Sforza (jan 2, 1450 – jan 1, 1500)

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The House of Sforza made Milan one of the leading cities of the Italian Renaissance. Franscisco Sforza entered the city as Duke in 1450. Under his moderate and skillful rule, Francisco modernized the city and duchy, creating an efficient system of taxation that created enormous revenues for the government. His court became a center of Renaissance culture and the people of Milan came to love him. During Francisco's reign, he became close friends with Cosimo de' Medici, ruler of Florence, culminating in the Peace of Lodi and the Italian League, a defense alliance of Italian states which stabilized most of Italy. He died in 1466.

He was succeeded by his son Galeazzo Maria Sforza, who was well known to have a cruel streak. He ruled jointly with his mother Bianca Maria, but his ruthlessness later pushed him to oust her. He was assassinated in 1476, and was succeeded by his seven year old son Gian Galeazzo.

Gian Galeazzo's uncle Ludovico acted as regent for him. Ludovico quickly wrested all power, became the de facto ruler of Milan. Ludovico was very intelligent and ambitious, though nervous and inconsistent in nature. He would become engaged to Beatrice d'Este in 1480. Milan would take part in the War of Ferrara against Venice, who had the support of Genoa, eventually accepting peace terms in exchange for a payment to the Venetians. Ludovico married Beatrice in 1491, and their marriage was said to be idyllic, but Beatrice was ambitious and had a rivalry with her cousin Isabella, who had married Gian Galeazzo. This prompted the Italian War of 1494-1498, with Ludovico allying with King Charles VIII of France, and the French would make note of the defenselessness of Italy. Gian Galeazzo would die in 1494, and some believe Ludovico poisoned him.

Ludovico would officially succeed him as Duke of Milan, though shortly after, in 1497 following his affairs from Beatrice, his wife would die in childbirth, driving him mad with grief. In the Italian Wars of 1499-1504, the French would take Milan, which lost its independence, and Ludovico was imprisoned by the French until his death.

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