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The Answer is Alexander VI, born Rodrigo de Borja (Italian: Rodrigo Borgia), was Pope from August 11, 1492, until his death on August 18, 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his Italianized Valencian surname, Borgia, became a byword for libertinism and nepotism, which are traditionally considered as characterizing his pontificate.

Born in Xàtiva, near Valencia in Spain, Rodrigo studied law at Bologna and after his uncle, Alfonso Borgia (Pope Callixtus III), was elected Pope, he was made a cardinal and vice-chancellor of the Roman Catholic Church. His election as Pope in 1492 was helped by his strong connections within the Church and his ability to form strategic alliances.

As Alexander VI, his papacy was marked by efforts to strengthen the church's political position, often through the use of his family connections. He was the father of several children whom he openly acknowledged and for whom he sought wealth and power. Among them were Cesare Borgia and Lucrezia Borgia, who themselves became famous for their skill in politics and their controversial lives.

One of the most significant events of Alexander VI's papacy was the issuance of the Papal Bull "Inter Caetera" in 1493, which granted Spain the rights to colonize the Americas following Christopher Columbus's discovery of the New World. This bull, along with the Treaty of Tordesillas, divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between the Portuguese Empire and the Spanish Empire, along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands (off the west coast of Africa).

Alexander VI's reign was also marked by various military campaigns in Italy, the patronage of the arts, and the beginning of the Italian Wars. His papacy faced accusations of simony, the sale of church offices, and other forms of corruption. His reputation has been particularly tarnished by historical accounts of his life, which depict him as a pope who used his position for personal and familial gain, although some modern historians have called for a reassessment of his legacy, suggesting that some of the accusations against him may have been exaggerated or the result of political bias.

Alexander VI's death in 1503 is often thought to have been caused by malaria, although there were rumors that he was poisoned, a common suspicion when a high-profile figure of the era died suddenly. His legacy is a complex one, reflecting the turbulent and transitional nature of the Renaissance period in Europe.

Please Define the Following Key Terms

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