François Sforza

François Sforza , in Italian Francesco Sforza , born the July 23rd 1401 with San Miniato (area of Toscane) and dead the March 8th 1466 with Milan (area of Lombardy) was a war leader Italy N, become duke of Milan, which marked its time, the 15th century, of an indelible trace.

The Condottiere

François Sforza is the natural son of Muzio Attendolo Sforza and Lucia Terzani of Marsciano. His/her father was a Condottiere originating in Pescara, which had fought in turn with the service of the Visconti, then of Florence, finally of the dukes of Anjou of Naples. When he dies, in 1424, François succeeds to him the head of its Mercenaire S and continues his career of Condottiere, being sold with highest offerer.

It puts at the service Jeanne II of Naples for which it besieges Naples. Then it is put the service of Visconti of Milan against Venice and to the pope Eugene IV to which it removes the walk of Ancône. In 1434, this one offers to him the title of pontifical vicar and gonfalonnier of the Church in exchange of its service against Milan.

Beaten by the united troops of Florence and Rome, the duke of Milan, Philippe Marie Visconti, sign peace with Casement bolt in 1441, peace which reconciles it with Sforza. This one marries his/her illegitimate daughter Blanche Marie Visconti and obtains the promise to succeed his/her father-in-law when he dies. During years which follow, however, the old duke as much as possible tries to draw aside his son-in-law of the capacity.

Philippe Marie Visconti dies in 1447. The serious applicants multiply: the duke of Savoy (brother-in-law of deceased), the marquis of Montferrat, Charles of Orleans (wire of Valentine Visconti), Alphonse V of Aragon and, of course, François Sforza. The Milaneses despize of all these beautiful people and unfortunately proclaim the République Ambrosienne, which involves, for it, the defection of the principal cities of the duchy. Pavia and Parma asserts their independence, Lodi and Plaisance is given to the Venetian ones.

Wanting to avoid the division of the duchy, the Republic calls upon François Sforza, who reconquers Lodi and Plaisance and is essential lord of Pavia. Then he concludes a pact with Venice. Sforza agree to yield Brescia to him and Crema in exchange of its recognition as lord of all the territories which it will succeed in conquering. He seizes then Pavia, Novare and Alexandria before besieging and taking Milan the February 26th 1450. The Milanese population proclaims it lord and duke of the city.

The duke

François Sforza devotes his first years of government to negotiate a long-term peace with his neighbors. The compromised of Lodi of 1454, signed by Milan, Florence and Venice, and the Italic League, formed the same year and including/understanding these three cities plus the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples, brings a relative peace to Italy which will last more than 25 years.

In 1463, it signs a treaty with Louis XI of France which yields to him the town of Genoa.

Sforza is then regarded as the most powerful man of Italy. In interior policy, it set up a government very centralized in Milan and it is him which inserts its city on one level in the Renaissance. His/her children are educated by the humanistic famous ones. The writer and poet Antonio Cornazzano will write, in 1454, the epic Sforziade , poem which celebrates the gesture of the duke as well as a Libro sull' arte LED danzare (Book on art to dance) for Ippolita Maria Sforza, girl of the duc.
When he dies, in 1466, its dynasty will be maintained in place after a fashion with successors less qualified than him.

His/her oldest son, Galéas Marie, will take his continuation.

Descent

The first wife of François Sforza is the countess of Menalto, Polissena Rufor (NC- 1420), dead poisoned, which gives him a girl, Polissena or Antonia, died young.

Of his second wife, White Marie Visconti (1425 - 1468), one knows seven children to him:

François had a big number of illegitimate children in addition:

  • Isolea/Isotta (Ca 1425-Ca 1485) which married, in 1440, Andrea Matteo II of Acquaviva, duke of Atri then, in 1446, Giovanni Mauruzi da Tolentino, count of Stacciola
  • Polissena (Ca 1426-1449) which married, in 1443, Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, lord of Rimini and which died strangled on order of her husband
  • Tristano (1429-1477) which married, in 1457, Béatrice d' Este (1427-NC), girl of Nicolas III of Este, lord of Ferrare and Modena
  • Sforza Secondo (1435-1491), lord then count of Borgonovo, governor of Pleasure, which married, in 1451, the countess Antonia Dal Verme
  • Drusiana (1436-1474), born from Giovana d' Acquapendente, which married, in 1445, Giano Ier Fregoso, doge de Gênes then, in 1464, Jacopo Piccinino, prince of Sulmona
  • Polidoro (1445-1475)
  • Fiordelisa (1447-1522) which married, in 1462, Guidaccio Manfredi of the family of the lords of Imola and Faenza
  • Bianca Francesca (1448-1516) which was abbess of Santa Monica to Crémone
  • Griselda (1452-1501)
  • Beatrice (1455-1493)
  • Bona Francesca (1456-1498)
  • Giovanni Maria (1461-1520) which was archbishop of Genoa
  • Ottaviana (1461-1513)
  • Giulio (1463-1495) which was abbot of Santa Maria della Scala in Milan

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