Scala, Bartolomeo 1428-1497

Career: Florentine chancellor from humble origins in Colle di Val d’Elsa. m Maddalena di Giovanni Benci. Studied and practiced law, but it is uncertain whether he had a doctorate. A member of the Milanese household of Filippo Borromei, 1454-5. Secretary to Pierfrancesco de’ Medici, 1457-9. Clearly a Medici protégé by the early 1460s; Piero di Cosimo gave him a house and a Monte holding. Chancellor of the Parte Guelfa, 1459-63. Chancellor of Florence, 1464-97. One of six Florentine ambassadors sent to Rome to congratulate Innocent VIII in 1484, during which mission he was knighted. Gonfalonier of Justice, 1486. Collector and commissioner of MSS; his Florentine palace was by Giuliano da Sangallo, 1472-8.

Refs: The Florentines put a lot of trust in S, although it is said that he receives a pension from Naples: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 19 Mar 1481, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 2. His recent appointment as consigliere in Milan: G G Sforza to B Scala, 11 Apr 1481, ASMi, SPE, Firenze, 302. With two members of the Otto, S questioned Antonio da Montecatini about what Ercole d’E ste is doing with the money and troops he has: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 4 May 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. Has asked Ercole to take Girolamo Fregoso and Francesco Bellini into his service; Ercole is sorry, but he cannot afford to do so: E d’Este to Antonio da Montecatini, 26 May 1482, ASMo, cit. A personal postscript to a letter from the Otto which S had just written, regarding the campaign: B Scala to B Gianfigliazzi in Ferrara, 13/22 June 1482, Modena MS, 15-16. Says Ercole is right in his differences with the Otto regarding his stipendio: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 18 Aug 1482, ASMo, cit. Attacked the Milanese ambassador regarding Milan’s record in fulfilling her military obligations: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’E ste, 19 Aug 1482, ASMo, cit. S told Antonio da Montecatini of the Dieci’s determination to go on defending Florence; thinks a league with the pope is possibly a bad thing, as Sixtus only wants advantages for himself and Girolamo Riario: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 25 Nov 1482, ASMo, cit. S’s message to Ercole d’Este that the Dieci would like him to forgo some of his salary to help pay for Riario; suggests that Alfonso d’Aragona might renounce some of his too: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 4 Dec 1482, ASMo, cit. Would not give a direct response to the Ferrarese orator’s scheme of trying to remove difficulties regarding the Florentine towns: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 24 Dec 1482, ASMo, cit. Told Antonio da Montecatini that Ercole d’Este made several mistakes in his recent relations with Florence: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 21 Apr 1483, ASMo, cit. ‘E molto affectionato’ to Sienese affairs: R Ricchi to the Balia of Siena, 13 Jan 1484, ASS, Balia, 516, 48.

Bibliog: A Brown, Bartolomeo Scala, 1430-1497, chancellor of Florence, Princeton, 1979

 

Scales, Francesco

Refs: Sent by Ferrante to Rome and Florence in Aug 1480, to urge those states to agree to send ambassadors to Venice to try to draw the Venetians into the war against the Turks: Otto to T Ridolfi in Milan, 22 Aug 1480, Miss Orig, 4, 71. Is being sent to Rome and Florence: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 23 Aug 1480, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 2. S is consulting with Marino [Tomacelli] and Lorenzo in Florence: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 12 Nov 1480, ASMo, cit.

 

Scarampo, Giovan Andrea

Ref: One of four ambassadors Ludovico Sforza intends to send to Venice: 20 Aug 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 53.

 

Scarampi, Scarampo d. 1485

Ref: Milanese ducal councillor who is being sent as ambassador to Venice: 18 Dec 1484, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 244.

Bibliog: Cerioni, I, 227

 

Scaramuccia

Ref: A man from Poggibonsi recommended to Lorenzo by Piero Vettori; he is in the Pisan Stinche for wounding: 29 Aug 1484, MAP, 39, 304.

