The Borgias: Season 3
Set in fifteenth-century Italy at the height of the Renaissance, the historical drama television series The Borgias chronicles the Borgia family. In the third season, Alexander VI survives an assassination attempt by Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere because his daughter Lucrezia knows how to treat catarella poisoning. Meanwhile, Alexander's war with the Sforza family continues and escalates. Following these events, Ale
Season 3 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- The series is set in fifteenth-century Italy at the height of the Renaissance and follows the Borgia family.
- The narrative chronicles the corrupt rise of patriarch Rodrigo Borgia, also known as Pope Alexander VI, to the papacy.
- Pope Alexander VI commits sins to amass and retain power, influence, and enormous wealth for himself and his family.
- The historical drama television series was created by Neil Jordan and stars Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI alongside François Arnaud.
Season overview
Set in fifteenth-century Italy at the height of the Renaissance, the historical drama television series The Borgias chronicles the Borgia family. In the third season, Alexander VI survives an assassination attempt by Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere because his daughter Lucrezia knows how to treat catarella poisoning. Meanwhile, Alexander's war with the Sforza family continues and escalates. Following these events, Alexander now plots to turn the Papacy into an explicitly hereditary office. The series was created by Neil Jordan and follows the scandalous ascension of the Borgia family to the papacy, with Jeremy Irons starring as Pope Alexander VI.
Episode Guide
Season 3 Progress Shield
The Face of Death
Apr 14, 2013 · 52 min
Pope Alexander fights for his life; the cardinals fight for control of the papacy; Cesare and Micheletto track the assassin; Della Rovere prepares to make his move.
The Purge
Apr 21, 2013 · 50 min
Alexander tasks Cardinal Sforza with purging the College of Cardinals, old Roman families conspire against the Pope, and Lucrezia tries to seduce Cesare.
Siblings
Apr 28, 2013 · 51 min
The King of Naples refuses to accept Lucrzia's child as part of the marriage agreement and pointedly invites Caterins Sforza and other Borgia enemies to the wedding.
The Banquet of Chestnuts
May 5, 2013 · 51 min
Cardinal Farnese exposes the embezzlement of Cardinal Versucci while the King of Naples insists the consummation of Lucrezia's marriage to his cousin be witnessed.
The Wolf and the Lamb
May 12, 2013 · 50 min
Lucrezia and Micheletto plot the death of King Ferdinand when he refuses her her baby as Cesare's promise of an annulment for Louis X!. gain him a wife and army.
Relics
May 19, 2013 · 48 min
Cesare unites the sons of the five Romagna families with his own army against Forli, and the Pope negotiates for a with Constantinople Jews for a holy relic.
Lucrezia's Gambit
May 26, 2013 · 48 min
After the French king occupies a deserted Milan, he tasks Cesare with killing Ludivico, and Lucretia becomes involved in Neapolitan palace intrigue.
Tears of Blood
Jun 2, 2013 · 53 min
Micheleto learns his kept lover is a Sforza informant, Caterina Sforza mounts the Shroud of Turin as a rival holy relic, and Alfonso puts Lucrezia under house arrest.
The Gunpowder Plot
Jun 9, 2013 · 46 min
Lucrezia escapes with Alfonso and her baby from Naples while the Pope corners the market in sulfur, restricting others from manufacturing gunpowder.
The Prince
Jun 16, 2013 · 56 min
Micheletto returns to Cesare briefly to help him destroy the walls of Forli and capture Caterina Sforza and later recruit her assassin Rufio.