The Borgia family is the subject of a so-called ‘black legend’, a pejorative term that has been used since the Middle Ages to refer to Spain and Spaniards.

The Borgias’ black legend is one of corruption, abuse of power, orgies, sex and murder. These rumours spread especially during the reign of Pope Alexander VI, a member of the family. Alexander was even referred to as the Antichrist. According to eyewitnesses, when he died Satan prowled the death chamber and a black dog—an envoy of the Devil—...