Ramiro de Lorca (1452-26 December 1502) was a Spanish condottiero in the service of Cesare Borgia during the Italian Wars. De Lorca served as Governor of the Romagna from 1501 to 1502, succeeding Giovanni Olivieri and preceding Alejandro del Monte, and he was executed by Borgia for plotting to assassinate him.
Biography[]
Ramiro de Lorca was born in Lorca, Spain in 1452, and he befriended Cesare Borgia as a boy. He accompanied Borgia to his wedding with Charlotte of Albret in 1498, serving as a witness; in 1500, he followed Borgia in his expedition against the mosaic of small states in the Romagna region during the Italian Wars. Lorca defended Borgia against Pierre d'Archambaud and Vitellozzo Vitelli's criticisms during the Siege of Forli, and he later became Lieutenant-Governor of Forli and Governor of Cesena. In 1501, he became Governor of the Romagna, and he became known as a ruthless ruler; he imposed a relentless regime of torture and executions in public that earned him the fear and hatred of the population. De Lorca was later arrested by Cesare Borgia for allegedly conspiring to have him assassinated, and he was tortured into confessing that he was paid to present his head to the House of Orsini and Gian Paolo Baglioni. He was executed in the main square of Cesena, with his body being split in two and his head stuck on a pike. Alejandro del Monte succeeded him as governor.