The other Mrs Sforza...

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi everyone,

I've been reading up on poisons circa 1480-1520 - and found another 
interesting candidate, who was also (briefly) part of the Sforza family - 
Lucrezia Borgia (1480-1519).

At 13, she was married to Giovanni Sforza (to get the Sforza vote in papal 
affairs), but political necessities changed two years later, and Lucrezia's 
brother decided to end her marriage - this got very messy, but Giovanni 
luckily escaped with his life.

I say "lucky", because the Borgias developed a secret poison called "La 
Cantarella", which they used to remove any opposition. They also had the 
habit of mixing wine from their wine-glasses together, so as to reduce the 
likelihood of being poisoned by each other. What a nice family. :-/

Many modern historians think that she was - unlike the vividly evil picture 
painted of her by 19th Century dramatists and historians - more of a 
political pawn than an instigator (they put most of the blame on her 
brother and father), but it's hard to be sure either way. :-/

Anyway, from what I've dug up so far, there seems to be some kind of 
tradition of referring to her not only as a poisoner but also as an owner 
or creator of herbal/medicinal knowledge. Certainly, her endorsement of 
balsamico (vinegar) as being of assistance before, during, and after 
childbirth is something which is still quoted today - though mainly on 
balsamico suppliers' websites. :-)

However, while it's entirely possible that Lucrezia Borgia compiled her own 
herbal (which might then be a candidate for the VMS) which has subsequently 
been lost, my instinct is that we're not looking at it here... but that's a 
very long way from proof or disproof. :-|

BTW: a crystal casket containing a few locks of her hair (which Byron 
described as "blonder than you can imagine") was in the Ambrosian Library - 
I don't know whether this still exists, though. :-/

Interestingly, Leonardo da Vinci also experimented with poisons, and it is 
said that his poisoned apples were used to kill Giangaleazzo Sforza. And 
Leonardo had not only previously painted a picture of a Sforza mistress 
(with an ermine), but also spent several years in Milan (1495-1498 or so) 
pitching the idea for a giant equestrian statue to the Sforzas!

Cheers, .....Nick Pelling.....