One Of The Most Famous Orgies In History Was Held By Former Cardinal Cesare Borgia at the Papal Palace in 1501
Referred to as the the “Banquet of Chestnuts” or later as the “Night of a Thousand Chestnuts”
A symbol of virtue and holiness the Papal Palace Has a Much More Salacious Past
Around the world and throughout history, people have looked to Rome and the Catholic Church as a symbol of virtue, morality, and a compass to guide the average person away from temptation and towards more ethereal pursuits.
One main exception to an institution that exposes chastity, self denial, and almost essentially repression of all innately humans desires, was the time the former Cardinal Cesare Borgia decided to host a dinner at the Papal Palace.
Who Was Cesare Borgia?
Cesare Borgia’s life inspired Machiavelli’a political commentary The Prince or El Principe. Born out of wedlock and therefore deemed illegitimate, Cesare was the child of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia who would later be known as Pope Alexander VI and Vanozza dei Cattanei (his mistress) on September 13, 1475.
Shocked that a Cardinal and then later a Pope had an illegitimate child? Just wait for the rest of Cesare’s story.
It is believed by historians that Pope Sixtus absolved Cesare of validating his legitimacy or lack thereof in a papal bull in October 1840.
Education and Religious Career of Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia was well educated even by modern standards. Cesare had a focus in the study of law and at the age of 15 became Bishop of Pamplona and would go onto become Archbishop of Valencia at age 17.
Cesare became a Cardinal in the Catholic Church when his father became Pope. Ahh nepotism at its finest. Cesare was 18 years old when he became a Cardinal.
Cesare loved sex
And is estimated to have fathered over 11 illegitimate children, share a lover with his brother who mysteriously was murdered, and was known for hosting orgies and other pleasure parties where The Who’s Who of Rome and Italy would gather to partake in the flesh festivities.
Cesare Decides To Resign
Although prepared for a career in the church since essentially birth, Cesare chose to become the first person in history to resign from the position of Cardinal and would go onto become the Duke of Valintois by King Louis XII of France.
Cesare would go on to become a quite accomplished member of the military but one event hosted by Cesare Borgia would go onto live in infamy.
The Dinner Party AKA The Banquet of Chestnuts
On October 30–31, 1501, Cesare Borgia decided to host a supper at the Papal Palace (it is not lost on me that this was essentially a Halloween party). Most of what we know of the events of the night were recorded in a diary by Protonotary Apostolic and Master of Ceremonies (wow what a name for this event), Johann Burchard.
Here is an excerpt from Burchard’s recording of the events that night:
On the evening of the last day of October, 1501, Cesare Borgia arranged a banquet in his chambers in the Vatican with “fifty honest prostitutes”,[2] called courtesans, who danced after dinner with the attendants and others who were present, at first in their garments, then naked.[3] After dinner the candelabra with the burning candles were taken from the tables and placed on the floor, and chestnuts were strewn around, which the naked courtesans picked up, creeping on hands and knees between the chandeliers, while the Pope, Cesare, and his sister Lucretia looked on. Finally, prizes were announced for those who could perform the act most often with the courtesans, such as tunics of silk, shoes, barrets, and other things.
Fifty of Only The Best and Most Beautiful Prostitutes or Courtesans
Approximately 50 prostitutes were hired to entertain the guests of Borgia’s dinner. They were beautiful and expensive. The best Rome had to offer.
The guest list was comprised of Borgia’s closest confidantes and the party included delectable food and wine. The prostitutes danced to entertain. First with themselves, then with the guests.
As the night drew on, the servants began taking candelabras from the tables and putting them on the floor along with strewing chestnuts about the floor.
The women crawled about on all fours picking up the chestnuts with their hands, toes, mouths, breasts, and private areas (I don’t know if I could pick up a chestnut with my vagina but I kind of want to try now).
Guests began to throw jewelry, gloves, and other valuables onto the floor for the dancers to pick up. Guests who were more bold chose to join the dancers on the floor and engage in all sorts of sexual activity.
And Then Prizes Were Awarded
It is not recorded who decided to award prizes at the dinner but winners in the following categories are believed to have been awarded:
-Most Orgasms
-Most Partners
-Most Amount of Cum (Ejaculate)
-Longest Time Spent Having Sex
The winners were given tunics, silk, and other prizes. I believe after researching that only the party guests were eligible to win the prizes as the dancers/prostitutes/courtesans had already been compensated to attend and perform.
Church Refutes The Dinner Happened
Many church leaders throughout the ages have refuted the existence of such a party. However, it seems a bit detailed to have truly just been made up by a jealous competitor of the Borgia family as some allege.
One thing is for certain, I won’t look at a chestnut the same again.
Sources:
Wikipedia: Cesar Borgia
Wikipedia: Banquet of Chestnuts
Death of Cesare Borgia
Was the Banquet of Chestnuts a Pinnacle of Religious Hypocrisy or Just One Hell of a Party?
About the Creator
Keep reading
More stories from Jessica Bugg and writers in Humans and other communities.
