Podcast Summary:

Conspiracy Theories – "Did the Pope Cover Up His Son's Murder?"
Host: Carter Roy (Spotify Studios)
Date: February 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the mysterious 1497 murder of Juan Borgia—son of Pope Alexander VI—and the enduring conspiracy theories that suggest the Pope himself orchestrated a cover-up. Set amidst the power-hungry and scandal-ridden backdrop of the Renaissance Vatican, host Carter Roy unpacks the web of familial intrigue, blackmail, and political maneuvering that made the Borgia dynasty both infamous and enduring in myth. The show methodically examines the main suspects, the motives, and the historical evidence, questioning whether truth or narrative has truly shaped the Borgia legacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Borgia Family: Historical Reality vs. Legend

• Borgias as Renaissance "Nepo Babies" and Papal Dynasty
  • Rodrigo Borgia, later Pope Alexander VI, openly acknowledged his children—Cesare, Juan, Lucrezia, and Joffre—unusual for clergy at the time.
  • Each child was slotted into roles to serve family ambitions: cardinal, soldier, political match, or “the spare.”
• Parallels to Pop Culture
  • Host draws compelling lines from real-life Borgia events to fictional worlds like The Godfather and Game of Thrones.
  • Quote:

    "If you're thinking those names sound familiar, plenty of people online think the Borgias helped inspire Game of Thrones. And as you'll see, it's not just the names." (06:28)

2. The Night of Juan Borgia’s Murder

(Key narrative segment: 07:00 – 15:00)

• Setup: June 14, 1497 – family dinner celebrating Cesare’s upcoming departure on Church business.
• Odd Attendee: Juan brings a masked man, and after dinner, Cesare, Juan, the masked man, and a servant leave together.
• Sequence of Events:
  • The group parts, with Cesare, Juan, and the masked man disappearing—Juan never returns.
  • The masked man vanishes; Cesare comes home alone.
• Body Discovery:
  • Juan’s body, stabbed and dumped in the Tiber, is found; the scenario points to murder over accident or robbery.
• Papal Reaction:
  • Pope Alexander orders an investigation, but abruptly closes it within two weeks with no arrests and a public exoneration of key parties, including the Sforzas and his own children.

3. Suspect Review and Political Theories

A. The Sforza Family

(15:00 - 26:00)

• Sforzas as Political Allies Turned Rivals:
  • Marriage between Lucrezia and Giovanni Sforza was engineered for political gain.
  • When the Sforza alliance became expendable, Pope Alexander sought a divorce using a "non-consummation" loophole.
• Feud Motives:
  • Alexander’s power grab may have made the Sforzas vengeful, possibly leading to Juan’s murder.
• Incest & Blackmail:
  • Widespread rumor: Juan was sleeping with his sister Lucrezia; her pregnancy further complicated the divorce and fueled blackmail possibilities.
  • Quote:

    "Now, Juan slept with many men's wives, but Giovanni's wife was Juan's sister, Lucrezia Borgia. Yes, these were incest allegations. And hold that thought, because it gets worse." (22:55)

  • Conspiracy Theory: Sforza murders Juan, then blackmails the Pope (using Lucrezia's pregnancy/virginity as leverage) to exonerate them in exchange for cooperation in the Borgia divorce.
  • Aftermath:
    • Divorce finalized, Sforza keeps Lucrezia’s dowry, and the family avoids scandal.
    • Quote:

      "That's all just a theory. But a few months after the Pope publicly cleared the Sforzas of guilt, the divorce was finalized and the Sforzas got to keep Lucrezia's dowry. Essentially a payoff." (25:22)

B. The Borgia Siblings

(26:00 - 41:00)

• Lucrezia Borgia’s Dark Reputation:

  • Accused (likely falsely) of incest and murder ("the Black Widow"); many of her close associates and husbands died violently.
  • Juan’s connection to her, and rumors about the father of her child, made her a potential suspect.
  • Quote:

    "Those are unconfirmed rumors, but it is true that throughout Lucrezia's life, men around her died violently." (30:51)

• Cesare Borgia: The Cold-Blooded "Prince"

  • Cesare wanted to be a soldier, not a churchman; he was outshined by Juan, who was a poor military leader but their father’s favorite.
  • Gained everything Juan lost once Juan was dead: military titles, power, and independence from the Church.
  • Suspected in numerous murders following Juan’s death, often with the help of his “blind tool,” Micheletto Corella.
  • Quote:

    "You see, Juan was the first person Cesare was suspected of killing. But far from the only. By our count, Cesare Borgia can be linked to at least 10 mysterious deaths over the next six years." (34:58)

  • Hitman Theory: Juan’s murder was a stepping stone—Pope Alexander covers up for Cesare, then uses his son as a lethal political tool.