 

Scarfa, Bartolomeo

Ref: Podestà of Lunigiana; the Otto complain that he has been subjecting those who work the lands of Antonio da Noceto to contribute their persons and money to all ‘le factioni et spese, non solo ordinarie, ma extraordinarie, non faccendo alchuna differentia dalla qualita di decto m Antonio a quella delli huomini del paese’; nor has he behaved well towards Antonio; S should change his ways: 5 Apr 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 159-60.

 

Scariotto, Giovanni Antonio d. c. 1485

Career: Condottiere from Faenza consistently employed by Venice.

Refs: Has a company of fifty cavalry: 21 May 1482, ASV, Sen Terra, 8, 153. Is commanding troops from Friuli in the Romagna: Otto to B Rucellai, 18 June 1482, Min, 12, 330. Is in the Bresciana: J Guicciardini in Ferrara to the Dieci, 30 May 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 376-7. Has sent to Ludovico Sforza to say that he wants to come to see him; Ludovico consented, but S has not done so yet: Z Saggi to Federico Gonzaga, 3 Nov 1483, ASMa, AG, 1628. Has been captured with his son and 400 cavalry by Pier Francesco Visconti: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 28 Dec 1483, ASMa, cit. The Dieci are delighted to hear of his capture: Dieci to B Bongirolami, 1 Jan 1484, Dieci, LC, 5, 277. Attacked Crema: 22 Dec 1484, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 96. The Dieci want to know if the rumour that Venice has sacked him is true: 15 Apr 1486, Dieci, Miss, 6, 43-4.

 

Sclafenati, Giovanni Giacomo, cardinal d. 1497

Career: Bishop of Parma, 1476-82; cardinal 1483.

Refs: S is doing more than anyone to help the Medici re-establish themselves in Rome: G Tornabuoni in Rome to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 22 Dec 1481, MAP, 73, 383. Giovanni Tornabuoni has given Lorenzo’s letter to S, who is worth cultivating because ‘sarà tutto vostro’; he is on very good terms with Sixtus and tells him constantly of Lorenzo’s good intentions: G Tornabuoni to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 9 Jan 1482, MAP, 73, 388. Witness to the peace signed between Sixtus and the League, 12 Dec 1482: Lettere, VII, 498. The Dieci are not satisfied with S’s answer regarding S Maria Impruneta: Dieci to P F Pandolfini, 1 Mar 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 136-7. Is determined to have either S Maria Impruneta or S Felice in Piazza: G A Vespucci to the Dieci, 13 July 1483, Dieci, Resp, 28, 191. It is rumoured in Milan that his brothers have been arrested in Parma, because it is said that S is trying to win Sixtus back to the Venetian side: F Gaddi to N Michelozzi, 7 Feb 1484, MAP, 96, 141. Ludovico Sforza considers S a possible ally: 14 Aug 1484, MAP, 48, 24. Has great influence with Ascanio Sforza and persuaded him to back Cardinal Cibo in the conclave; Innocent gave him the legation to the Patrimony, which he handed over to Ascanio: 29 Aug 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 93. Ascanio had S’s vote throughout the conclave; his reward for voting for Cibo: 4 Sept 1484, MAP, 48, 37. Opposes Giovanni della Rovere’s candidacy for the captaincy of the Church: 2 Nov 1484, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 96. The Signoria instructs the Florentine ambassadors to promote the settlement of S’s ‘ differentia’ with the piovano of S Maria Impruneta: 22 Nov 1484, Sig, Miss 1a Canc, 21, 53. Re-excommunicated Manente Buondelmonti, the piovano, and put the parish of S Maria Impruneta under interdict; the Dieci ask Ludovico Sforza to persuade him to desist: 30 Mar 1486, Dieci, Miss, 6, 38-9. The Dieci ask Jacopo Guicciardini to persuade Ludovico Sforza to put pressure on S to stop his quarrel with Buondelmonte: 30 Mar 1486, Lettere varie, 11, 72. The Otto ask Ascanio Sforza to persuade S to lift interdict on S Maria Impruneta: 20 Apr 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 184-5. The Dieci[?] request S to leave the church of S Maria Impruneta free and hand it over to Buondelmonte and Florence: 14 May 1486, Otto, Miss, 5, 1.

