Borgia (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | July 10, 2011 |
| Founder | Tom Fontana |
Area served | International |
| Products | Television drama series |
| Parent | Atlantique Productions (Lagardère Entertainment) and EOS Entertainment |
Borgia is a historical drama television series developed by Tom Fontana for the networks Canal+, ZDF, ORF, and Sky Italia. The narrative centers on the ascent of the Borgia family as they seize control of the Papal States during the Renaissance era.
The series made its debut in Italy on Sky Cinema 1 on 10 July 2011. Following its initial success, a second season was commissioned and premiered in France on Canal+ on 18 March 2013. The third and concluding season began airing on Canal+ from 15 September 2014, culminating with the final episode on 27 October 2014, bringing the total episode count to 38.
Production
Atlantique Productions, a division of Lagardère Entertainment, produced the series for the French premium channel Canal+, collaborating with EOS Entertainment. Filming took place across locations in Italy and the Czech Republic, with Etic films overseeing production in the Czech Republic. Beta Film GmbH managed international distribution. Production for Season 3 spanned from 27 May 2013 until 27 January 2014.
International production
This collaboration among French, German, Czech, and Italian partners involved a diverse cast and crew from various countries. The series' creator, executive producer, and principal writer is American Tom Fontana, joined by fellow American writers Sean Whitesell, Gina Gionfriddo, and Larry Cohen; French writer Audrey Fouché contributed starting with Season 2.
Direction was provided by a multinational team including Germans Oliver Hirschbiegel and Christoph Schrewe, Irish director Dearbhla Walsh, British director Metin Hüseyin, and French director Thomas Vincent, each responsible for directing at least two consecutive episodes.
American actor John Doman portrayed the lead role of Rodrigo Borgia. The supporting ensemble featured performers from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Ireland, Denmark, Spain, among other nations.
Main
- John Doman as Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia / Pope Alexander VI
- Mark Ryder as Cesare Borgia
- Stanley Weber as both Juan Borgia and Francesco Borgia (Season 1; guest appearances in Seasons 2–3)
- Isolda Dychauk as Lucrezia Borgia
- Marta Gastini as Giulia Farnese
- Diarmuid Noyes as Cardinal Alessandro Farnese
- Art Malik as Francesc Gacet, secretary to Rodrigo Borgia
- Assumpta Serna as Vannozza Cattanei
- Christian McKay as Cardinal Ascanio Sforza (Seasons 1–2)
- Scott Winters as Cardinal Raffaele Riario-Sansoni
- Dejan Čukić as Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere
Recurring
- Victor Schefé portraying Johann Burchard
- Paul Brennen as Agapito Geraldini, Cesare's personal secretary
- Andrea Sawatzki in the role of Adriana de Mila, governess to Lucrezia
- Michael Fitzgerald as Cardinal Oliviero Carafa
- Miroslav Táborský playing Cardinal Giambattista Orsini
- Alejandro Albarracín as Alfonso di Calabria
- Sean Campion portraying Virginio Orsini
- Karel Dobrý as Cardinal Giovanni Colonna
- Andrew Hawley in the role of Alfonso d'Este
- Predrag Bjelac as Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini
- Nicolás Belmonte portraying Shahzadeh Djem
- Adam Misík as Goffredo Borgia
- Raimund Wallisch playing the role of Alfonso II of Naples
- Richard Southgate as Marcantonio Colonna
- Marc Duret portraying Cardinal Guillaume Briçonnet
- Petr Vaněk in the role of Miguel de Corella
- Sebastian Urzendowsky as Cardinal Juan Borgia Lanzol
- Manuel Rubey portraying Giovanni Sforza
- John Bradley West as the future Pope Leo X (Giovanni de' Medici)
- Josef Jelínek in the role of Cardinal Federico Sanseverino
- Tereza Voříšková playing Fiametta Michaelis, Cesare's lover
- Josef Badalec portraying Cardinal Pedro Luis Borgia Lanzol
- Joseph Beattie as King Louis XII of France
- Paloma Bloyd in the role of Princess Carlotta d'Aragona
- Rafael Cebrián portraying Rodrigo Borgia Lanzol, known as 'el pequeño'
