Galeazzo Maria Sforza (1452-1498) 
- Name:
-
Galeazzo Maria Sforza
- Dates:
- Fermo, 24 January 1444 - Milan, 26 December 1476
- Attivitą:
- Duke of Milan
- Places:
-
Milan
- Biographical information:
-
The eldest son of Francesco I Sforza and Bianca Maria Visconti, Galeazzo Maria was born in the castle of Girifalco in Fermo on 24 January 1444.
The child’s name was decided by his maternal grandfather, Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan, who chose the name Galeazzo in memory of his father Gian Galeazzo, adding the second name Maria, which had been given to him, his brother Giovanni Maria and his daughter, to fulfil a vow made by Gian Galeazzo. This choice of name was significant: the illustrious Visconti dynasty continued its lineage by grafting it onto the young stock of the Sforza. In fact, when Filippo Maria Visconti died in 1447 without legitimate male heirs, the only heir to the sceptre of Milan was Bianca Maria, his illegitimate daughter who in 1441 had married Francesco Sforza, a condottiere in the service of the Visconti. By virtue of his marriage, the latter staked his claim to the Duchy of Milan, which he finally obtained by force, achieving official investiture in 1450 and the recognition on the part of the other Italian States that was ratified by the Peace of Lodi in 1454.
When his father died (8 March 1466), Galeazzo Maria was in France engaged in a military expedition ordered by Francesco I to support Louis XI of Valois against Charles I of Burgundy, known as Charles the Bold. Summoned by his mother, Galeazzo Maria returned to Milan after a long and eventful journey. Bianca Maria had in the interim prepared lavish celebrations in honour of the new Duke, in such a way as to silence any opponents to the succession. On 20 March Galeazzo Maria made his triumphal entry into the city, passing through the Porta Ticinese to the acclaim of the jubilant populace.
Initially Galeazzo Maria governed under the regency of his mother, a shrewd and energetic woman. Previously betrothed to Dorotea Gonzaga, on 6 July 1468 Galeazzo Maria married Bona of Savoy, sister-in-law of the King of France.
Of an irascible, impulsive and authoritarian character, the young Duke very soon came into conflict with his mother Bianca Maria, who prudently decided to leave Milan, withdrawing into voluntary exile. She died at Melegnano, on the road to Cremona where she had decided to move (1468).
Around 1470 Galeazzo Maria introduced into Milan the silver “testoon”, a new coin weighing approximately 10 grams, the name of which derived from the effigy of the Duke in profile engraved on it.
In 1471, to fulfil a vow made to the Santissima Annunziata, Galeazzo Maria Sforza and Bona of Savoy made a journey to Florence, accompanied by a magnificent retinue. The Medici and the city welcomed their important ally with lavish festivities.
In 1472 Galeazzo went to war alongside the troops of Louis XI of France against Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy to support his young nephew Philibert I of Savoy, who had succeeded his father Amadeus IX on the throne.
Galeazzo Maria was a man of culture and an astute patron, but his cruel and arrogant character and his dissolute habits made him detested by many. In fact, a group of Milanese nobles, including Girolamo Olgiati, Carlo Visconti and Gian Andrea Lampugnani, organised a conspiracy, possibly with the external support of Louis XI of Valois, King of France. On 26 December 1476, at the age of just 33, the Duke Galeazzo Maria was stabbed to death in the church of Santo Stefano.
By Bona of Savoy he had four children, including Gian Galeazzo Maria who became Duke on his father’s death.
Sforza had another six illegitimate children by Lucrezia Landriani. Among them was Caterina Sforza, whose second husband was Giovanni de’ Medici, known as il Popolano, and who was the mother of Giovanni delle Bande Nere.
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