Prince Lorenzo Borghese was the reigning Bachelor of Season 9, and when we say reigning, we mean it literally. This season was unlike any other, and it premiered 15 years ago this week!

While Lorenzo starred on the show we all know and love, he was also a real-life Italian prince. His family history dates back to the 1600s, so the Bachelor headed to Rome to look for love in a castle where his ancestors lived for hundreds of years.

During his season of “The Bachelor,” he noted that while he may be royal, “I never ever introduce myself as Prince Lorenzo Borghese. I’m always just Lorenzo. The only time people find out I’m a prince is when my friends are around and they’re trying to pick up girls.”

The show took place in Rome, but Lorenzo lived in the United States for the majority of his life. Even being away from Europe, Lorenzo expressed difficulty dating with such a rich family history (emphasis on rich).

“I have a hard time finding someone who is into me sincerely rather than for how much money I make or my whole family history,” the Bachelor Nation star said in the Season 9 premiere.

Meanwhile, many of the 25 bachelorettes vying for Lorenzo’s heart said things like, “To marry a prince is every girl’s dream. I mean, I would love to be a princess. What girl wouldn’t?”

Once in Rome, the women tried to woo their prince charming with everything from dances to opera serenades throughout the first night.

One woman in particular — Floridian teacher Jennifer Wilson— shared a sweet moment with Prince Lorenzo as soon as she exited the limo, and she went on to earn his final rose at the end of the season.

But soon after that, two Italian bachelorettes arrived to join the group hoping to win Lorenzo’s heart — surprising the other women who were already there.

Night one really was a truly something to remember, with Lorenzo declaring it the “most exciting evening” of his life.

Oh, and when a prince is the Bachelor, the First Impression Rose comes with a side of 2-carat diamond earrings.

To celebrate the 15 years since Lorenzo’s journey as the Bachelor began, take a scroll down memory lane with photos from his season.