- Matt Di Angelo as Cardinal Francesco Alidosi
- Peter Hosking playing Cardinal Giovanni Battista Savelli
- Babsie Steger as Giovanna Farnese
Guest Appearances
- Tom Wlaschiha portrays Philip of Habsburg
- Vadim Glowna plays Cardinal Jorge da Costa
- Mónica Lopera appears as Maria Enriquez de Luna
- Jiří Mádl features as Francesco Remolino d'Ilerda
- Eliska Křenková acts as Sancia of Squillace
- Scott Cleverdon takes the role of Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba
- Davide Lipari is cast as Sigismondo d'Este
- Alexandra Oppo portrays Isabella d'Este
- César Domboy appears as Guy de Laval
- Bohdan Petrovic Esek plays Cardinal Francesco Borgia
- Michael Bilington acts as Orsino Orsini Migliorati
- Udo Kier assumes the role of Pope Innocent VIII
- Dave Legeno portrays Guidobaldo da Montefeltro
- Jiří Ornest features as Cardinal Ardicino della Porta
- Marek Vašut appears as Fabrizio Colonna
- Amber Rose Revah plays Maacah bat Talmai, the lover of Juan
- Simon Larvaron is cast as King Charles VIII of France
- David Atrakchi portrays Yves D'Allegre, a French captain
- Marco Cassini acts as Pietro Bembo
- Antoine Cholet plays Cardinal Georges D'Amboise
- Thibaut Evrard appears as Niccolò Machiavelli
- Josef Karas takes the role of Domenico Doria, commander of the Papal Guard
- Valentina Cervi features as Caterina Sforza
- Iain Glen portrays Girolamo Savonarola
- Richard McCabe appears as King Frederick IV of Naples
- Daisy Lewis acts as Maria Diaz Garlon, Cesare's lover
- Rudolf Martin plays Franceschetto Cybo
- Javier Godino is cast as Dionigi di Naldo
- Paul Hamy portrays Simon d'Auxerre
- Lorenzo Richelmy features as Sidonius Grimani
- Luka Peroš appears as an Imola man
- Ellie Darcey-Alden acts as Felice della Rovere
Season 1 – Borgia: Faith and Fear (2011)
(March 1492 – June 1493)
| Series No. |
Season No. |
Episode Title | Director | Writer(s) | First Broadcast Date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy (Sky Cinema 1) |
France (Canal+) |
Austria (ORF 2) |
Germany (ZDF) | |||||
| 1 | 1 | Template:Va | Oliver Hirschbiegel | Tom Fontana | 10 July 2011 | 10 October 2011 | 13 October 2011 | 17 October 2011 |
| In Pisa, Cesare Borgia performs self-flagellation to atone for his sins. In Rome, Rodrigo petitions the pope to declare Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain the most Catholic majesties, provoking Giuliano della Rovere's ire. Juan reports Pedro Luis's death. Rodrigo brings Lucrezia to reside with him and dispatches Juan and Cesare to negotiate with Orsini and Colonna families. Cesare's mission fails; Juan becomes the second Duke of Gandia. Following a confrontation with Marcantonio Colonna, Cesare is appointed archbishop of Valencia. Rodrigo discloses that the pope is gravely ill. | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | Template:Va | Oliver Hirschbiegel | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Kyle Bradstreet & Brant Englestein |
10 July 2011 | 10 October 2011 | 13 October 2011 | 17 October 2011 |
| Cesare consults a witch who foretells five deaths before summer's end. Ottoman prince Djem arrives bearing the lance of Longinus. Juan and Cesare uncover a conspiracy against the Pope and Djem. The pope's condition worsens; Rodrigo attempts to alter his will. Following multiple deaths and plots, the pope passes away, plunging Rome into turmoil. | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | Template:Va | Oliver Hirschbiegel | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Frank Pugliese & Brant Englestein |
9 September 2011 | 17 October 2011 | 14 October 2011 | 19 October 2011 |
| Amidst election tensions, Rodrigo sends Juan to Spain, Cesare to Pisa, and Lucrezia to Subiaco. Letters exposing scandals circulate among cardinals. Cesare sacrifices his son to secure Rodrigo’s papacy. | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | Template:Va | Oliver Hirschbiegel | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Brant Englestein & Frank Pugliese |
9 September 2011 | 17 October 2011 | 14 October 2011 | 19 October 2011 |
