Cesare Borgia (;
Catalan: Cèsar Borja, ; , ; 13 September 1475 or April 1476 – 12 March 1507),
Duke of Valentinois, was an Italian
condottiero,
nobleman,
politician, and
cardinal, whose fight for power was a major inspiration for
The Prince by
Machiavelli. He was the illegitimate son of
Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492–1503) and his long-term mistress
Vannozza dei Cattanei. He was the brother of
Lucrezia Borgia;
Giovanni Borgia (Juan), Duke of
Gandia; and
Gioffre Borgia (Jofré in
Catalan), Prince of Squillace. He was half-brother to
Don Pedro Luis de Borja (1460–88) and Girolama de Borja, children of unknown mothers.