sforza

The Sforza was a prominent Italian noble dynasty that ruled Milan during the Renaissance. The family name derives from Muzio Attendolo Sforza, a 15th-century condottiero whose troops reportedly nicknamed him Sforza; the nickname became the hereditary surname of his descendants. The Sforza lineage originated in Romagna, with ties to the town of Cotignola, and rose to power in Lombardy through military prowess and strategic marriage alliances.

Francesco Sforza (c. 1401–1466) became a powerful condottiero and, after marrying Lucia Visconti, seized control of Milan and founded the Sforza rule in 1450. He ruled as Duke of Milan until his death in 1466, establishing a new dynasty that would govern the duchy for the next decades. His successors, among them Gian Galeazzo Sforza and Ludovico Sforza, continued to hold Milan’s ducal title, transforming the city into a major center of Renaissance politics, art, and culture. Ludovico il Moro, in particular, presided over a court that patronized artists such as Leonardo da Vinci; the artist worked in Milan for a period and contributed to works associated with the Sforza court, including the iconic Last Supper.

The Sforza faced repeated external pressure, including a French invasion in 1494 that led to upheaval and shifting fortunes for the duchy. A branch of the family briefly retained power in the early 1500s, but the male line ended with Francesco II Sforza (d. 1535). Milan then passed to the House of Habsburg, marking the end of Sforza sovereignty over the duchy.

Castello Sforzesco in Milan stands as a lasting symbol of the dynasty’s architectural and cultural patronage, reflecting its significant impact on the city and the broader Renaissance.