Papal mistress. Also known as Giovanna Cattani. Her origin is unclear. She met Rodrigo Borgia in 1472 and became his mistress. He already had an unknown, but apparently large, number of children from different mothers, but only three of them were legitimized. She bore him four other children: Cesare, Juan, Duke of Gandia, Lucrezia, and Jofre. When Rodrigo became pope he ended the affair with her and took care of the children's education. They treated each other with respect and friendship and after his death, she was honored as the widow of the pope. With Carlo Canale di Mantova, her second or third husband (it is not sure how often she was married) she opened a chain of inns and was very successful. She gave her money to religious institutions and left much of her possessions to the Augustinian monks of Santa Maria del Popolo. The whole papal court attended her funeral. She was laid to rest near her son Juan who had been killed in 1497.
Papal mistress. Also known as Giovanna Cattani. Her origin is unclear. She met Rodrigo Borgia in 1472 and became his mistress. He already had an unknown, but apparently large, number of children from different mothers, but only three of them were legitimized. She bore him four other children: Cesare, Juan, Duke of Gandia, Lucrezia, and Jofre. When Rodrigo became pope he ended the affair with her and took care of the children's education. They treated each other with respect and friendship and after his death, she was honored as the widow of the pope. With Carlo Canale di Mantova, her second or third husband (it is not sure how often she was married) she opened a chain of inns and was very successful. She gave her money to religious institutions and left much of her possessions to the Augustinian monks of Santa Maria del Popolo. The whole papal court attended her funeral. She was laid to rest near her son Juan who had been killed in 1497.
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