The Cardinal's Hat: Money, Ambition, and Everyday Life in the Court of a Borgia Prince

Synopsis

&“A riveting portrait of the day-to-day life of a wealthy, worldly Renaissance prince&” as he pursues power and influence in the Catholic church (USA Today). The second son of Alfonso d&’Este and Lucretia Borgia, the Duke and Duchess of Ferrara, Ippolito d&’Este was made the archbishop of Milan at the age of nine. But from the time of his father&’s death in 1534, he set his ambitions on acquiring the powerful and coveted cardinal&’s hat. But one did not become a sixteenth century prince of the church through piety and good works. Ippolito had a taste for gambling and women. He enjoyed hunting in the Loir valley and pursued his ambition with money, schmoozing, and the dark arts of politics. Working with Ippolito&’s letters and ledgers, recently uncovered in an archive in Modena, Italy, Mary Hollingsworth has pieced together a fascinating and undeniably titillating tale of this Renaissance cardinal and his road to power and wealth in sixteenth century Europe. The ledgers document every aspect of Ippolito&’s comings, goings, purchases, and debts. Out of these finely detailed records, Hollingsworth brings to life not only Ippolito, but his world. &“In this brilliant piece of historical detective work and narrative reconstruction . . . the most unlikely bits and pieces—a scrap of velvet, a stray barrel of wine—can be made to tell stories that resonate far beyond the neat columns of a well-kept account book.&” —The Guardian

Copyright:

2005

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

Book Size:

308 Pages

ISBN-13:

9781468303858

Related ISBNs:

9781585676804

Publisher:

ABRAMS, Inc.

Date of Addition:

12/17/24

Copyrighted By:

Mary Hollingsworth

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

History, Nonfiction, Biographies and Memoirs, Religion and Spirituality, Politics and Government

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.