Sancha of Aragon
Encyclopedia
Donna Sancha of Aragon or Sancia of Aragon, was an illegitimate daughter of King Alfonso II of Naples
and his mistress Trogia Gazzela. In 1494, she was married to Gioffre Borgia
, the son of Pope Alexander VI
. Upon her marriage she and her new husband were created Prince and Princess of Squillace
, a province in the south of Italy. Allegedly, Sancha had affairs with both Cesare and Giovanni, and her affair with Giovanni is sometimes said to be the reason for Cesare's alleged murder of Giovanni in 1497. Her brother Alfonso of Aragon
married the Pope's daughter, and her husband's sister, Lucrezia Borgia
. Her life among the Borgias became a turbulent one after Cesare made an advantageous marriage with a French princess, Charlotte d'Albret, in order to secure French support for his military campaigns. This put his interests in direct conflict with those of the Italian states, Sancha's home of Naples being no exception, which had long been nervous of militant French interests.
Her brother Alfonso was brutally murdered in 1500 by Cesare, jealous of his influence over Lucrezia. Sancha herself, now a political embarrassment, was imprisoned in the Castel San Angelo in Rome until the death of Pope Alexander in 1503. Upon his death, she managed to regain her freedom and returned to Naples with her young nephew, Rodrigo, who she raised as her own. She never lived with her husband, Gioffre, again. Interestingly, Cesare visited her not long after and asked if she would take on the care of Giovanni "The Roman Infant", which she agreed to do. She died of an undisclosed illness in 1506, a year before Cesare.
Alfonso II of Naples
Alfonso II of Naples , also called Alfonso II d'Aragon, was King of Naples from 25 January 1494 to 22 February 1495 with the title King of Naples and Jerusalem...
and his mistress Trogia Gazzela. In 1494, she was married to Gioffre Borgia
Gioffre Borgia
Gioffre de Candia Borgia, in Italian, or Jofré Borja in Valencian, was the youngest son of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei, sibling to Lucrezia Borgia, Cesare Borgia and Giovanni Borgia....
, the son of Pope 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...
. Upon her marriage she and her new husband were created Prince and Princess of Squillace
Squillace
Squillace is an ancient seaside town and comune, in the Province of Catanzaro, part of Calabria, southern Italy, facing the Gulf of Squillace....
, a province in the south of Italy. Allegedly, Sancha had affairs with both Cesare and Giovanni, and her affair with Giovanni is sometimes said to be the reason for Cesare's alleged murder of Giovanni in 1497. Her brother Alfonso of Aragon
Alfonso of Aragon
Alfonso of Aragon was the Duke of Bisceglie and Prince of Salerno, as the son of King Alfonso II of Naples by his mistress Truzia Gazzela ....
married the Pope's daughter, and her husband's sister, Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia 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...
. Her life among the Borgias became a turbulent one after Cesare made an advantageous marriage with a French princess, Charlotte d'Albret, in order to secure French support for his military campaigns. This put his interests in direct conflict with those of the Italian states, Sancha's home of Naples being no exception, which had long been nervous of militant French interests.
Her brother Alfonso was brutally murdered in 1500 by Cesare, jealous of his influence over Lucrezia. Sancha herself, now a political embarrassment, was imprisoned in the Castel San Angelo in Rome until the death of Pope Alexander in 1503. Upon his death, she managed to regain her freedom and returned to Naples with her young nephew, Rodrigo, who she raised as her own. She never lived with her husband, Gioffre, again. Interestingly, Cesare visited her not long after and asked if she would take on the care of Giovanni "The Roman Infant", which she agreed to do. She died of an undisclosed illness in 1506, a year before Cesare.
In Popular Culture
- In the 1981 mini-series, The Borgias, Sancia was played by Eleanor DavidEleanor DavidEleanor David is an English actress. She has appeared in multiple films and television programs including Pink Floyd The Wall directed by Alan Parker, Comfort and Joy directed by Bill Forsyth, Paradise Postponed, and Mike Leigh's Topsy-Turvy...
. - In the 2006 Spanish film, Los Borgias, Sancia was played by actress Linda BatistaLinda BatistaLinda Batista, born Florinda Grandino de Oliveira was a Brazilian popular musician.Linda was the sister of Dircinha Batista and studied violão from age 12 under Patricio Teixeira. She was hired at Radio Cajuti after substituting for her sister on the Gastão Lamounier show in 1932...
. - In the 2011 Showtime original series, The BorgiasThe Borgias (2011 TV series)The Borgias is a 2011 historical fiction television series created by Neil Jordan.The series is based on the Borgia family, an Italian dynasty of Spanish origin, and stars Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI with David Oakes, François Arnaud, Holliday Grainger and Aidan Alexander as Juan, Cesare,...
, Sancia is played by actress Emmanuelle ChriquiEmmanuelle ChriquiEmmanuelle Sophie Anne Chriqui is a Canadian film and television actress. She is perhaps best known for her role on HBO's Entourage as Sloan McQuewick, as well as the love interest of Adam Sandler in the movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan...
.