Giulia Farnese

Giulia Farnese
Lady with a Unicorn, by Luca Longhi, 1535-1540,[1] possibly a portrait of Giulia Farnese.
Governor at Carbognano
In office
1506–1522
MonarchsJulius II (1506-1513)
Leo X (1513-1521)
Adrian VI (1521-1522)
Preceded byOrsino Orsini
Personal details
Born1474
Canino, Papal States
DiedMarch 23, 1524 (aged 49–50)
Rome, Papal States
Spouse(s)
(m. 1489; died 1500)

Giovanni Capece Bozzuto di Afragola
RelationsPope Alexander VI (lover)
ChildrenLaura Orsini (fatherhood disputed)
Parent(s)Pier Luigi Farnese
Giovanna Caetani

Giulia Farnese (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdʒuːlja farˈneːze, -eːse]; 1474 – 23 March 1524) was an Italian noblewoman, a mistress to Pope Alexander VI, and the sister of Pope Paul III.[2] Known as Giulia la bella (Italian for 'Julia the beautiful'), she was a member of the noble Farnese family, who were prominent leaders in the Italian regions of Parma and Piacenza.[2] After marrying into the noble Orsini family in the Papal States, Farnese soon acquainted herself with, and initiated an affair with, the Spanish Cardinal Rodrigo de Borja. When the cardinal was elected Pope, Farnese continued the increasingly advantageous liaison, which enabled her to have her brother Alessandro made a cardinal, until losing Alexander's favor at the turn of the century.

Farnese spent most of her later years governing the castle of Carbognano, previously a property which Alexander had given to her husband. She died in 1524 in Rome at the residence belonging to Alessandro, who would later be elected Pope Paul III.

Lorenzo Pucci described her as "most lovely to behold". Cesare Borgia, the son of Alexander VI, described her as having "dark colouring, black eyes, round face and a particular ardor".[3]

  1. ^ "Vatican show denies Virgin model was pope's lover | Arts & Ent , Culture | THE DAILY STAR". Archived from the original on 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  2. ^ a b "Farnese Family | Italian family". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  3. ^ Steigerwalt, Giulia Louise (18 November 2014). "Mystery of the bones of Giulia Farnese, the beautiful lover of Pope Borgia". Italo Americano. Archived from the original on 26 January 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2018.