Giovanni Borgia, 2nd Duke of Gandía
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Juan Borgia, 2nd Duke of Gandia (1474 – June 14, 1497) was the older brother of the famous Cesare Borgia. Giovanni (Juan) was the first of the Pope's four children born in 1474 to Vanozza de' Catanei. Cesare, the second, was born 1475. However, due to a number of papal bulls issued after his murder, there remains an open debate as to whether Giovanni was born in 1474 or 1476.
(Juan) Giovanni de Candia Borgia was born in Rome to then cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (later to become Pope Alexander VI) and Vannozza dei Cattanei of the House of Candia (while she was married to Domenico da Rignano). He married Maria Enriquez de Luna, the Spanish betrothed of his deceased older half-brother, Pedro Luis, in September of 1493. He was made 2nd Duke of Gandia, Duke of Sessa, Grand Constable of Naples, Governor of St. Peter's, and Gonfalonier and Captain General of the Church.
He was murdered the night of June 14, 1497 near what would later become the Piazza della Giudecca (in the Ghetto of Rome). It has been speculated that his own brother Cesare Borgia had him murdered. However, there is another huge rumor which tells that his younger brother Gioffre Borgia murdered him due to Giovanni's relationship with his wife, Sancia. His richly attired body was recovered from the Tiber River with 30 golden ducats untouched in the purse at his belt. To the immense grief of the Pope, this act occasioned the heartless epigram by Sannazzaro on the Pope as "fisher of men". Borgia's only attendant was also slain, so there were no witnesses.
Although not proven, there is the possibility that Juan died at the hands of Pico della Mirandola whose "house was near the Tiber" and "who also had a young daughter" – which could explain Juan's remark that he was going to "amuse himself" on his mysterious ride.
Juan and Maria had two children: Juan Borja y Enriquez (also known as Juan Borgia), who became the 3rd Duke of Gandia, and Francisca de Jesus Borja, who became a nun at a convent in Valladolid. This Juan was the father of Saint Francis Borgia.
