The Borgias

If you loved The Tudors, you won't want to miss a minute of this sordid saga! Set in 15th-century Italy at the height of the Renaissance, The Borgias dramatizes the rise of corrupt Rodrigo Borgia (Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons) to the papacy and his no-holds-barred fight for power, influence and wealth. (So debauched was the crime family's unbounded audacity, it inspired Mario Puzo's The Godfather.) Don't miss a minute of the lavish, sexy, scandalous drama from the creative mind of Academy Award-winner Neil Jordan. As seen on Showtime.

The Poisoned Chalice/The Assassin In this special 2-hour series premiere that includes the first two episodes, Rodrigo Borgia bullies and bribes his way into becoming the new Pope Alexander VI, then wastes no time consolidating power by elevating his sons into high office and his daughter into a politically motivated marriage.

The Moor - His coffers depleted by his expensive rise to power, Rodrigo seeks funds through a profitable marriage for Lucrezia that will ally with him Milan, and charges a fee for safe haven in the Holy City to Jews displaced by the Spanish Inquisition; the Borgias host a charming Turkish prince; Micheletto is ordered to rid his patrons of the ongoing threat posed by Della Rovere.

Lucrezia's Wedding - Lucrezia's financially and politically motivated wedding to Milanese nobleman Giovanni Sforza is a disaster thanks to Juan's inappropriately bawdy play in his sister's honor, Cesare's brazen flirting with a married baroness, and the arrival of the Borgia children's illegitimate mother; Della Rovere seeks the aid of the illustrious Medici family and their counselor, Machiavelli.

The Borgias in Love - Alternately neglected and abused by her cruel husband, Lucrezia has an affair with Paolo, a handsome stable boy; Cesare strikes a bargain with Machiavelli: deny French troops passage across his masters' lands in exchange for suppression of Savonarola, a fiery preacher of anti-Medici sermons; in love with baroness Ursula, Cesare takes drastic action to get rid of her husband.

The French King - Della Rovere reaches France and strikes a bargain with its ruler to invade Italy and install him on the Papal throne in exchange for control of Naples; Rodrigo attempts to thwart the invasion through an alliance by marrying his youngest son Joffre to Princess Sancia of Naples (guest star Emmannuelle Chriqui), but Juan nearly sabotages the plan by seducing his prospective sister-in-law.

Death, on a Pale Horse - The invasion by King Charles of France and Della Rovere proceeds with victory seemingly inevitable as the French sack the city of Lucca and the Italian powers flee to their banner, with Lucrezia's husband Giovanni Sforza poised to join them in the name of Milan; inventor Leonardo Da Vinci (guest star John Lynch) shows his drawings and blueprints for war machinery to the invaders.

The Art of War - The invaders capture a fleeing and pregnant Lucrezia as they march on Rome, but she charms King Charles and is allowed to persuade her brother Juan to withdraw his hopelessly outmatched defensive troops; Pope Alexander VI awaits to learn of his fate as Charles enters the city and makes his way to the Vatican.

Nessuno (Nobody) - Abandoned by even his cardinals, Alexander meets King Charles with humility and saves his throne, even eliciting a confession from the conqueror he crowns as the new "King of France and Naples;" Della Rovere despairs as Charles abandons him; Lucrezia safely gives birth to a son in a convent as the Borgias secure an annulment of her marriage and plot revenge on their enemies.

Rodrigo Borgia
The head of the Borgia clan is an interesting dichotomy of a man. Both ruthlessly ambitious and utterly devoted to his family, he uses his position in the Catholic church to acquire power, influence and wealth. He is incredibly shrewd and manages to outmaneuver his rivals at every turn. But he also enjoys the carnal pleasures of life, particularly the company of beautiful women, and this leaves him open to his enemies.

Cesare Borgia
Forced into the priesthood against his will by his father, Cesare is in reality violent, dashing and cavalier. He serves as his father's Consigliore and carries out the most heinous crimes to advance the family's cause. While devoted to his sister and mother, he is locked in a bitter rivalry with his brother Juan, whom he believes to be his father's favorite.

Lucrezia Borgia
A beautiful young girl who is also wise beyond her years, Lucrezia is the apple of her father's eye. However, this does not prevent him from marrying her off at the earliest opportunity to Giovanni Sforza, a loutish brute whose family rules the powerful city-state of Milan.

Vanozza
The refined, aging mistress of Rodrigo, Vanozza is the mother of his children. Although she no longer shares the Pope's bed, she is still the matriarch of his household and a vital member of his family. But when a younger woman catches the Pope's eye, Vanozza unleashes a fury that threatens to unseat him.

Giulia Farnese
The ravishing temptress who comes to the Pope seeking redemption and ends up in his bed, Giulia quickly uses her new vaunted position to amass power and influence of her own. She befriends Lucrezia and shares her opinions with the Pope, thereby alienating Vanozza and driving a wedge straight through the heart of the Borgia family.

Juan Borgia
As the head of the papal armies, favored son Juan is filled with swagger and bravado, but he is really a hopelessly inept coward. More interested in the brothels and taverns of Rome than with defending his family, Juan nonetheless resents that his brother Cesare is the more apt warrior son.

Micheletto
Hired by Cesare to serve as the Borgias' enforcer, Micheletto is utterly cold and compassionless and relishes danger. Initially in the employ of Pope Alexander's chief rival Cardinal Della Rovere, he jumps at the chance to serve as God's own assassin.

Joffre Borgia
Like his sister Lucrezia, the barely pubescent youngest son of Rodrigo is also used as a pawn when he is married off to Sancia of Naples. But unlike Lucrezia's ugly spouse, Sancia is a luscious beauty who quickly captures the eye of Joffre's brother Juan.

Della Rovere
The rich and powerful Cardinal Della Rovere is Rodrigo Borgia's chief rival for the papacy. When he loses, he devotes himself to unseating the Pope, whom he sees as lewd, blasphemous, and his vast moral inferior. But Della Rovere becomes so obsessed with his quest that he ends up stooping to the Borgias' level and beyond to achieve his goal.

Directed by Jeremy Podeswa, Simon Cellan Jones, Neil Jordan
Written by Neil Jordan, Guy Burt
Executive Produced bySheila Hockin, Jack Rapke, Darryl Frank, Michael Hirst
Original Music by Trevor Morris
Cinematography by Paul Sarossy
Film Editing by Lisa Grootenboer, Wendy Hallam Martin
Costume Design by Gabriella Pescucci