Title: "Jimmy Carter: An American Excursion of Sympathy and Administration"
In the tranquil town of Fields, Georgia, there carried on with a little fellow named Jimmy who had a voracious interest and endless energy. Since the beginning, he longed for having an effect on the planet, enlivened by the tales of extraordinary legends he read about in books. As Jimmy became older, his feeling of direction just escalated. Not entirely settled to make history, to go to bat for what was correct and battle for the people who couldn't battle for themselves. With a heart loaded with desire and a head brimming with dreams, Jimmy set out on an excursion that would lead him to become perhaps of the most cherished and powerful figure in American history. His name was Jimmy Carter. From his unassuming starting points in provincial Georgia to the consecrated corridors of the White House, Jimmy Carter's process was one of boldness, sympathy, and unflinching commitment to serving others. As a young fellow, Jimmy was attracted to the goals of equity and equity, propelled by the social liberties development that was clearing across the South. He chipped in for the Harmony Corps, venturing out to far off towns in Africa to assist with further developing admittance to medical services and schooling. Yet, it was his re-visitation of Georgia that would genuinely show Jimmy the way to significance. Energized by a longing to make positive change in his own local area, Jimmy hurled himself entirely into nearby governmental issues, ultimately ascending to turn into the legislative head of Georgia. His experience as lead representative was set apart by striking changes and moderate approaches, acquiring him public acknowledgment and making way for his possible campaign for the most elevated position in the land. In 1976, Jimmy Carter was chosen Leader of the US in a notable triumph that caught the creative mind of the country. His administration was characterized by a pledge to harmony, discretion, and common liberties, as he worked energetically to facilitate nonaggression treaties, advance natural protection, and champion the freedoms of ladies and minorities. In any case, maybe Jimmy Carter's most prominent inheritance lies not in that frame of mind of force, but rather in the endless lives he contacted through his generous work and philanthropic endeavors. Indeed, even subsequent to leaving office, Jimmy kept on devoting himself to causes more significant than himself, building homes for the destitute, upholding for worldwide wellbeing drives, and energetically attempting to advance harmony and a majority rules government all over the planet. Today, Jimmy Carter is recollected as an incredible pioneer, yet as a genuine American legend whose empathy, honesty, and unflinching devotion to support keep on moving ages of Americans to take a stab at a superior world. In the quiet town of Fields, Georgia, the sun rose over fields of cotton, giving occasion to feel qualms about a warm gleam the unobtrusive home where Jimmy Carter spent his childhood days. Since the beginning, Jimmy was imparted with the upsides of difficult work, lowliness, and empathy by his caring guardians, Lord and Lillian Carter. As a little fellow, Jimmy's creative mind took off as he ate up books about history, science, and the existences of extraordinary pioneers. He was especially attracted to the tales of Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Martin Luther Lord Jr., whose fortitude and vision motivated him to accept that one individual could genuinely have an effect on the planet. Jimmy's hunger for information drove him to succeed in school, where he separated himself as a splendid and aggressive understudy. He fantasized going to the US Maritime Foundation and serving his country as a maritime official, a fantasy that would at last turn into a reality. In the wake of moving on from the Maritime Foundation in 1946, Jimmy left on a recognized military profession, serving on board submarines and ascending through the positions to turn into a regarded official. It was during this time that Jimmy's feeling of obligation and obligation to support developed, as he saw firsthand the penances made by his kindred servicemen and ladies. In any case, Jimmy's life would go off in a strange direction when his dad became sick and died, provoking him to leave the Naval force and get back to Georgia to assume control over the family nut ranch. It was here, in the midst of the fields of peanuts and cotton, that Jimmy would track down his actual reason for living. Driven by a craving to work on the existences of people around him, Jimmy hurled himself entirely into local area activism and nearby governmental issues, in the end ascending to turn into the legislative leader of Georgia in 1971. His residency as lead representative was set apart by a progression of moderate changes, including extending admittance to medical services, further developing schooling, and advancing racial fairness. In 1976, Jimmy Carter sent off his notable mission for the administration, running on a foundation of trustworthiness, uprightness, and sympathy. Despite everything, Jimmy arose triumphant, turning into the 39th Leader of the US and satisfying his life as a youngster fantasy about serving his country at the most elevated level. As president, Jimmy Carter's initiative was characterized by a pledge to discretion, common liberties, and civil rights. He handled noteworthy nonaggression treaties among Israel and Egypt, advocated the privileges of ladies and minorities, and worked enthusiastically to lighten destitution and craving both at home and abroad. Yet, maybe Jimmy Carter's most persevering through inheritance lies in his post-official years, where he has committed himself to compassionate causes and charity through the Carter Community. From killing illnesses like Guinea worm and stream visual deficiency to advancing majority rules government and compromise all over the planet, Jimmy Carter's enthusiastic endeavors have contacted the existences of millions and roused another age of pioneers to emulate his example. Today, Jimmy Carter's heritage lives on as a brilliant illustration of being a genuine American legend - a man of trustworthiness, empathy, and relentless commitment to serving others. From the cotton fields of Fields, Georgia, to the blessed lobbies of the White House and then some, Jimmy Carter's process reminds us generally that with fortitude, assurance, and an unflinching obligation to our qualities, the sky is the limit.
By Nameless writer4 days ago in Humans
First Starlight of Summer
Your whole being is constituted by yearning. You miss the stars but have never seen a fully-realized night sky sparkle to life before your eyes. You write things, funny but short but profound, emulating the archaic cosmos that turns by its own unknowable calculus emulating love in all its celestial glory turning in that same cryptic way, but fully know neither and hardly know both, and it feels disingenuous, so you write about writers. It feels vaguely masturbatory, but it’s funny but short but profound and it impresses the people around you enough, so you run with it forever until you can’t anymore.
By Steven Christopher McKnight4 days ago in Fiction
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.