DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0217
CHAPTER XI
1500—1502
Birth of Isabella’s son Federico—Caesar Borgia his godfather—
Relations of the Gonzagas with him—Elisabetta of Urbino
goes to Rome—Eetters of Sigismondo Cantelmo—Comedies at
Ferrara and Mantua—Treaty of Granada and partition of
Naples—Caesar Borgia conquers Romagna—Abdication and
exile of Federico, King of Naples—Betrothal of Alfonso d’Este
to Lucrezia Borgia—Preparations for the marriage in Rome—
Il Prete’s letters to Isabella—Wedding of Lucrezia and her
journey to Ferrara.
The year 1500, which saw the final ruin of Lodovico
Sforza and the rise of Caesar Borgia, was a memor-
able one for Isabella d’Este, both in her public
and private life. On the 17th of May, within a
month of the catastrophe of Novara, she gave birth,
in the Castello of Mantua, to the long-wished-
for son and heir. Some time before, Suor Osanna
foretold this event, and bade the Marchesa be of
good cheer, since her prayers were heard and she
would soon bear a son.1 Now the joyful news
was hailed with acclamation, not only throughout
Mantuan territory, but at Ferrara and Urbino. The
sumptuous cradle which Duke Ercole had sent for
his first grandchild’s birth, and which Isabella had
refused to let her daughters use, was at length
brought out; and the happy mother borrowed Spanish
leather hangings and tapestries from Ferrara for the
1 Donesmondi, Storla Eccles, di Mantova.
177
VOL. I.
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1500—1502
Birth of Isabella’s son Federico—Caesar Borgia his godfather—
Relations of the Gonzagas with him—Elisabetta of Urbino
goes to Rome—Eetters of Sigismondo Cantelmo—Comedies at
Ferrara and Mantua—Treaty of Granada and partition of
Naples—Caesar Borgia conquers Romagna—Abdication and
exile of Federico, King of Naples—Betrothal of Alfonso d’Este
to Lucrezia Borgia—Preparations for the marriage in Rome—
Il Prete’s letters to Isabella—Wedding of Lucrezia and her
journey to Ferrara.
The year 1500, which saw the final ruin of Lodovico
Sforza and the rise of Caesar Borgia, was a memor-
able one for Isabella d’Este, both in her public
and private life. On the 17th of May, within a
month of the catastrophe of Novara, she gave birth,
in the Castello of Mantua, to the long-wished-
for son and heir. Some time before, Suor Osanna
foretold this event, and bade the Marchesa be of
good cheer, since her prayers were heard and she
would soon bear a son.1 Now the joyful news
was hailed with acclamation, not only throughout
Mantuan territory, but at Ferrara and Urbino. The
sumptuous cradle which Duke Ercole had sent for
his first grandchild’s birth, and which Isabella had
refused to let her daughters use, was at length
brought out; and the happy mother borrowed Spanish
leather hangings and tapestries from Ferrara for the
1 Donesmondi, Storla Eccles, di Mantova.
177
VOL. I.
M