In 1497, with the restoration of the Aragonese control under his uncle Frederick IV of Naples, Alfonso was assigned to the first position of responsibility and became the Lieutenant general of Abruzzo.

[2] "He was the most beautiful youth that I have ever seen in Rome" – The chronicler Talini[3]In order to strengthen ties with Naples, Pope Alexander VI arranged marriages between the House of Borgia and the royal family of Aragon.

It was part of the agreement that they would remain in Rome for at least one year and not be forced to live permanently at the Kingdom of Naples until her father's death.

[5] As the political situation changed, Pope Alexander VI looked to align with France, enemy of Alfonso's family.

To this end he arranged a marriage between Cesare Borgia and Charlotte of Albret, sister of King John III of Navarre.

Alfonso sensed betrayal when France planned to invade Naples and on 2 August 1499 left Rome without his wife, who was six months pregnant.

The prince was residing in the palace of Santa Maria in Portico, but so desperate was his condition that he was taken to the chamber of the Borgia Tower[9] where he was cared for by his doctors from Naples, his sister, Sancha, and his wife, Lucrezia.

On the night of 18 August, as Alfonso was still recovering from his wounds, Micheletto Corella and a group of armed men entered his room and strangled him in his bed until he was dead.

In his own defence, Cesare argued that Alfonso had attempted to kill him with a crossbow shot as he walked in the garden, but not many believed him.