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The Borgias Trivia Quiz

How much do you know about this notorious Renaissance family?

A multiple-choice quiz by edinbork. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
edinbork

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
291,744

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
994

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (5/10), Guest 84 (4/10), Guest 31 (2/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What name did Alonso Borgia take when he became the first Borgia pope in 1455? Hint

Calixtus II

Adrian IV

Alexander VI

Calixtus III

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What part of Spain was originally home to the Borgia (or Borja) family? Hint

They were an Italian family.

Barcelona, Catalonia

Xativa, Catalonia

Bilbao, Basque Country

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Rodrigo Borgia was elected pope as Alexander VI in 1492. What other important event happened in that same year? Hint

Lorenzo de' Medici died in Florence

The Reconquista was completed in Spain.

Columbus reached the West Indies

All of these

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. The French invaded Italy shortly after Alexander's election, in 1494. Which French king led the invasion? Hint

Charles VIII

Charles X

Francis I

Louis IV

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Which of the following men was not a husband of Alexander VI's daughter, Lucrezia Borgia? Hint

Giovanni Sforza

Pietro Bembo

Alfonso d'Aragona

Alfonso d'Este

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Which of these people shared a personal connection with Alexander's son, Cesare Borgia? Hint

Niccolo Machiavelli

Leonardo da Vinci

Charlotte d'Albret

All of these

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Which of these was not a child of Pope Alexander VI? Hint

Jofre Borgia

None of these was a child of Alexander VI

Isabella Borgia

Cardinal Ippolito Borgia

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Who was Alexander's favorite mistress, called "La Bella?" Hint

Sancia d'Aragona

Adriana de Mila

Giulia Farnese

Vittorio Colonna

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Alexander VI had a contemptuous relationship with which fiery monk? Hint

Bernardino of Siena

Roberto Bellarmine

Tommaso Inghirami

Girolamo Savonarola

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Question 10 of 10

10. Alexander's great-grandson became General of the Jesuits and was later canonized. What was his name? Hint

Juan of Gandia

Ignatius of Loyola

Melchior Borgia, Viceroy of Sicily

Francisco de Borja

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What name did Alonso Borgia take when he became the first Borgia pope in 1455?

Answer: Calixtus III

He was Rodrigo Borgia's uncle, and made his nephew a cardinal in 1456.

2. What part of Spain was originally home to the Borgia (or Borja) family?

Answer: Xativa, Catalonia

Alexander VI and his children continued to speak the Valencian (Catalonian) dialect in private when they lived in Rome.

3. Rodrigo Borgia was elected pope as Alexander VI in 1492. What other important event happened in that same year?

Answer: All of these

It was actually the death of Lorenzo de' Medici, fairly unimportant in hindsight, which received the most attention from contemporaries.

4. The French invaded Italy shortly after Alexander's election, in 1494. Which French king led the invasion?

Answer: Charles VIII

The humpbacked Charles reached Naples easily, but was forced to withdraw soon after, and was fought to a virtual stalemate at the Battle of Fornovo in 1495.

5. Which of the following men was not a husband of Alexander VI's daughter, Lucrezia Borgia?

Answer: Pietro Bembo

The humanist Bembo and Lucrezia were lovers, but never married. Lucrezia finally gained relative stability and respect as the Duchess of Ferrara (when she married her third husband, Alfonso d'Este).

6. Which of these people shared a personal connection with Alexander's son, Cesare Borgia?

Answer: All of these

Machiavelli acted as an emissary to Cesare for the Florentine government, and famously wrote about the Duke in his treatise 'The Prince'. Leonardo worked for a time as Cesare's military advisor. Charlotte d'Albret was Cesare's only wife.

7. Which of these was not a child of Pope Alexander VI?

Answer: Cardinal Ippolito Borgia

Ippolito Borgia (1509-1572) was Lucrezia's son, and therefore Alexander's grandson.

8. Who was Alexander's favorite mistress, called "La Bella?"

Answer: Giulia Farnese

Giulia Farnese was the sister of Alessandro Farnese, whom Alexander elevated to the cardinalate. This favortism relied on his sister's good graces with the pope, and so Alessandro was called the "Petticoat Cardinal." He went on to become Pope Paul III.

9. Alexander VI had a contemptuous relationship with which fiery monk?

Answer: Girolamo Savonarola

Savonarola led led the government of Florence in all but name after the ousting of the Medici. He was excommunicated by Alexander VI and burned at the stake in 1498.

10. Alexander's great-grandson became General of the Jesuits and was later canonized. What was his name?

Answer: Francisco de Borja

Also known as Saint Francis Borgia, he was the grandson of the murdered Juan of Gandia. Francisco was himself Duke of Gandia for a time, but he is best known as one of the most important Generals in the history of the Jesuits.

Source: Author edinbork

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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