The illegitimate son of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (later Pope Alexander VI) and brother of Lucrezia Borgia, he became a cardinal in 1493. He succeeded his brother Juan, possibly through murder, as captain-general of the papal army in 1499. Through two campaigns he became master of a large portion of central Italy, but after the death of his father (1502) his enemies rallied and he was defeated at Naples in 1504.