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The Borgias (2011 TV series)

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For the series created by Tom Fontana, see Borgia (TV series).
The Borgias
GenreHistorical fiction
Created byNeil Jordan
Starring
Theme music composerTrevor Morris
Country of origin
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes9 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Neil Jordan
  • Jack Rapke
  • Darryl Frank
  • John Weber
  • Sheila Hockin
  • James Flynn
Producers
Production locationHungary[1]
Running time55 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseApril 3, 2011 (2011-04-03) –
present[needs update]

The Borgias is a 2011 historical fiction television series created by Neil Jordan. It is an international co-production, directed by an Irishman, filmed in Hungary, and produced in Canada.[1]

The series is based on the Borgia family, an Italian dynasty of Spanish origin, and stars Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI and David Oakes, François Arnaud, Holliday Grainger and Aidan Alexander as Juan, Cesare, Lucrezia and Gioffre Borgia, respectively. Derek Jacobi also stars as Cardinal Orsini.[2]

It premiered on April 3, 2011, at at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime in the United States and 10 p.m. Eastern (UTC−04:00) on Bravo! in Canada.[1][3]

On April 25, 2011, Showtime ordered a second season of The Borgias.[4]

Plot overview

The series follows the rise of the Borgia family to the pinnacle of the church and their struggles to maintain their grip on power. The beginning of the first season depicts the election of Rodrigo Borgia to the papacy through simony and bribery with the help of his son, Cesare. The triumph of Borgia, who became Pope Alexander VI, in the papal conclave enrages his rivals in the College of Cardinals, some of whom decided to plot against him. With the help of his family, Alexander takes on his enemies while striking alliances with other European powers to strengthen his position.

Meanwhile, Alexander's great rival, Cardinal Della Rovere travels across Italy and France to seek allies to depose the pope. He manages to persuade the King Charles of France to assist him in removing Pope Alexander in exchange for supporting the King's claim to the throne of Naples, an ally of the Borgias through marriage. Season one culminates with Charles and his army, accompanied by Della Rovere, marching to Rome and finally coming to a head with the Borgias.

Cast

Main cast

  • Jeremy Irons as Rodrigo Borgia/Pope Alexander VI: An ambitious clergyman and head of the Borgia family. He uses his position to acquire power and influence. Shrewd and scheming, he is utterly devoted to his family, but also enjoys the company of beautiful women.[5]
  • François Arnaud as Cesare Borgia: Son of Rodrigo, he is his father's consigliore in the church. However, he desires to leave the priesthood, preferring warfare to the clergy. He has a violent streak, killing anyone to help the family's cause or eliminate romantic rivals.[6]
  • Holliday Grainger as Lucrezia Borgia: Daughter of Rodrigo, and the apple of her father's eye. Beautiful and wise, she is betrothed at a young age to the the cold Giovanni Sforza, and suffered from an unhappy marriage. She uses her wit and charm to save her father from being deposed.[7]
  • Joanne Whalley as Vannozza dei Cattanei: A courtesan and the aging mother of the pope's children. Her position as the matriarch of the family is threatened by the Borgias newly acquired powers and the pope's new mistress.[8]
  • Lotte Verbeek as Giulia Farnese: The beautiful mistress of the pope. An independent and wise woman herself, she earns the trust of Pope Alexander and becomes a close friend and mentor to Lucrezia.[9]
  • David Oakes as Juan Borgia: Son of Rodrigo and Gonfalonier of the Papal Armies. He behaves recklessly and arrogantly but is an inept coward.[10]
  • Sean Harris as Michelotto Corella: The condottiero of Cesare Borgia. He carries out ruthless killings under the order of Cesare to keep the Borgia family in power.[11]
  • Aidan Alexander as Joffre Borgia: The barely pubescent youngest son of the pope. He is married to Sancia of Naples by the pope to secure an alliance with the kingdom to consolidate his papacy.[12]
  • Colm Feore as Giuliano della Rovere: A powerful cardinal in the church. After losing the papal election to Rodrigo Borgia, he devotes himself to deposing the new pope, whom he sees as lewd and blasphemous.[13]