| Rodrigo bribes cardinals to ensure his election but confronts opposition from Oliviero Carafa and King Ferrante of Naples. Through political maneuvering, Rodrigo prevails and is crowned Pope Alexander VI. | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | Template:Va | Dearbhla Walsh | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Gina Gionfriddo |
16 September 2011 | 24 October 2011 | 19 October 2011 | 20 October 2011 |
| Cesare arrives in Spoleto; Rodrigo's papal coronation occurs alongside promises for a new basilica. Giulia Farnese seduces Rodrigo aiming for Alessandro’s cardinal appointment. Lucrezia weds Giovanni Sforza by proxy; conspiracies against Rodrigo surface. | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | Template:Va | Dearbhla Walsh | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Bradford Winters |
16 September 2011 | 24 October 2011 | 19 October 2011 | 20 October 2011 |
| The Treaty of Tordesillas benefits Spain; political marriages are arranged. Rodrigo publicly acknowledges his children. Giulia Farnese’s pregnancy complicates court intrigues. | ||||||||
| 7 | 7 | Template:Va | Metin Hüseyin | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Andrea Ciannavei |
23 September 2011 | 31 October 2011 | 21 October 2011 | 24 October 2011 |
| Summary: Following King Ferrante’s death, disputes over succession arise between Charles VIII of France and Alfonso of Naples. Rodrigo navigates alliances and military decisions including appointing Cesare governor of Orvieto. Family tensions heighten; assassination plots emerge. |
|---|
| Summary: The Borgias prepare for conflict amid shifting alliances. Rodrigo excommunicates Marcantonio Colonna; Cesare suffers abuse from Marcantonio but gains Alessandro’s support. The French capture Giulia Farnese but release her following political arrests. |
|---|
| Summary: French forces invade Rome; Rodrigo negotiates safe passage with Charles VIII in exchange for Cesare’s freedom. Amidst upheaval, Rodrigo secures backing from Italian city-states forming a Holy League against France. |
|---|
| Summary: Cesare leverages Ottoman prince Djem’s death to evade French troops. Venice joins the Holy League opposing Maximilian’s ambitions. Political intrigues continue with attempts to expel Jews from Rome post-Spanish victory; Lucrezia enters a convent after family disgrace. |
|---|
| Summary: After French defeat, disputes over Naples’ throne persist. Lucrezia reconciles with Pedro Caldes amid familial strife. Cesare discovers Juan killed Pedro Luis; Corella defects to Cesare aiding in uncovering conspiracies. |
|---|
| Summary: Rodrigo uncovers ancient relics; family conflicts escalate culminating in Juan’s murder. Investigation implicates nobles but stalls. Rodrigo modifies leadership strategies; Cesare confronts Lucrezia about betrayals and publicly kills Pedro Caldes, sparking rumors. |
|---|
Season 2 – Borgia: Rules of Love, Rules of War (2013)
(February 1494 – September 1494)
| Series Episode |
Season Episode |
Episode Title | Director | Writer(s) | Initial Broadcast Dates | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy (Sky Cinema 1) |
France (Canal+) |
Austria (ORF 2) |
Germany (ZDF) | |||||
| 13 | 1 | Template:Va | Dearbhla Walsh | Tom Fontana | 13 September 2013 | 18 March 2013 | 25 September 2013 | 30 September 2013 |
| 14 | 2 | Template:Va | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Brant Englestein | |||||
| 15 | 3 | Template:Va | Christoph Schrewe | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Bradford Winters |
20 September 2013 | 25 March 2013 | 27 September 2013 | 1 October 2013 |
| 16 | 4 | Template:Va | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Andrea Ciannavei | |||||
| 17 | 5 | Template:Va | Metin Hüseyin | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Sean Whitesell |
27 September 2013 | 1 April 2013 | 1 October 2013 | 3 October 2013 |
| 18 | 6 | Template:Va | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Larry J. Cohen | |||||
| 19 | 7 | Template:Va | Thomas Vincent | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Brant Englestein |
4 October 2013 | 8 April 2013 | 2 October 2013 | 7 October 2013 |
