Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo Borgia in 1431, was a Spanish cardinal who became the 214th pope of the Roman Catholic Church in 1492. He is known for his controversial papacy, marked by political maneuvering and the use of nepotism to elevate his family, the Borgia dynasty, to power. His reign lasted until his death in 1503. Alexander VI is often associated with the Renaissance period, during which he commissioned various artistic works and supported the Vatican's cultural development. His papacy was also notable for the Treaty of Tordesillas, which divided newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal.