's new mistress, who has the power to banish the evil spirits.
The next time we see Cesare is when he's older. By that time, he has a half-brother called Juan and a younger half-sister called Lucrezia, both Vannozza's children by the Cardinal. He doesn't get along well with Juan but seems to find a good friend in Lucrezia. His father cannot stand him, and often even refuses to look at his son, because he is a constant reminder of his sin. Cesare suffers a great deal of pain because his father won't accept him but manages to cope with all that thanks to Vannozza. But when the affair between the Cardinal and Vannozza is made public, Roderigo forces her to marry another man and leave. Cesare is left without his only support and becomes more and more depressed. Both he and his siblings are sent to live with Adriana de Mila, the (step)mother-in-law of the Cardinal's new mistress (Giulia Farnese), who makes both Cesare and Lucrezia unhappy. Next, Cesare tries to find a friend in Marrone, Giulia's other lover, but it proves out that he was trying to kill both his father and, finally, him. Losing all hope, Cesare tries to kill himself, but mysteriously survives and the demons take over him; he gains a dark, demonic side. An assassin, Chiaro, who tried to kill him more than once, becomes his companion, feeling that it is his responsibility to watch over the cursed boy, because he did not kill him when he was commanded.
A far cry from the once emotional, innocent child, Cesare grows to be very intelligent, confident, manipulative, and tactful. He has a dark but irresistible charisma and uses it to achieve his own goals. As well as his dark side, Cesare has a playful and cheerful side, which he shows only to Chiaro and Lucrezia. However, after Chiaro abandons Cesare, it is apparent that Cesare's dark side becomes more and more apparent. He knows how people think and uses his looks and his mind to seduce them. He is well-aware of his extraordinarily beautiful appearance and he attracts the attention of women and men alike. Cesare is also a very disciplined man; even though he sleeps with her, Sancia's seductive appeal does not allow her to manipulate him like she has so many men. However, as he grows older, he proves to be cold-hearted: he sends Chiaro to kill those who stand in his way, and he convinces Lucrezia to marry an old man, using his influence on her.
In order to succeed, Cesare knows he must be ruthless, but he cannot completely hide his humanity. For instance, when he witnesses Vannozza's death, he is emotionally distraught, even though he remains unmoved on the surface. His demon forms, however, begin to take her appearance, which further shows how much her death has despaired him. He is neither fully demon, nor fully human, but struggles against the horrible forces that dwell within his body.
is a real historic figure, and the major events of the manga are based on real historic events (albeit with supernatural embellishment). Some of the other the real people playing major or minor roles in Cantarella are:
Don Michelotto
(Chiaro) is based on the literary figure Miguel, who is mentioned as Cesare Borgia
's right-hand man in several plays. There are also references naming him as Pope Alexander VI's executioner. Alternately, "Michelotto" (Miguel de Corella) is mentioned in Brandolin's description of the death of Lucrezia's second husband as Alfonso's murderer.
The name of the manga derives from a poison supposedly used by the Borgias to eliminate their enemies. Vannozza, the traditional story goes, taught her evil, scheming daughter Lucrezia how to concoct a subtle, undetectable poison whose formula could be adjusted to bring about death at any time the poisoner wished. Lucrezia improved on la cantarella and the Borgias are said to have used it freely, eliminating their enemies without leaving any evidence of their wrongdoing. This traditional belief is however completely unsupported by the historical record; although Roderigo is thought to have used plain and simple arsenic to eliminate his enemies, Cesare and his brothers simply strangled their enemies and dumped them in the Tiber
. As for Lucrezia and Vannozza, there is no factual basis whatsoever for their being master poisoners; in fact, neither of them is known to have committed a crime of any kind. The old rumours may very well have been crude misogynistic slurs derived from the supposition that poison is a woman's weapon and directed against the two members of the family who would or could not fight back. No poison whose formula can be adjusted in the way the rumours claim has ever been discovered or invented.
