Battista Sforza

Battista Sforza (* 1446 in Pesaro, † July 6, 1472 ) was the Duchess of Urbino and second wife of Federico da Montefeltro.

Life

She came from the Sforza family. Her parents were Costanza da Varano (* around 1428 in Camerino, † July 31, 1447 in Pesaro ), daughter of Pietro Gentile da Varano, papal vicar of Camerino, and Elisabetta Malatesta, and Alessandro Sforza ( born October 29, 1409 Cotignola; † April 3, 1473 in Pesaro ), Lord of Pesaro and extramarital son of Muzio Sforza Attendolo from his relationship with Lucia Terziani. She received an excellent education. Age of three she had the first Latin class and she was later able to translate ancient Greek texts. After she had given a speech in front of Pope Pius II, expressed this admiration that none of his cardinals could compete with her ​​in terms of their oratory.

On February 10, 1460 she married Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino, and became his second wife. The marriage produced six daughters and one son. Her husband moved into a well in his political decisions. In the absence of her husband, she managed the Duchy. It managed to survive a raid by Sigismondo Malatesta, because she was prepared for the procedure. This compared her political intelligence later with that of Louis XI. of France. She took care of the poor creature in the duchy, and even prompted the establishment of a bank of the Franciscans, to enable the poor cheap loans.

She died on July 6, 1472 a few months after the birth of her son Guidobaldo.

Battista Sforza is the grandmother of Vittoria Colonna, a child of her youngest daughter, Agnese and Fabrizio Colonna († 1520).