Italy: Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo Borgia (1431-1503)

Pope Alexander VI, born Roderic Llançol i de Borja (1 January 1431-18 August 1503), was Pope from 11 August 1492 until his death. He is the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, because he broke the priestly vow of celibacy and had several legitimately acknowledged children. Therefore his Italianized Valencian surname, Borgia, became a byword for libertinism and nepotism, which are traditionally considered as characterizing his pontificate. However, two of Alexander's successors, Sixtus V and Urban VIII, described him as one of the most outstanding popes since St. Peter.