| 20 | 8 | Template:Va | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Chris Albers | |||||
| 21 | 9 | Template:Va | Metin Hüseyin | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Susanna Styron |
11 October 2013 | 15 April 2013 | 3 October 2013 | 9 October 2013 |
| 22 | 10 | Template:Va | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Frank Pugliese | |||||
| 23 | 11 | Template:Va | Christoph Schrewe | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Audrey Fouché |
18 October 2013 | 22 April 2013 | 7 October 2013 | 13 October 2013 |
| 24 | 12 | Template:Va | Teleplay by: Tom Fontana | |||||
Season 3 – Borgia: Triumph and Oblivion (2014)
(1495 – 1507)
| Series Episode No. |
Season Episode No. |
Episode Title | Director | Writer(s) | Initial Broadcast Date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy (Sky Atlantic) |
France (Canal+) |
Austria (ORF 2) |
Germany (ZDF) | |||||
| 25 | 1 | Template:Va | Christoph Schrewe | Story and Teleplay by: Tom Fontana & Brant Englestein |
3 November 2014 | 15 September 2014 | ... | ... |
| 26 | 2 | Template:Va | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Larry J. Cohen | |||||
| 27 | 3 | Template:Va | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Audrey Fouché |
10 November 2014 | 22 September 2014 | ... | ... | |
| 28 | 4 | Template:Va | Metin Hüseyin | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Andrea Ciannavei | ||||
| 29 | 5 | Template:Va | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Susanna Styron |
17 November 2014 | 29 September 2014 | ... | ... | |
| 30 | 6 | Template:Va | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: William Bromell | |||||
| 31 | 7 | Template:Va | Athina Rachel Tsangari | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Larry J. Cohen |
24 November 2014 | 6 October 2014 | ... | ... |
| 32 | 8 | Template:Va | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Frank Pugliese | |||||
| 33 | 9 | Template:Va | Metin Hüseyin | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Chris Albers |
1 December 2014 | 13 October 2014 | ... | ... |
| 34 | 10 | Template:Va | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Marie Roussin | |||||
| 35 | 11 | Template:Va | Story by: Brant Englestein | 8 December 2014 | 20 October 2014 | ... | ... | |
| 36 | 12 | Template:Va | Christoph Schrewe | Story and Teleplay by: Brant Englestein & Tom Fontana | ||||
| 37 | 13 | Template:Va | Story and Teleplay by: Tom Fontana & Brant Englestein |
15 December 2014 | 27 October 2014 | ... | ... | |
| 38 | 14 | Template:Va | Story and Teleplay by: Tom Fontana | |||||
This third installment was first made available on Netflix starting from November 1, 2014.
See also
External links
Categories:
- Historical television series
- Television series set in the 15th century
- Television series set in the 16th century
- German drama television series
- ZDF original programming
- House of Borgia
- Fiction about monarchy
- Television shows about incest
- Television shows set in Italy
- Television shows set in Vatican City
- 2011 French television series debuts
- 2011 German television series debuts
- 2014 German television series endings
- 2010s Italian television series
- 2010s French drama television series
- Czech drama television series
- Television shows about Catholicism
- 2011 Czech television series debuts
- 2014 Czech television series endings
- Films shot in the Czech Republic
- Films about popes
- Cultural depictions of Cesare Borgia
- Cultural depictions of Lucrezia Borgia
- Cultural depictions of Pope Alexander VI
- Cultural depictions of Niccolò Machiavelli
- Cultural depictions of Girolamo Savonarola
- Cultural depictions of Caterina Sforza
- Television series created by Tom Fontana
- Canal+ original programming
- Sky Atlantic (Italian TV channel) original programming
- Czech historical television series
- Czech biographical television series
- Television shows set in Rome
- Television shows set in Florence
- Television series about the history of Italy
- Cultural depictions of Philip I of Castile
- Cultural depictions of Charles VIII of France
- Cultural depictions of Pope Julius II
- Cultural depictions of Louis XII