La cantarella is described in the manga as a "sweet but paralyzing" poisonous plant, a metaphor
for Cesare Borgia's demonic side.
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series by You Higuri
You Higuri
is a Japanese shōjo and yaoi manga artist who has made several appearances at anime and manga conventions in the United States, as well as in Germany. Her first U.S. appearance was at the initial Yaoi-Con in San Francisco in 2001...
, serialized in the Japanese monthly comic magazine Princess Gold Magazine and published in tankoubon format by Akita Shoten. The first volume was published March 2001 and there have been 12 volumes published in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as of July 2010. The series went on a four-year two-month hiatus in Princess Gold Magazine (resuming in the September 2009 issue) while Higuri's other series Crown finished its serialization in the same magazine. Cantarella has also been translated into French by Asuka
Asuka (publisher)
Asuka is a French publisher of Japanese manga in translation. In 2009 its parent company, Kaze S.A.S., was purchased by the Japanese manga publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha. Prior to the purchase, the company's manga was published under the Asuka imprint...
(first volume May 2005), German by Carlsen Comics, English by Go! Comi
Go! Comi
Go! Comi was an imprint of the American manga publishing company, Go! Media Entertainment, LLC. They published such series as After School Nightmare, Cantarella, Her Majesty's Dog, Tenshi Ja Nai!! and Crossroad...
(first volume October 2005) and Russian by Palma Press (Палма Пресс) (first volume July 2010).
Series summary
Cantarella is the story of Cesare BorgiaCesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia , Duke of Valentinois, was an Italian condottiero, nobleman, politician, and cardinal. He was the son of Pope Alexander VI and his long-term mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei. He was the brother of Lucrezia Borgia; Giovanni Borgia , Duke of Gandia; and Gioffre Borgia , Prince of Squillace...
, an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
aristocrat
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
during the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
. In the manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
, Cesare
Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia , Duke of Valentinois, was an Italian condottiero, nobleman, politician, and cardinal. He was the son of Pope Alexander VI and his long-term mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei. He was the brother of Lucrezia Borgia; Giovanni Borgia , Duke of Gandia; and Gioffre Borgia , Prince of Squillace...
's father Rodrigo Borgia, a Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
, sells his infant son's soul to the Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
as part of a deal that will one day make him Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
(Rodrigo will become Pope with the name of Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol i Borja was Pope from 1492 until his death on 18 August 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his Italianized surname—Borgia—became a byword for the debased standards of the Papacy of that era, most notoriously the Banquet...
). Cesare is consequently shunned by his father, who is unable to see him as anything but an agent of darkness and reminder of his sin
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
. Increasingly alienated, Cesare eventually comes to rely on the dark powers within himself. He becomes obsessed with the idea of conquest, and is aided in his political machinations by the assassin
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
Don Michelotto.
Characters
Cesare BorgiaIllegitimate son of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, his soul was sold to the Devil by his father. Ever since his birth, he has been surrounded by evil spirits, who protect him from those who would harm him physically. The birth of Cesare was ominous: his pregnant mother, Nachine, had been struck by lightning and forced to deliver the baby earlier. After she gave birth to Cesare, she said that she felt like the lightning was meant for her and she heard a voice announcing that "the pact has been sealed". When the nun carries the baby away, she sees a monstrous shadow and confronts Rodrigo about the baby. The Cardinal denies everything and leaves. Terrified of what had happened to her child, the mother decides to strangle him, but that moment she is pushed behind by the evil spirits that surrounded her son and a candle falls down, starting a fire from which only Cesare survived. The baby is then given into the care of Vannozza dei Cattanei, the Cardinal's new mistress, who has the power to banish the evil spirits.
