Sforza was a ruling family of Renaissance Italy, based in Milan.

The dynasty was founded by Muzio Attendolo, called Sforza ("Strong") (Cotignola, 1369 - near Pescara, 1424) a condottiere from the Romagna serving the Angevin kings of Naples. He was the most successful dynast of the condottieri.

His son Francesco Sforza ruled Milan for the first half of the Renaissance era, acquiring the title of Duke from the extinct Visconti family in 1447. While there were many good rulers in the family, there were also a number of despots, many of which were mentally unstable.

This family would later join with the Borgia Family, through the arranged marriage of Lucrezia Borgia to Giovanni Sforza (who was the illegitimate son of Costanzo Sforza).

Ludovico Sforza (a.k.a. Ludovico il Moro, famous also for taking Leonardo da Vinci at his service) was defeated in 1500 by the French army of Louis XII of France - see also Italian Wars.

After the French were driven out by Imperial Swiss troops Maximilian Sforza, son of Ludovico became Duke of Milan, until the French returned under Francis I of France and imprisoned him.

Sforza rulers of Milan

• Francesco I Sforza 1450-1466
• Galeazzo Maria Sforza 1466-1476
• Gian Galeazzo Sforza 1476-1494
• Lodovico Sforza 1494-1499
• Lodovico Sforza (restored) 1500
• Massimiliano Sforza 1512-1515
• Francesco II Sforza 1521-1535

External link

• Portraits and family tree (http://www.asn-ibk.ac.at/bildung/faecher/geschichte/maike/monalisa/g_eng/167.htm)