The Italian Renaissance | Milan under the Sforza (Lecture 21)

Lecture 21: Filippo Maria Visconti had married his natural daughter, Bianca, to his most successful mercenary general, Francesco Sforza. Having saved the city, Sforza was dismissed by the republic that had arisen on the duke’s death. He seized the government and had himself named duke of Milan, the first of the new dynasty. Francesco was a fine ruler who, together with Cosimo de’Medici, ensured the stability of the peninsula through the Peace of Lodi (1454) and the Italian League (1455).

His death in 1466 resulted in yet another cruel and incompetent ruler who was murdered by his nobles, leaving the throne to a minor. The new duke’s uncle, Francesco’s son, Lodovico il Moro (d. 1508), emerged as regent and later assumed full authority as duke of Milan. Lodovico and his incomparable bride, Beatrice d’Este, presided over a brilliant court in which Leonardo da Vinci resided for many years. Lodovico was removed from his throne by the French in 1500, presaging the control of Milan by foreign powers until the unification of Italy.

Primary Source Texts:
Diana Robin, Filelfo in Milan: Writings, 1451–77.

Secondary Sources:
Gregory Lubkin, A Renaissance Court: Milan Under Galeazzo Maria Sforza.

Supplementary Reading:
Alison Cole, Virtue and Magnificence: Art of the Italian Renaissance Courts.

Lecture 22: https://rumble.com/v4yjele-the-italian-renaissance-the-eternal-city-rome-lecture-22.html