Bianca Maria Sforza

Bianca Maria Sforza, Maria Blanca Sforza ( born April 5, 1472 Milan, † December 31, 1510 in Innsbruck ) was the second wife of the German king Maximilian I ( 1459-1519 ). Thus it was from 1494 German Queen and Archduchess of Austria and since 1508 Empress of the Holy Roman Empire.

Childhood and youth

Bianca Maria was a daughter of Duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza of Milan and his second wife, Bona of Savoy (* August 10, 1449, † November 17, 1503 ). After the murder of her father in 1476, she grew up at the court of her uncle Ludovico Sforza, who in 1481 assumed the government. Bianca Maria's life at court of her rich uncle was varied, as it had bound many prominent artists of the time to his court, including Leonardo da Vinci, who was in Milan services since about 1482. It was placed on Bianca Maria's education not a great value, and so they could devote their interests, such as the making of fine needlework, which she showed great skill.

Later life

A run by her uncle Ludovico Sforza wedding with the Roman-German King Maximilian I should bring to the known as " Il Moro " ruler of Milan, especially the title of duke, as the Duchy of Milan was a fief of the Holy Roman Empire. Ludovico had usurped the throne of Milan and in 1481 deposed the rightful heir of the Duke Gian Galeazzo Sforza throne and his mother, the regent Bona of Savoy. ( Gian Galeazzo died in 1494. Eyewitnesses, as the French diplomat Philippe de Commynes in his Memoires, spoke of murder. )

In order to make the German King unstandesgemäße the marriage tasty, sat Ludovico a dowry of 400,000 ducats in cash and another 40,000 ducats in jewels. This argument persuaded Maximilian, who was in constant financial difficulties. Ludovico received the title of duke in return.

On November 30, 1493 Bianca Maria Sforza was in the absence of the groom in a proxy wedding in Milan married to King Maximilian I..

Even in late autumn traveled Bianca Maria together with her ​​dowry and a large convoy through the snowy Wormser Joch to Innsbruck. The marriage, however, was only completed on March 16, 1494 for a common " church under the Crown " in Hall and Innsbruck, as Maximilian was previously absent because of a Turkish invasion in Styria and the reorganization of the Austrian lands.

Shortly after the consummation of the marriage Maximilian complained that Bianca namely in terms of beauty could measure with his first wife Mary of Burgundy, but that they only possessed a mediocre mind.

It was impossible for the young woman to win the affection of her husband, as they too uneducated in his eyes, too talkative, too naive, was too wasteful and too sloppy. After Hermann Wiesflecker Bianca Maria was " life a child who played sitting on the ground" and not their position as wife of Maximilian was aware. It was that Maximilian children wanted from her, but were absent despite several pregnancies.

That is also why Maximilian alienated more and more of her, neglected her and returned to his lover back, which gave him nine children. It even came to the point that he repeatedly leaving Bianca Maria together with her ​​court as security when he could not pay his debts to the hosts.

After 1500 Maximilian finally lost interest in Bianca Maria, not least because her uncle Ludovico in 1499 in a war against Louis XII. had lost by France, the Duchy of Milan. Ludovico fled to Innsbruck, but returned to Milan, where it was captured by the French, which he failed as a financier Maximilian.

Bianca Maria was also missing at Maximilian proclamation to the " chosen Emperor " on February 4, 1508 Trent.

As Bianca Maria died in Innsbruck on 31 December 1510 Maximilian held on in Freiburg. He did not attend her funeral in part, but only returned in June 1511 back to Innsbruck. Bianca Maria was buried in the royal crypt of the Cistercian monastery of Stams in the Inn Valley to the west of Innsbruck. Maximilian not even a devoted her grave stone.

Aftermath

Joseph Grünpeck, a native of Regensburg historian at the court of Maximilian, was of the opinion that they are " looking dörr " after three years of continuous loss of weight at the ( cachexia ) had died, and gave Maximilian, his wife had neglected for the debt.

On her marriage to King Maximilian a relief reminiscent of the Golden Roof in Innsbruck.

Also, resulting in the 16th century bronze statue in the Hofkirche in Innsbruck reminiscent of Bianca Maria.

Under the cloak of Frauensteiner Schutzmantelmadonna the Empress is shown together with Maximilian I.. The Madonna is a work of Gregor Erhart.

122863
de