The Borgias

As Pope Alexande fights for his life after being poisoned, the Cardinals jockey for position to take over the Papacy.

Now fully recovered, Alexander tasks Cardinal Sforza with instigating an “inquisition” among the Cardinals who were politicking against him when his life lay in the balance.

As the purged Cardinals are dismissed and stripped of their titles and wealth, one of them – Cardinal Versucci – angrily sets the Vatican Treasury ablaze after stealing a large sum.

Newly appointed Cardinal Farnese – promoted at the request of his sister Giulia – is placed in the Treasury and quickly discovers Versucci’s theft.

Cesare’s diplomatic mission to France is a success: guided through the complexities of the French court by his old advisor Machiavelli; Cesare makes an ally of Archbishop d’Amboise.

When Cesare lands in northern Italy with a French army, Alexander is furious at what he sees as a challenge to his authority, but reluctantly accedes to Cesare’s plan to destroy the Sforza dynasty, starting with Ludovico, Duke of Milan.

Cesare burns Constanzo’s palace – and the Cardinal with it – in order to contain the plague, while Micheletto is love struck with the beautiful young Pascal.

Catherina Sforza has a plan to frustrate Alexander’s lucrative festival. Meanwhile, Lucrezia senses a change in newly crowned Frederigo, and realizes that she is under constant watch from the royal guard.

Devastated by his betrayal by Pascal, Micheletto kills his lover and subsequently disappears. Devastated by the loss of his loyal lieutenant, Cesare races to Naples to rescue Lucrezia, only to learn she has already escaped her captors.

Alexander and Cesare are reconciled at last, and the Pope reveals that the Papal Armies have been strengthened and re-equipped with the money saved from the Crusade and the proceeds of the Jubilee.