Duke of Milan. Born to Francesco Sforza, the Duke of Milan, and Bianca Maria Visconti. Galeazzo was away in France when his father died in 1466 and was forced to travel covertly through enemy territory to make his way home and claim his mantle as the new Duke of Milan. He balanced the good in his life, in particular his patronage of music, with a sadistic cruelness. His first wife was Dorotea Gonzaga. Upon her death he married Bona of Savoy, with whom he had four children. His mistress, Lucrezia Landriani, reportedly also bore him several children, one of whom was Caterina Sforza, who would become the Countess of Forli. He infamously betrothed his then ten year old daughter, Caterina, to Girolamo Riario, with the understanding that Girolamo wanted his new bride to be sexually active with him on their wedding night. His behavior over the years earned him a questionable reputation and many enemies. On the Feast of Saint Stephen, December 26, 1476, Galeazzo entered the Church of St. Stephen to celebrate mass. He was attacked and assassinated by a small group of conspirators, including Carlo Visconti, Gerolamo Olgiati and Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani, all well known to him as officials in the Milanese court. The conspirators were all caught and within days were publicly executed. Galeazzo's body was interred in the sarcophagus of his father, with little fanfare.
Duke of Milan. Born to Francesco Sforza, the Duke of Milan, and Bianca Maria Visconti. Galeazzo was away in France when his father died in 1466 and was forced to travel covertly through enemy territory to make his way home and claim his mantle as the new Duke of Milan. He balanced the good in his life, in particular his patronage of music, with a sadistic cruelness. His first wife was Dorotea Gonzaga. Upon her death he married Bona of Savoy, with whom he had four children. His mistress, Lucrezia Landriani, reportedly also bore him several children, one of whom was Caterina Sforza, who would become the Countess of Forli. He infamously betrothed his then ten year old daughter, Caterina, to Girolamo Riario, with the understanding that Girolamo wanted his new bride to be sexually active with him on their wedding night. His behavior over the years earned him a questionable reputation and many enemies. On the Feast of Saint Stephen, December 26, 1476, Galeazzo entered the Church of St. Stephen to celebrate mass. He was attacked and assassinated by a small group of conspirators, including Carlo Visconti, Gerolamo Olgiati and Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani, all well known to him as officials in the Milanese court. The conspirators were all caught and within days were publicly executed. Galeazzo's body was interred in the sarcophagus of his father, with little fanfare.
Bio by: Sean McKim
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