The next time we see Cesare is when he's older. By that time, he has a half-brother called Juan and a younger half-sister called Lucrezia, both Vannozza's children by the Cardinal. He doesn't get along well with Juan but seems to find a good friend in Lucrezia. His father cannot stand him, and often even refuses to look at his son, because he is a constant reminder of his sin. Cesare suffers a great deal of pain because his father won't accept him but manages to cope with all that thanks to Vannozza. But when the affair between the Cardinal and Vannozza is made public, Roderigo forces her to marry another man and leave. Cesare is left without his only support and becomes more and more depressed. Both he and his siblings are sent to live with Adriana de Mila, the (step)mother-in-law of the Cardinal's new mistress (Giulia Farnese), who makes both Cesare and Lucrezia unhappy. Next, Cesare tries to find a friend in Marrone, Giulia's other lover, but it proves out that he was trying to kill both his father and, finally, him. Losing all hope, Cesare tries to kill himself, but mysteriously survives and the demons take over him; he gains a dark, demonic side. An assassin, Chiaro, who tried to kill him more than once, becomes his companion, feeling that it is his responsibility to watch over the cursed boy, because he did not kill him when he was commanded.
A far cry from the once emotional, innocent child, Cesare grows to be very intelligent, confident, manipulative, and tactful. He has a dark but irresistible charisma and uses it to achieve his own goals. As well as his dark side, Cesare has a playful and cheerful side, which he shows only to Chiaro and Lucrezia. However, after Chiaro abandons Cesare, it is apparent that Cesare's dark side becomes more and more apparent. He knows how people think and uses his looks and his mind to seduce them. He is well-aware of his extraordinarily beautiful appearance and he attracts the attention of women and men alike. Cesare is also a very disciplined man; even though he sleeps with her, Sancia's seductive appeal does not allow her to manipulate him like she has so many men. However, as he grows older, he proves to be cold-hearted: he sends Chiaro to kill those who stand in his way, and he convinces Lucrezia to marry an old man, using his influence on her.
In order to succeed, Cesare knows he must be ruthless, but he cannot completely hide his humanity. For instance, when he witnesses Vannozza's death, he is emotionally distraught, even though he remains unmoved on the surface. His demon forms, however, begin to take her appearance, which further shows how much her death has despaired him. He is neither fully demon, nor fully human, but struggles against the horrible forces that dwell within his body.
History references
Cesare BorgiaCesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia , Duke of Valentinois, was an Italian condottiero, nobleman, politician, and cardinal. He was the son of Pope Alexander VI and his long-term mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei. He was the brother of Lucrezia Borgia; Giovanni Borgia , Duke of Gandia; and Gioffre Borgia , Prince of Squillace...
is a real historic figure, and the major events of the manga are based on real historic events (albeit with supernatural embellishment). Some of the other the real people playing major or minor roles in Cantarella are:
- Pope Alexander VIPope Alexander VIPope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol i Borja was Pope from 1492 until his death on 18 August 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his Italianized surname—Borgia—became a byword for the debased standards of the Papacy of that era, most notoriously the Banquet...
: Cesare's father, Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia. - Vannozza dei CattaneiVannozza dei CattaneiVannozza dei Cattanei was an Italian noblewoman from the House of Candia, who was one of the many mistresses of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, future Pope Alexander VI. Among them, she was the one whose relationship with him lasted the longest...
: the Cardinal's mistress, mother of Juan, Jorfe and Lucrezia; historically, Cesare's biological mother. - Juan BorgiaGiovanni Borgia (1474)Giovanni Borgia, 2nd duke of Gandía was the son of Pope Alexander VI and the brother of Cesare Borgia, Gioffre Borgia, and Lucrezia Borgia. Giovanni, also known as Juan or Joan, was the second of the Pope's four children by Vanozza de' Catanei...
: Cesare's half-brother, chosen to inherit the Duchy of Gandia by their father. - Lucrezia BorgiaLucrezia BorgiaLucrezia Borgia [luˈkrɛtsia ˈbɔrʤa] was the illegitimate daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Renaissance Valencian who later became Pope Alexander VI, and Vannozza dei Cattanei. Her brothers included Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, and Gioffre Borgia...
