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BORGIA, Cesare (1475/6-1507). Letter signed ('Cesar') as 'Borgia de Francia Dux valentie' (i.e. Duke of Valentinois) to the Signoria and Gonfalonier of the Republic of Florence, Forli, 6 April 1501.
In Italian, half page, approx. 248 x 190mm, address panel on verso using Cesare's titles as Gonfalonier and Captain General (remnant of seal in red wax, mounting strip to left margin). Provenance: acquisition note on verso 'Col. W. West' signed 'A.D.' (probably the dealer and collector Alcide Donnadieu (c.1791-1861).
Cesare Borgia at the height of his powers. Cesare requests that the Florentine Signoria intervene in favour of one Gianbattista Cataneo, who frequently transports wood into the city of Imola from the territory next to the river Santerno: he has received great harm from Florentine subjects in the area, which Cesare is certain is not the intention of the Signoria; he therefore prays them to ensure that these injurious actions may cease.
'Ce Fa Intendere el nostro Fidel Dilecto Joanni Baptista Cataneo Come Facendo lui de continuo condure legname in la Cita n[ost]ra de Imola del Territorio de q[ue]lla adiacente al Fiume Santerno Riceve grandissimo Danno da li subditi de Ve Exse Srie li vicini Che ce rendemo certi no[n] esser[e] di mente de Quelle Et per Tanto le Exhortamo et Pregamo li piacia Fare Tal provisione con li loro officiali de li lochi Finitimi che da mo inanti se abstengano da Tale Iniuriae adcio non diano Casone ad Qualche Inconveniente'.
The illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia), Cesare Borgia writes at the height of his powers as the governor of a virtual Borgia state in northern Italy. The following month, having secured the title of Duke of Romagna (in addition to the French dukedom of Valentinois with which he signs the present letter), Cesare directly menaced Florence itself, being deflected by the Treaty of Campi. When in the following year he again threatened Florence, the emissaries sent to treat with him included Niccolò Macchiavelli and Leonardo da Vinci (who executed a famous plan showing precisely the country between Imola and the river Santerno which is the subject of the present letter). Cesare's fall was to follow closely upon the death of his father in August 1503, and he died in Spain four years later. According to ABPC/RBH, only one other document signed by Cesare Borgia has appeared at auction in the last 50 years.
In Italian, half page, approx. 248 x 190mm, address panel on verso using Cesare's titles as Gonfalonier and Captain General (remnant of seal in red wax, mounting strip to left margin). Provenance: acquisition note on verso 'Col. W. West' signed 'A.D.' (probably the dealer and collector Alcide Donnadieu (c.1791-1861).
Cesare Borgia at the height of his powers. Cesare requests that the Florentine Signoria intervene in favour of one Gianbattista Cataneo, who frequently transports wood into the city of Imola from the territory next to the river Santerno: he has received great harm from Florentine subjects in the area, which Cesare is certain is not the intention of the Signoria; he therefore prays them to ensure that these injurious actions may cease.
'Ce Fa Intendere el nostro Fidel Dilecto Joanni Baptista Cataneo Come Facendo lui de continuo condure legname in la Cita n[ost]ra de Imola del Territorio de q[ue]lla adiacente al Fiume Santerno Riceve grandissimo Danno da li subditi de Ve Exse Srie li vicini Che ce rendemo certi no[n] esser[e] di mente de Quelle Et per Tanto le Exhortamo et Pregamo li piacia Fare Tal provisione con li loro officiali de li lochi Finitimi che da mo inanti se abstengano da Tale Iniuriae adcio non diano Casone ad Qualche Inconveniente'.
The illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia), Cesare Borgia writes at the height of his powers as the governor of a virtual Borgia state in northern Italy. The following month, having secured the title of Duke of Romagna (in addition to the French dukedom of Valentinois with which he signs the present letter), Cesare directly menaced Florence itself, being deflected by the Treaty of Campi. When in the following year he again threatened Florence, the emissaries sent to treat with him included Niccolò Macchiavelli and Leonardo da Vinci (who executed a famous plan showing precisely the country between Imola and the river Santerno which is the subject of the present letter). Cesare's fall was to follow closely upon the death of his father in August 1503, and he died in Spain four years later. According to ABPC/RBH, only one other document signed by Cesare Borgia has appeared at auction in the last 50 years.
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