1476-1507. Italian general, illegitimate son
of Pope Alexander VI. Made a cardinal at 17
by his father, he resigned to become
captain-general of the papacy, campaigning
successfully against the city republics of
Italy. Ruthless and treacherous in war, he
was an able ruler (the model for
Machiavelli's The Prince), but his power
crumbled on the death of his father. He was a
patron of artists, including Leonardo da
Vinci.