: Cesare's younger half-sister. - Giulia FarneseGiulia FarneseGiulia Farnese was mistress to Pope Alexander VI. She was known as Giulia la bella, meaning "Julia the beautiful", in Italian. Lorenzo Pucci described her as "most lovely to behold"...
: Giulia la Bella ("the Beautiful"), the Cardinal's mistress after Vannozza. - Giovanni SforzaGiovanni SforzaGiovanni Sforza d'Aragona was an Italian condottiero, lord of Pesaro and Gradara from 1483 until his death. He is best known as the first husband of Lucrezia Borgia...
: Italian nobleman, marries Lucrezia. Shown in the manga as being somewhat abusive. Lucrezia has no desire to consummate the relationship, especially after learning he is working against Cesare. - Prince JemCemPrince Cem , December 22, 1459 – February 25, 1495) was a pretender to the Ottoman throne in the 15th century. He was a son of Mehmed II the Conqueror and younger brother of Sultan Bayezid II. He was banished to Europe, first under the protection of the Knights Hospitaller of St...
of Turkey, in self-exile after losing the battle for succession with his brother BayezidBayezid IIBayezid II or Sultân Bayezid-î Velî was the oldest son and successor of Mehmed II, ruling as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1481 to 1512...
. - Niccolò MachiavelliNiccolò MachiavelliNiccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian historian, philosopher, humanist, and writer based in Florence during the Renaissance. He is one of the main founders of modern political science. He was a diplomat, political philosopher, playwright, and a civil servant of the Florentine Republic...
: Historically a political theorist and an admirer of Cesare Borgia, in the manga he is a sorcerer with the ability to change into a mothMothA moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
. - Sancia of Aragon: she was the bethrothed wife of Gioffre Borgia. In the manga, she is seen disliking Gioffre because he is very much a child, and instead sets her sights on Cesare, after heckling Lucrezia. Historically, she sleeps with both Giovanni and Cesare.
Don Michelotto
Michelotto Corella
Michelotto Corella was a valencian condottiero born on an unknown date in València. He was killed in Milan in January 1508.- Biography :...
(Chiaro) is based on the literary figure Miguel, who is mentioned as Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia , Duke of Valentinois, was an Italian condottiero, nobleman, politician, and cardinal. He was the son of Pope Alexander VI and his long-term mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei. He was the brother of Lucrezia Borgia; Giovanni Borgia , Duke of Gandia; and Gioffre Borgia , Prince of Squillace...
's right-hand man in several plays. There are also references naming him as Pope Alexander VI's executioner. Alternately, "Michelotto" (Miguel de Corella) is mentioned in Brandolin's description of the death of Lucrezia's second husband as Alfonso's murderer.
The name of the manga derives from a poison supposedly used by the Borgias to eliminate their enemies. Vannozza, the traditional story goes, taught her evil, scheming daughter Lucrezia how to concoct a subtle, undetectable poison whose formula could be adjusted to bring about death at any time the poisoner wished. Lucrezia improved on la cantarella and the Borgias are said to have used it freely, eliminating their enemies without leaving any evidence of their wrongdoing. This traditional belief is however completely unsupported by the historical record; although Roderigo is thought to have used plain and simple arsenic to eliminate his enemies, Cesare and his brothers simply strangled their enemies and dumped them in the Tiber
Tiber
The Tiber is the third-longest river in Italy, rising in the Apennine Mountains in Emilia-Romagna and flowing through Umbria and Lazio to the Tyrrhenian Sea. It drains a basin estimated at...
. As for Lucrezia and Vannozza, there is no factual basis whatsoever for their being master poisoners; in fact, neither of them is known to have committed a crime of any kind. The old rumours may very well have been crude misogynistic slurs derived from the supposition that poison is a woman's weapon and directed against the two members of the family who would or could not fight back. No poison whose formula can be adjusted in the way the rumours claim has ever been discovered or invented.
La cantarella is described in the manga as a "sweet but paralyzing" poisonous plant, a metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
for Cesare Borgia's demonic side.