 

Scolaio di Gentile, da Sommaia

Career: Podestà of Pisa, Oct 1481-Apr 1482. Captain of Livorno, Aug-Dec 1484.

Ref: Captain of Livorno: 18 Oct 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 311.

 

Scolari, Giovanni b. c. 1454

Ref: Isabella, duchess of Calabria, has given some jewels to S and Rinieri Scolari as security for a loan and wants Lorenzo to redeem them: 2 Mar 1486, MAP, 45, 241.

 

Scolari, Rinieri di Lorenzo b. c. 1447

Career: 1480 Catasto: sostanze 2,488 fl.

Ref: Isabella, duchess of Calabria, has given some jewels to S and Giovanni Scolari and as security for a loan and wants Lorenzo to redeem them: 2 Mar 1486, MAP, 45, 241.

 

Scultet, Bernardo

Ref: Much recommended by the Austrian and Saxon ambassadors, S is coming to Florence from Rome to recover some cash taken from him as rapresaglia granted to Cristoforo Spini and Girolamo Martelli against the Sterlini; if Florence does not agree the Saxon and Austrian ambassadors will provoke reprisals against Florentine merchants: 15 Mar 1485, MAP, 39, 106.

 

Sebastiano

Ref: An agent of Giuliano della Rovere discussing peace with Federico da Montefeltro in June 1482: Lettere, VII, 521.

 

Sebastiano da Guanza

Refs: A familiar of Ludovico Sforza sent with Bernardino da Corte to discuss with Girolamo Riario the possibility of a red hat for Ascanio Sforza: G Riario to G G Sforza, 6 Apr 1481, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 89; Lettere, V, 333. With Bernardino, took money to Giovanni Antonio Cotta at Colle: F Sacramoro to G G Sforza, 29 Mar 1481, ASMi, SPE, Firenze, 302; Lettere, V, 334.

 

Secco (d’Aragona), Francesco 1423-1496

Career: Brother-in-law of Federico Gonzaga; uncle of Ercole Bentivoglio, Francesco Gonzaga, Niccolò and Giacomo Secco; father-in-law di Marsilio Torelli. During his long career as a condottiere he fought mostly for Milan, but transferred to Venetian service in 1489 and fought for Florence against the Pisan rebels and their supporters c 1495.