Supporting cast

  • Ronan Vibert as Giovanni Sforza: The Lord of Pesaro, picked as the husband of Lucrezia by the pope in exchange for support from the Sforza clan. The cold and brutish man, he raped Lucrezia repeatedly at the beginning of the marriage, but broke his leg after falling off a horse thanks to a scheme by Lucrezia. He betrays the alliance with the Borgias by refusing the support them against the impending French invasion. He was later humiliated by the Borgias, and his marriage was annulled on the grounds of impotence.
  • Steven Berkoff as Girolamo Savonarola: An influential priest in Florence who preaches against the corruption in the church.
  • Simon McBurney as Johannes Burchard: A scholar in Rome whom the pope turns to for advice on canon law.
  • Augustus Prew as Alfonso II of Naples: The eldest son of King Ferdinand I of Naples. His father was old and senile, leaving himself as the effective ruler of Naples.
  • Derek Jacobi as Cardinal Orsini (fictional character): One of the cardinals who plotted against Pope Alexander. Poisoned to death at the instruction of Cesare Borgia.
  • Ruta Gedmintas as Ursula Bonadeo: A noblewoman who engaged in a passionate extra-marital affair with Cesare Borgia. After Cesare murdered her husband, she rejected his love out of guilt and joined the nunhood.
  • Elyes Gabel as Prince Cem: A rival to the Ottoman throne, who was banished by his brother, the Sultan. Pope Alexander accepted the Sultan's offer to host Cem in exchange for financial reward. Cem was eventually killed by the Borgias, who used the much more substantial reward to pay for Lucrezia's dowry.
  • Montserrat Lombard as Maria
  • Emmanuelle Chriqui as Sancia: The illegitimate daughter of the King of Naples. When a marriage to the Borgias was proposed, Juan refused to marry her due to her illegitimacy. She was married instead to Joffre, but Juan became struck by her beauty and began an affair with her.
  • Vernon Dobtcheff as Cardinal Julius Verscucci (fictional character)
  • Bosco Hogan as Cardinal Piccolomini
  • Luke Pasqualino as Paolo: The young servant of Giovanni Sforza. Seduced by Lucrezia Borgia, who entices him to sabotage Sforza's saddle, causing his master to suffer a serious injury. He helps Lucrezia escape from the Sforza household. Lucrezia gives birth to his illegitimate son.
  • Gina Mckee as Caterina Sforza: Cousin of Giovanni Sforza and well-known military leader. Like the rest of the Sforzas, she refused to support the pope against the impending invasion by the French.
  • Peter Sullivan as Ascanio Sforza: A powerful cardinal who becomes chancellor in a deal with Rodrigo Borgia to elect Borgia as pope. Sforza arranges the marriage between Lucrezia Borgia and his cousin, Giovanni.
  • Julian Bleach as Niccolò Machiavelli: A senior official in the Republic of Florence, he carefully considered the offers of alliance by Cardinal Della Rovere and Cesare Borgia. Della Rovere pushes for Florence to give free passage of the French army on their way to Rome. He is upset when the Medicis yield hopelessly to the demands of the King of France in the face of total destruction of Florence by the French armies.
  • Ivan Kaye as Ludovico Sforza: The brutish Duke of Milan who seized the throne and imprisoned his own nephew in the process. Despite an alliance of the Sforzas and the pope, he allows the French army free passage through Milan on the way to Rome.
  • Michel Muller as Charles VIII: King of France and commander of one of the most feared armies in Europe. He claimed the throne of Naples, and was enticed by Cardinal Della Rovere to pursue those claims, in return for deposing Pope Alexander. Insecure about his height, looks and faith, he is charmed by Lucrezia Borgia on his way to seizing Rome, and later talked into an alliance by the pope, who agrees to recognize him as King of Naples.
  • David Lowe as French Ambassador

Episodes

Main article: List of The Borgias episodes

The series has nine episodes; the premiere encompassed two episodes, with the remaining seven episodes being first-aired each week following.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Sex. Power. Murder. Amen. Sinful Drama The Borgias Premieres April 3 on Bravo!" (Press release). CTV. March 11, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  2. ^ "Bravo! and CTV's The Borgias Lands Legendary Actor Sir Derek Jacobi" (Press release). Bell Media. June 10, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  3. ^ "The Borgias Premieres April 3 on Bravo!" (Press release). CNW Group. March 14, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  4. ^ "Showtime Renews The Borgias". Seat42f. Seat42f.com. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  5. ^ "Rodrigo Borgia/Pope Alexander VI". The Borgias. Bravo!. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  6. ^ "Cesare Borgia". The Borgias. Bravo!. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  7. ^ "Lucrezia Borgia". The Borgias. Bravo!. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  8. ^ "Vanozza dei Cattanei". The Borgias. Bravo!. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  9. ^ "Giulia Farnese". The Borgias. Bravo!. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  10. ^ "Juan Borgia". The Borgias. Bravo!. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  11. ^ "Michelotto". The Borgias. Showtime. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  12. ^ "Joffre Borgia". The Borgias. Showtime. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  13. ^ "Cardinal Della Rovere". The Borgias. Bravo!. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
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