There’s something oddly memorable about the youngest Borgia children in The Borgias. They don’t always get the attention of Cesare, Lucrezia, or Pope Alexander VI, but their presence adds another layer to the family’s complicated story. One name that often creates confusion online is Giovanni Borgia, especially when people search for the baby Giovanni Borgia, actor of The Borgias.
So, who actually played baby Giovanni? And was the character based on a real person? The answer is a little more interesting than it first appears.
Who Was Giovanni Borgia in The Borgias?
Giovanni Borgia was one of the children connected to the powerful Borgia family portrayed in the Showtime historical drama The Borgias. The series, created by Neil Jordan, follows Pope Alexander VI and his family during the turbulent political world of Renaissance Italy.
Giovanni appears as a young member of the family rather than as one of the show’s main adult characters. Because of that, viewers may remember seeing the baby or child but not necessarily remember who portrayed him.
The series takes plenty of liberties with historical events, so it’s important to separate the television version from the real Borgia family.
Who Played Baby Giovanni Borgia?
The role of baby Giovanni Borgia was portrayed by a young child actor rather than one of the show’s principal cast members. Child roles in television productions are often shared between young performers, especially when the character is an infant.
That’s one reason searches for the baby Giovanni Borgia, actor of The Borgias can be confusing. Major cast lists usually focus on the better-known performers, including Jeremy Irons as Rodrigo Borgia, François Arnaud as Cesare Borgia, Holliday Grainger as Lucrezia Borgia, and David Oakes as Juan Borgia.
For a baby character, the performer generally has very little screen time, making their credit much harder to find than those of the main cast.
Why Baby Actor Credits Can Be Difficult to Find
There’s a simple reason for this.
Television productions sometimes use babies or very young children for brief appearances, and their credits may not receive the same level of documentation as adult roles. In some databases, a child may be listed by character name, while another source may identify the performer differently.
That can lead to several conflicting results online.
Giovanni Borgia and the Real Borgia Family
The historical Giovanni Borgia was a member of the notorious Borgia family, but his real-life story is far more complicated than the television portrayal suggests.
Giovanni was the son of Rodrigo Borgia, who became Pope Alexander VI. He was also the brother of Cesare, Lucrezia, and Jofré Borgia.
The Borgia family lived during a period when marriages, political alliances, military power, and family connections were deeply intertwined. Giovanni himself became involved in military and political affairs as he grew older.
That historical background gives The Borgias plenty of material to work with, even though the show changes or simplifies certain details for dramatic storytelling.
How The Borgias Portrays the Borgia Children
One of the interesting things about the series is how differently each member of the family is presented.
Cesare Borgia
Cesare is shown as ambitious, intelligent, and increasingly ruthless. His relationship with his father and sister becomes one of the central threads of the drama.
Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia’s character changes dramatically as the series progresses. She begins as a young woman surrounded by powerful men but gradually becomes much more aware of the political world around her.
Juan Borgia
Juan receives considerably more attention than Giovanni. His position as a military figure and his difficult relationship with Cesare make him an important part of the family conflict.
Giovanni Borgia
Giovanni remains a much smaller presence in the television story. That’s largely why viewers searching for the baby Giovanni Borgia actor of The Borgias may struggle to find the same level of information available for the show’s major characters.
Was Giovanni Borgia a Real Person?
Yes. Giovanni Borgia was a real historical figure.
He was born into the Borgia family during the Italian Renaissance and was one of Rodrigo Borgia’s sons. Historical records surrounding the family are extensive, although some stories about the Borgias have been mixed with rumors and later legends.
That distinction matters when watching a show like The Borgias. The series uses real names and major historical events, but it isn’t a documentary.
Some relationships, timelines, personalities, and events were changed to make the story work better on television.
Why People Search for Baby Giovanni Borgia
The search interest around Giovanni often comes from viewers who have watched the show and noticed the younger Borgia family members.
When a character appears as a baby, viewers naturally become curious about the performer. They may also want to know whether the child actor continued acting later.
But infant roles are different from regular television roles. A baby may appear for only a few scenes, and there may be very little publicly available information about the performer.
That’s especially true for older television productions, where minor child credits weren’t always documented as thoroughly online as they are today.
The Difference Between Giovanni and Juan Borgia
This is probably the biggest source of confusion.
Giovanni and Juan Borgia are different historical figures. Both were sons of Rodrigo Borgia, but Juan became much more prominent in the family story and in the television series.
Juan is portrayed by David Oakes in The Borgias, while Giovanni has a much smaller role.
So if you see a website claiming that David Oakes played Giovanni, that’s mixing up two different characters.
Final Thoughts
The question of the baby Giovanni Borgia actor of The Borgias is a good example of how minor television credits can become surprisingly difficult to track down.
Giovanni Borgia himself was a real member of the famous Borgia family, but his role in the Showtime series is much smaller than those of Cesare, Lucrezia, and Juan. And because baby performers often have limited screen credits, identifying them isn’t always as straightforward as identifying the show’s main cast.
If you’re watching The Borgias again, it’s worth remembering that the little details around the family can be just as interesting as the major political drama. The show may take historical liberties, but it certainly knows how to make the Borgia family unforgettable.
FAQs
Who was Giovanni Borgia?
Giovanni Borgia was a historical member of the Borgia family and a son of Rodrigo Borgia, who later became Pope Alexander VI.
Was Giovanni Borgia in The Borgias?
Yes. Giovanni is represented as a young member of the Borgia family, although he isn’t one of the show’s major characters.
Is Giovanni Borgia the same person as Juan Borgia?
No. Giovanni and Juan were different sons of Rodrigo Borgia. Juan plays a much larger role in The Borgias.
Who played Juan Borgia in The Borgias?
David Oakes played Juan Borgia in the Showtime series.
Is The Borgias Historically Accurate?
The Borgias is based on real people and events, but it changes some details for dramatic effect. It’s best viewed as historical drama, not a completely accurate history.
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