Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke
of Milan 1466-1476 (1444-1476)
Born 24 January 1444
Died 26 December 1476 Milan (murdered)
Married (1) 1466
Dorothea Gonzaga, daughter of Lodovico III Gonzaga,
Marquess of Mantua and Markgraefin Barbara von Brandenburg
Died 1468
Married (2) 6 July 1468
Bonne de Savoie, daughter of Louis, Duke of Savoie
1434-1465 and Anne de Lusignan
Died 1485
Child by (a) Lucrezia Landriani
Ambitious, ruthless and vicious, he was also a capable ruler of his
duchy. Through his marriage to
Bona of Savoy he became brother-in-law to the Duke of Savoy and the
King of France. These connections inspired him to turn the family home
from a sombre castle into a luxurious and
comfortable residence.
At one stage he had the hands cut off of a man he saw talking to his
mistress; and once, when a poacher was caught, he made him eat the hare
he had stolen, whole and unskinned, from which the man died. Together with
his wife he brought an official visit to Florence which turned into one
of the most magnificent events of the Renaissance. He added to the Library
of Pavia and under his patronage
a printing press was established at Milan. Also he introduced the growing
of rice which is the basis of "risotto alla Milanese".
For being a despot and imposing heavy taxation, he was murdered on
26 December 1476.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
