House of Sforza

The House of Sforza (Italian: [ˈsfɔrtsa]) was a ruling family of Renaissance Italy, based in Milan. Sforza rule began with the family's acquisition of the Duchy of Milan following the extinction of the Visconti family in the mid-15th century and ended with the death of the last member of the family's main branch, Francesco II Sforza, in 1535.

History

The first son of Muzio Attendolo Sforza, Francesco I Sforza, married Bianca Maria Visconti (1425–1468) in 1441.^[1][2][3] She was the daughter and only heir of the last Duke of Milan, Filippo Maria Visconti.^[2] After overthrowing the Ambrosian Republic, Sforza then acquired the title of Duke of Milan (1450–1466), ruled Milan for 16 years, and made the Sforzas the heirs of the house of Visconti.^[4][5]

The family also held the seigniory of Pesaro, starting with Muzio Attendolo's second son, Alessandro (1409–1473).^[6] The Sforza held Pesaro until 1512, after the death of Costanzo II Sforza.^[7]

Muzio's third son, Bosio (1411–1476), founded the branch of Santa Fiora, who held the title of count of Cotignola; the Sforza ruled the small county of Santa Fiora in southern Tuscany until 1624. Members of this family also held important ecclesiastical and political positions in the Papal States, and moved to Rome in 1674, taking the name of Sforza Cesarini.

The Sforza became allied with the Borgia family through the arranged marriage (1493–1497) between Lucrezia Borgia and Giovanni (the illegitimate son of Costanzo I of Pesaro).^[8] This alliance failed, as the Borgia family annulled the marriage once the Sforza family were no longer needed.

In 1499, in the course of the Italian Wars, the army of Louis XII of France took Milan from Ludovico Sforza.^[9]

After Imperial German troops drove out the French, Maximilian Sforza, son of Ludovico, became Duke of Milan (1512–1515) until the French returned under Francis I of France and imprisoned him.

In 1521 Charles V drove out the French and restored the younger son of Ludovico, Francesco II Sforza to the duchy, after Francesco waged war on the Emperor.^[10] Francesco remained the ruler of Milan until his death in 1535 and as he was childless the Duchy reverted to the Emperor, who passed it to his son Philip II in 1540, thus beginning the period of Spanish rule in Milan.

Sforza rulers of the Duchy of Milan

• Francesco I, 1450–1466
• Galeazzo Maria, 1466–1476
• Gian Galeazzo, 1476–1494
• Ludovico, 1494–1499
• Massimiliano, 1513–1515
• Francesco II, 1521–1535^[11]

Sforza rulers of Pesaro and Gradara

• Alessandro, 1445–1473
• Costanzo I, 1473–1483
• Giovanni, 1483–1500 and 1503–1510
• Costanzo II, 1510–1512
• Galeazzo, 1512^[7]

Sforza family tree

• Muzio Sforza with mistress Lucia da Torsano had 7 illegitimate sons^[12]

Notable members

Castellini Baldissera

While the House of Sforza has died out over the last century, it is closely related to the Castellini Baldissera family, who inherited a number of their palazzos and estates.^[13]

In popular culture

• One of the cursed artefacts from Friday the 13th: The Series was the "Sforza Glove", attributed to the original family's possession.
• Thomas Harris's character Hannibal Lecter is a descendant of the House of Sforza.
• In the book, anime, and manga series Trinity Blood, the Duchess of Milan, who is also one of the Cardinals, is named Caterina Sforza.
• Caterina Sforza appears as a non-playable character in the video game Assassin's Creed 2 and its sequel, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.^[14]
• The Sforza figure prominently in the Showtime series The Borgias.
• The house is mentioned in a song about the Borgia family in the British edutainment TV show Horrible Histories.
• There are notable members from the family in the television series Medici.
• There is a campaign in the Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition computer game named after the Sforza family where the player takes up the position of Francesco I Sforza.