Cesare Borgia and his escape from the castle of La Mota
Cesare Borgia stars in one of the most daring escapes of the time.
After the death of Alexander VI, Cesare Borgia is persecuted by Pope Julius II, an old enemy of the family, and he flees to Naples seeking the protection of Ferdinand II of Aragon.
But the Spanish king meets the demands of Caesar's enemies, who is imprisoned and sent to Spain.
In September 1504, he arrived in Valencia and was soon transferred to the castle of Chinchilla (Albacete), where he tried to escape.
To reinforce the security of his confinement, he is confined in the imposing Keep of the castle of La Mota, in Medina del Campo (Valladolid).
Cesare enters into secret conversations with the Count of Benavente and using the chaplain who visits him in his prison, he prepares a daring and dangerous escape. The cleric gives him a long rope that does not reach the ground.
Cesare's only servant, a Spaniard admitted to his service, volunteers to be the first to descend the rope and when he reaches its end he falls, breaking his legs.
Cesar descends next with his hands and arms wrapped in rags. During the descent his wraps wear out and the ropes sever his flesh. Given the alarm given by the sentinels, the mayor cuts the rope that hangs from the top of the tower with the intention of hastening his fall.
Bruised and surviving the blow, he crosses the moat, where three crossbowmen from the Count of Benavente await him, taking him to Villalón.
It took a month to restore his strength. His escape had been made on October 25, 1506, and when, at the end of November, he was able to escape hidden, he still had his forearms and hands wrapped in bandages.
After a tortuous journey, he finally arrived in Pamplona on December 3, seeking the protection of his brother-in-law, the King of Navarre.