Refs: Is due to go with Beltramino Cusatri to complete the Este parentado on behalf of Mantua: ------, Dallari, n 67. A captain of Federico Gonzaga, helping to defend Ferrara: 1 May 1482, Zambotti, 104; Caleffini, 279. Is staying at Ostiglia, to deal with the trattato there: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 2 May 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. Negotiating with the Venetian lieutenant-general at Ostiglia: 3 May 1482, ASV, Dieci, Misti, 20, 164-5. Together with Giacomo and Stefano Secco, given Bosco by Milan: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 28 June 1482, ASMa, cit. Ludovico Sforza approves Federico Gonzaga sending S, his lieutenant, to Federico da Montefeltro: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 15 Aug 1482, ASMa, cit. Involved in Federico Gonzaga’s secret plan to retake Melara and Castelnuovo in order to increase Mantua’s security: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 15 Aug 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3; Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 17 and 18 Aug 1482, ASMa, cit. Is approaching Marsilio Torelli regarding Florentine merchants and their goods: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 8 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. Agrees to the restitution of Bosco to Girolamo Riario, as promised in the league treaty (it having been granted to S in June 1482): F Secco to G G Sforza, 28 Jan 1483, Secco d’Aragona, Giornale, 322. Negotiating with Guido Torelli: E d’Este to Antonio da Montecatini, 30 Jan 1483, ASMo, cit. Procurator of Guido Torelli (S’s grandson) in negotiations with Ludovico and Ascanio Sforza: E Malatesta to F Gonzaga, 20 Feb 1483, Secco d’Aragona, Giornale, 325. S is conducting negotiations with Guido de’ Rossi: J Guicciardini to the Dieci, 2 Apr 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 213-14. Is being kept waiting for an exchange for Bosco: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 12 Apr 1483, 1628. Has said that he will not fight for Milan without a prestanza: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 10 July 1483, ASMa, cit. Alfonso d’Aragona is pleased that S has come: Alfonso d’Aragona in the Bergamasco to G G Sforza, 31 July 1483, Pontano, Lettere inedite, 147-9. Has been ordered to join Federico Gonzaga: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 3 Aug 1483, ASMa, cit. One of those drawing up the agreement on the disposition of League troops until next season: 30 Aug 1483, ------. Alfonso d’Aragona is angry with S because he went to Asola against the former’s wishes, but on the orders of Federico Gonzaga: F Secco to F Gonzaga, 3 Dec 1483, Secco d’Aragona, Giornale, 334. Alfonso wanted to burn Calcio, S’ s territory, because he went to Asola, though a few days afterwards he had been ordered by Gonzaga to put himself at Alfonso’s disposal and had obeyed, protesting to Alfonso that this was a poor reward for his service to the League: F Gonzaga to Alfonso d’Aragona, 13 Dec 1483, Secco d’Aragona, Giornale, 334-5. Alfonso has sent for him and for four squadrons: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 18 Dec 1483, ASMa, cit. Is being sent to the diet by Gonzaga: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 12 Jan 1484, ASMa, citr. Arrived in Milan yesterday: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 15 Jan 1484, ASMa, cit. Ludovico wants S to command Mantuan troops sent to the League camp: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 4 June 1484, ASMa, cit. Has his own item in the Bagnolo peace terms, 7 Aug 1484: Lettere, VII, 512. An informant in Mantua of the emissary of Ippolita, duchess of Calabria: G Lanfredini, Copialettere, BNF, II, V, 15, 218, 9 Mar 1485. Along with Francesco Gonzaga, Marsilio Torelli and Gian Giacomo Trivulzio, offered by Guido Torelli as security for the return of Montecchio to Ercole d’Este: F Gaddi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 5 Nov 1485, MAP, 26, 477.

 

Secco (d’Aragona), Giacomo 1451-1512

Career: Condottiere whose career peaked during the Italian Wars, which saw him in action for Milan, Venice and France.

Ref: With Francesco and Stefano Secco, given Bosco by Milan: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 26 June 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627.

 

Secco (d’Aragona), Giovan Antonio Borella da Caravaggio (‘conte Borella’) d. 1498

Career: A condottiere conspicuously loyal to Milan over a fighting career of three decades. Generally known as 'Conte Borella'.

