Gian Galeazzo Sforza

Gian Galeazzo Sforza
Gian Galeazzo Sforza, c.1483, byGiovanni Ambrogio de Predis
Duke of Milan
Reign	26 December 1476 – 21 October 1494
Predecessor	Galeazzo Maria Sforza
Successor	Ludovico Sforza
Born	(1469-06-20)20 June 1469 Abbiategrasso
Died	21 October 1494(1494-10-21)(aged 25) Pavia
Spouse	Isabella of Naples ​ (m.1489)​
Issue	Francesco Sforza Ippolita Maria Sforza Bona, Queen of Poland Bianca Maria Sforza
House	Sforza
Father	Galeazzo Maria Sforza
Mother	Bona of Savoy

Gian Galeazzo Sforza(20 June 1469 – 21 October 1494), also known asGiovan Galeazzo Sforza,was the sixthDuke of Milan.

Early life

Born inAbbiategrasso,he was only seven years old when in 1476 his father,Galeazzo Maria Sforza,was assassinated and he became theDuke of Milan.His uncle,Ludovico Sforza,acted as regent to the young duke, but quickly wrested all power from him and became thede factoruler of Milan. Ludovico imprisoned Gian Galeazzo and later became the duke after Gian Galeazzo's death, which was widely viewed as suspicious.

Marriage and issue

In February 1489, Gian Galeazzo married his cousin PrincessIsabella of Naples.Together they had:

• Francesco Sforza(1491–1512)
• Ippolita Maria Sforza(1493–1501)
• Bona Sforza(1494–1557); marriedSigismund I of Poland
• Bianca Maria Sforza (posthumously 1495–1496)

Death

Charles VIII visiting the deathbed of Gian Galazzo Sforza at the Palazzo Ducale.

In 1491 Ludovico Sforza had Gian Galeazzo Sforza and his wifeIsabella of Aragontransferred to theVisconti CastleofPaviawhere they created a brilliant court.Gian Galeazzo died in 1494 in the Visconti Castle, the summer home of the Visconti and Sforza families. During that time, he received a visit fromCharles VIIIofFrance.According to the Italian historianFrancesco Guicciardiniin hisHistory of Italy(Italian:La Historia di Italia), he was poisoned by his uncle,Ludovico il Moro.

The rumor was widespread that Giovan Galeazzo's death had beenprovoked by immoderate coitus;nevertheless, it was widely believed throughout Italy that he had died not through natural illness nor as a result of incontinence, but had been poisoned… one of the royal physicians… asserted that he had seen manifest signs of it. Nor was there anyone who doubted that if it had been poison, it had been administered through his uncle Ludovico Sforza's machinations…

Ancestry

Ancestors of Gian Galeazzo Sforza

16. Giovanni Attendolo 8.Muzio Attendolo Sforza 17. Elisa Petraccini 4.Francesco I Sforza 9. Lucia da Torsciano 2.Galeazzo Maria Sforza 20.Gian Galeazzo Visconti 10.Filippo Maria Visconti 21.Caterina Visconti 5.Bianca Maria Visconti 22. Ambrogio del Maino 11.Agnese del Maino 1.Gian Galeazzo Sforza 24.Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy 12.Antipope Felix V 25.Bonne of Berry 6.Louis, Duke of Savoy 26.Philip II, Duke of Burgundy 13.Mary of Burgundy 27.Margaret III, Countess of Flanders 3.Bona of Savoy 28.James I of Cyprus 14.Janus of Cyprus 29.Helvis of Brunswick 7.Anne of Cyprus 30.John I, Count of La Marche 15.Charlotte of Bourbon 31.Catherine of Vendôme

Sources

• Palos, Joan-Lluis (2016). "Eleonora Alvarez de Toledo (1522-62)". In Palos, Joan-Lluis; Sanchez, Magdalena S. (eds.).Early Modern Dynastic Marriages and Cultural Transfer.Routledge. pp. 165–188.