Alfonso of Bisceglie
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Alfonso of Bisceglie: (b. c1481; died Aug. 18, 1500, Rome). Duke of Bisceglie. Contemporary accounts described him as “the most beautiful youth in Italy.” He was the illegitimate son of King Alfonso II of Naples and Trogia Gazzela, and brother of Sancia (b. 1478), the wife of Jofre Borgia, younger son of Pope Alexander VI. As part of the terms of a treaty between Naples and the Papacy, the 17 year old Alfonso was married (July 21, 1498) to the young Lucretia Borgia, daughter of Pope Alexander VI. Lucretia’s brother, Cesare Borgia, was a strong supporter of French interests in Italy and, thus strongly opposed to the Papacy’s alliance with Naples. He sought a way of destroying the treaty by wrecking his sister’s marriage with Alfonso. In 1499, Cesare was finally able to put his plans into effect. Alfonso realized that his life was now in danger if he remained in Rome. Leaving his pregnant wife, with whom it appears he shared a truly loving relationship, the young man fled seeking to return to Neapolitan territory. Enroute, however, he received a request from Alexander to please return and a guarantee that he would remain safe. In autumn of that year, Alfonso returned to Rome and it seemed that the threat he feared would not materialize. He did not reckon, however, with Cesare’s determination. On July 15, 1500, Alfonso was attacked by a gang of thugs at the gate of St. Peter’s. Seriously wounded he was able to escape and staggered back into the Vatican. There, through the tender care of his wife, Alfonso was able to begin to heal. Although there were no arrests made in the attack, Alfonso was well aware that Cesare was behind the attack. The young man even attempted to fight back by unsuccessfully trying to shoot his brother-in-law from his bedroom window. Cesare, knowing that he could not risk letting Alfonso recover, ordered another attack on the young man. On August 18, 1500, assassins burst into Alfonso’s room and strangled him. Again, no arrests were made although Cesare’s part in the murder was an open secret. Alfonso’s death succeeded in breaking the alliance between the Papacy and Naples, and encouraged the French to make new military and political adventures in Italy.