Ferdinand Gregorovius (January 19, 1821 – May 1, 1891) was a German historian who specialized in the medieval history of Rome. He is best known for Wanderjahre in Italien, his account of the walks he took through Italy in the 1850s, and the monumental Die Geschichte der Stadt Rom im Mittelalter (History of Rome in the Middle Ages), a classic for Medieval and early Renaissance history. He also wrote biographies of Pope Alexander VI and Lucrezia Borgia, as well as works on Byzantine history and medieval Athens. Gregorovius was a Protestant who, according to Father John Hardon, S.J. was "a bitter enemy of the popes." Gregorovius was born at Neidenburg (Nidzica), East Prussia, and studied at the University of Königsberg. After teaching for many years, Gregorovius took up residence in Italy in 1852, remaining in that country for over twenty years. He was made a citizen of Rome, the first honorary citizen of the city. He eventually returned to Germany, where he died in Munich. |
Lucretia Borgia
According to Original
Documents and Correspondence of Her Day,
Ferdinand Gregorovius
TO DON MICHELANGELO GAETANI DUKE OF SERMONETA
My honored Duke: I am induced to dedicate
this work to you by the historical circumstances of which it treats and also by
personal considerations.
In it you will behold the founders of your
ancient and illustrious family. The Borgias were mortal enemies of the Gaetani,
who narrowly escaped the fate prepared for them by Alexander VI and his
terrible son. Beautiful Sermoneta and all the great fiefs in the Maremma fell
into the maw of the Borgias, and your ancestors either found death at their hands
or were driven into exile. Donna Lucretia became mistress of Sermoneta, and
eventually her son, Rodrigo of Aragon, inherited the estates of the Gaetani.
Centuries have passed, and a beautiful and
unfortunate woman may be forgiven for this confiscation of the appanages of
your house. Moreover, it was not long before your family was reinstated in its
rights by a bull of Julius II, which is now preserved—a precious jewel—in your
family archives. To your house has descended the fame of its founders, but to yourself
is due the position which the Gaetani now again enjoy.
The survival of historical tradition in things
and men exercises an indescribable charm on every student of civilization. To
recognize in the ancient and still nourishing families of modern Rome the
descendants of
the great personalities of other times, and to enjoy daily intercourse with
them, made a profound impression on me. The Colonna, the Orsini, and the
Gaetani are my friends, and all afforded me the greatest assistance. These
families long ago vanished from the stage of Roman history, but the day came,
illustrious Duke, when you were to make a place again for your ancient race in
the history of the Imperial City; the day when—the temporal power of the popes
having passed away, a power which had endured a thousand years—you carried to
King Victor Emmanuel in Florence the declaration of allegiance of the Roman
populace. This episode, marking the beginning of a new era for the city, will
live, together with your name, in the annals of the Gaetani, and will preserve
it forever in the memory of the Romans.
Gregorovius.
Translator: John Leslie Garner
