Prince of Foxes

August 1500. Cesare Borgia selects Andrea Orsini, a versatile nobleman, to orchestrate the marriage of his widowed sister Lucrezia to Alfonso d'Este. The goal is to eliminate Ferrara as an obstacle to Borgia's project of conquest. Andrea earns the enmity of Don Esteban Ramirez, a mercenary captain who sees him as a rival.

To raise funds, Andrea goes to Venice to sell paintings. There he meets Camilla di Baglione, wife of Count Marc Antonio Varano, and is smitten, giving her a painting despite the price. An assassin tries to kill him; Andrea learns the hire came from Duke Ercole d'Este and hires the assassin Mario Belli to join his retinue.

On his way to Ferrara, Andrea visits a blacksmith's widow reputed to hide gold. She is his mother and the supposed bandit son is Andrea Zoppo, not the noble Orsini he pretends to be. The reunion is tense; his mother disapproves of his evil path, while Belli spies on them.

Andrea reaches Ferrara and secures the marriage by a mix of intimidation toward the duke and flattery toward Alfonso. The plan succeeds, and Lucrezia's union strengthens Borgia's strategic grip on central Italy. The move also sharpens Andrea's rivalry with Don Esteban Ramirez.

Andrea is sent as ambassador to Citta del Monte with orders to help Borgia conquer the mountaintop city by spring. He hopes to use Camilla's influence to facilitate the elimination of the elderly count. Unbeknownst to him, Borgia secretly hires Mario Belli to monitor his loyalty and report any wavering.

During the campaign, Andrea is moved by the old count's wisdom and love for his people, even as Belli delights in the possibility of killing him. Camilla, meanwhile, grows to admire Andrea as he paints her portrait and reveals his artistic soul. The contrast deepens their personal connections amid the political stakes.

When Don Esteban orders the count to permit Borgia's passage, the count defiantly resists with the support of his people. In response, Andrea abandons Borgia's cause and joins the Count, while Belli reports back about Andrea's wavering loyalty.

The Count privately reveals that he married Camilla to protect her after her father’s death and has treated her as his own daughter. He is mortally wounded in an ambush that robs Borgia of a quick victory, and Andrea takes a defensive stand to save the city.

After three months of sieges, Camilla negotiates terms that would spare Andrea’s life if he surrenders in writing. At a triumphal dinner, Borgia publicly reveals the noble Orsini as a peasant, aided by Andrea’s mother who confirms his real identity. Borgia orders Andrea's death by starvation, clawing at any mercy.

Belli, still loyal to Andrea, protests to avoid gouging out his eyes and schemes to spare him. He fakes Andrea's disfigurement during the execution process, and Andrea's mother takes her son home, preserving his life for now.

With the city still under threat, Belli helps Andrea infiltrate the castle to rescue Camilla. They hope the freed Camilla will spark a wider uprising, but a signal is given for the people to act before they can escape.

In the ensuing chaos, Andrea defeats Don Esteban in single combat. He is briefly saved when Balgioni, weary of killing for Borgia, chooses to spare him. The uprising spreads through the city as Borgia's grip collapses.

With the uprising triumphant and Borgia defeated, Andrea and Camilla are married, symbolizing the restoration of the city and the couple's enduring bond. The people retake control of their city and celebrate the new era.