The Borgias: Season 1
The Borgias season 1 is set in 15th century Italy at the height of the Renaissance. The series chronicles the rise of Pope Alexander VI, who wins election as Pope by bribing enough of the cardinals to vote for him in conclave. Alexander then packs the College of Cardinals with 13 new members, including his son Cesare. He attempts to form an alliance with the powerful family of Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, but this fragil
Season overview
The Borgias season 1 is set in 15th century Italy at the height of the Renaissance. The series chronicles the rise of Pope Alexander VI, who wins election as Pope by bribing enough of the cardinals to vote for him in conclave. Alexander then packs the College of Cardinals with 13 new members, including his son Cesare. He attempts to form an alliance with the powerful family of Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, but this fragile alliance breaks after Alexander's rival, Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, contracts his own alliance with the King of France for an invasion of Italy. The series is a historical drama that explores the corrupt rise of the Borgias through murder, intrigue, war, and marriage.
Episode Guide
Season 1 Progress Shield
The Poisoned Chalice
Apr 3, 2011 · 50 min
Rodrigo successfully bribes and intimidates his way into an election as Pope Alexander VI, making him the new leader of the Catholic Church; powerful Cardinals Della Rovere and Ors
The Assassin
Apr 3, 2011 · 52 min
The new Pope wastes no time consolidating power and balancing opposition to him in the College of Cardinals by elevating his children to high office, installing Juan as head of the
The Moor
Apr 10, 2011 · 53 min
His coffers depleted by his expensive rise to power, Rodrigo seeks funds through a profitable marriage for Lucrezia that will ally with him Milan, and charges a fee for safe haven
Lucrezia's Wedding
Apr 17, 2011 · 58 min
Lucrezia's financially and politically motivated wedding to Milanese nobleman Giovanni Sforza is a disaster thanks to Juan's inappropriately bawdy play in his sister's honor, Cesar
The Borgias in Love
Apr 24, 2011 · 53 min
Alternately neglected and abused by her cruel husband, Lucrezia has an affair with Paolo, a handsome stable boy; Cesare strikes a bargain with Machiavelli: deny French troops passa
The French King
May 1, 2011 · 53 min
Della Rovere reaches France and strikes a bargain with its ruler to invade Italy and install him on the Papal throne in exchange for control of Naples; Rodrigo attempts to thwart t
Death, on a Pale Horse
May 8, 2011 · 52 min
The invasion by King Charles of France and Della Rovere proceeds with victory seemingly inevitable as the French sack the city of Lucca and the Italian powers flee to their banner,
The Art of War
May 15, 2011 · 51 min
The invaders capture a fleeing and pregnant Lucrezia as they march on Rome, but she charms King Charles and is allowed to persuade her brother Juan to withdraw his hopelessly outma
Nessuno (Nobody)
May 22, 2011 · 48 min
Abandoned by even his cardinals, Alexander meets King Charles with humility and saves his throne, even eliciting a confession from the conqueror he crowns as the new "King of Franc