themyskira:history meme » 3/7 women » Felice della RovereThe illegitimate daughter of Pope Julius II
themyskira:history meme » 3/7 women » Felice della RovereThe illegitimate daughter of Pope Julius II, over the course of her lifetime Felice della Rovere was elevated from a cardinal’s bastard to the matriarch of one of Rome’s most powerful families and an independently wealthy and influential woman in her own right.She was married and widowed as a teenager, after which she refused to remarry for years, not wanting to be tied to a man who might limit her independence or happiness. She eventually married Gian Giordano Orsini, a wealthy and powerful man; however, recognising that she would not be truly secure until she had borne him a son, she set about building a fortune of her own, buying the castle of Palo and establishing a lucrative grain export operation.Not having grown up among the Italian elite, Felice worked hard to establish a reputation as an intelligent, cultivated woman in Rome’s courtly circles. To this end, she sought out the friendships of prominent writers such as Baldassare Castiglione and influential women like Isabella d’Este. She proved an able political player, and held considerable influence not only with Julius II, but also with the Medici Popes Leo X and Clement VII.After her husband’s death, she took over as head of the Orsini clan and managed their vast estates for over two decades before handing them over to her son. She weathered the hostility of her in-laws, the belligerence of her sons, the threats of her violent and resentful stepson, and the horrors of the Sack of Rome. Right up until her death, she continued to advise her sons, trade favours with cardinals and work to secure her children’s interests. -- source link
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