4. Aftershocks and the Fall of the Borgias

(41:00 - 53:00)

• Pope Julius II (the Borgias’ Nemesis):
  • After Alexander VI’s death, Julius II launched an anti-Borgia campaign, including reopening investigations into Juan’s death and attempting to erase the Borgia legacy.
  • Notable Quote:

    "He issued a damnatio memoriae, an order to destroy all memory of the Borgias. Sounds like a Harry Potter spell." (45:24)

• Cesare’s Downfall:
  • Accused of theft and murder, Cesare fled, only to be arrested, lose his fortresses, and die violently in battle.
  • Despite arrests and torture, no confessions to the murders were given, leaving the case officially unresolved.

5. The Borgia Legacy: Smear Campaigns and Enduring Myth

(53:00 - End)

• Much of the Borgia infamy may be traced to enemies’ rumors, particularly from the Sforzas and Pope Julius II.
• Host’s Reflection:

  • True nature of the Borgias may be an amalgamation of fact and centuries-old political attack, but the drama persists because of its universal themes: family, rivalry, ambition, disillusionment.

    "Perhaps if Pope Alexander hadn't been pushed Cesare to be a cardinal and Lucrezia into questionable marriages, Juan would have lived. Just like the Godfather. The Borgia family business was deadly." (58:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Host on Unsolved Mysteries:

  "But less than two weeks later, he [the Pope] closed the investigation with no arrest. That day, the Pope made a public announcement. His son, Joffre Borgia, the co captain general of Juan's papal army, and the entire Sforza family were declared innocent of the murder. No further investigation would be done." (15:13)

• On the Role of Smear Campaigns:

  "Incest. Those stories trace back to The Sforza family...So Giovanni struck back the only way he could. By telling everyone in Rome Lucrezia was sleeping with her brothers and father. It was a smear campaign. And a good one. It stuck around for centuries." (54:48)

• On Cesare’s Reputation:

  "If you've heard the phrase it's better to be feared than loved, you've already heard a description of Cesare Borgia. The phrase comes from Niccolo Machiavelli's book, the Prince, inspired by his former boss, Cesare Borgia." (34:49)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:06–06:00 | Introduction to the Borgias’ reputation; real-life basis for The Godfather | | 07:00–15:00 | The murder of Juan Borgia; body discovery and papal investigation (and abrupt closure) | | 15:00–26:00 | The Sforza feud, political alliances, and divorce/blackmail conspiracy theory | | 26:00–30:50 | Incest allegations & Lucrezia’s rumored role as “Black Widow” | | 30:50–36:30 | Cesare’s ambition, character, and motives for fratricide | | 41:00–46:00 | The anti-Borgia purge under Pope Julius II; Cesare’s arrest and downfall | | 53:00–58:00 | Legacy, myth vs. fact, and closing reflections |

Tone & Style

The host's delivery is lively, wry, and steeped in historical drama—blending modern references, like Game of Thrones, with barbed asides and pop culture wit. Carter Roy maintains an engaging, sometimes irreverent narrative while delivering substantial historical context and analysis.

Conclusion

While the murder of Juan Borgia remains officially unsolved, the episode underscores that the real conspiracy may lie in the web of stories spun by the family’s rivals seeking revenge and the centuries-long appetite for tales of sex, violence, and power at the apex of the Church. Whether Pope Alexander protected the true killer, accepted blackmail, or was simply maneuvering through a treacherous world, the Borgias’ legacy is a tangle of truth and legend—one that continues to delight, scandalize, and mystify.

Key Takeaway:

“Remember, the truth isn't always the best story. And the official story isn't always the truth.” (58:57)

Sources for further reading:

• The Borgias: The Hidden History by G.J. Meyer
• The Power and Fortune by Paul Strathern
• The Borgias and Their Enemies by Christopher Hibbert