Refs: Along with Gian Giacomo Trivulzio and Costanzo Sforza, S is ready to lead contingents of the Milanese ‘famiglia ducale’ and other troops to positions near Castelnuovo: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 7 and 8 Jan 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. Sent to Amoratto Torelli to protest about his service for Venice and his robbery of Florentine merchants: ducal instructions to S, 27 May 1482, ASMi, Sez Stor, Autografi, 206, 63. Commissioner over squadrons of the Milanese ducal houshold troops in Parma; went to speak to Guido de’ Rossi and Amoratto Torelli about peace; no result: 1 June 1482, Cron Lomb, 108. Reports to the duke of Milan: G A Secco at Parma to G G Sforza, 1 June 1482, ASMi, SPE, 843. With Ruffino Miraldi, commander of the Milanese contingent in the Lunigiana campaign: 20 Aug 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 52. With Miraldi, commander of the Milanese troops in the Sarzana campaign: P F Pandolfini to the Dieci, 26 Aug 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 71. Is in the camp outside Pietrasanta; Sforza Bettini is sent to him and other condottieri to urge them on: 6 Oct 1484, Dieci, Delib, 24, 61. S and Miraldi ‘haremo dubitato forte di qualche grande disordine in quello nostro exercito’: 10 Oct 1484, Otto, LC, 3, 100-1. The Otto ask Ludovico Sforza to get S to stay until the Pietrasanta impresa is finished: 16 Oct 1484, Otto, Miss, 3, 101-2. As governor of the Milanese contingent in the Florentine camp he will get a total of 683 ducats in loans from Florence for his troops: 1 Nov 1484, Dieci, Miss, 21, 111-12. A complaint regarding 600 ducats paid to S and not repaid: B Rucellai to Ludovico Sforza, 30 Dec 1484, MAP, 48, 278. Bernardo Rucellai presses hard to get the 683 ducats paid to S by the Dieci repaid to Florence by Milan: 19 Mar 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 507. Ludovico Sforza finally agrees to pay the Florentines the 683 ducats: 22 Apr 1485, Dieci, Resp, 34, 47. Ludovico is sending him with seventy-five men-at-arms to help Ferrante: 5 Dec 1485, MAP, 26, 492. Ludovico Sforza is sending S, together with Marsilio Torelli, Ruffino Miraldi and Carlo Fieschi to aid Ferrante: F Gaddi in Milan to the Dieci, 7 Dec 1485, Dieci, Resp, 35, 266. Part of the Milanese contingent that Antonio Boscoli is to escort to Pitigliano: 11 Dec 1485, Dieci, Delib, 24, 150. The Dieci urge J Guicciardini to make sure S gets the 683 ducats the Florentines are owed: 11 Aug 1486, Dieci, Miss, 6, 74.

 

Secco (d’Aragona), Niccolò d. 1496

Career: Condottiere who fought for Venice against the Ottomans and the Church in the 1470s and against the League in the War of Ferrara, but switched to Florentine employment at the end of his life.

Ref: With many cavalry he passed through Florence rapidly four days ago on his way to Rome; did not stop to see Lorenzo ‘benche el sii tuto del m Lorenzo’; is going to Rome because of the call for the deposition of Asola: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 3 Apr 1484, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3.

 

Secco (d’Aragona), Stefano

Ref: With Francesco and Giacomo Secco, given Bosco by Milan: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 26 June 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627.

 

Segni, Antonio

Refs: Camerlengo of the Dieci: 10 Mar 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 440. Involved in a murder committed by the son of Gherardo Guardi; Piero Angiolini recommends his case to Lorenzo: 26 Sept 1485, MAP, 26, 450.

 

Segni, Antonio di Mariotto

Career: A banker who served Florence as castellan of S Agnese, Pisa, Aug 1473-Feb 1474, and as provveditore of the consuls of Pisa, July 1478-Oct 1479. According to Giorgio Vasari, he was the patron of Botticelli’s Calumny.

 

Senso, Piero di Bartolomeo di

Refs: Handled the Perugia negotiations with Alfonso d’Aragona: 1 Mar 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 122-4. Alfonso and Gian Giacomo Trivulzio give him a commission to make the deal they propose: 4 Mar 1486, Dieci, Resp, 33, 466.

 

Serfederighi, Stefano

Ref: A Lucchese who became a subject of the duke of Savoy and obtained the latter’s permission to exercise commercial reprisals on Lucchese merchants: Lettere, VI, 39.

 

Sermoneta, Alessandro

Refs: A well known Sienese physician living in Venice who is about to visit Siena for his own affairs; instructed by the Venetian Senate to try to persuade Siena to join the papal/Venetian league: ASV, Sen Secr, 29, 112-13. An envoy of the Sienese government reporting from Padua: 9 Aug 1484, ASS, Balia, 519, ins 60.

 

Serragli, Agnolo

Career: Director of the Medici partnership in Puglia. Involved in a long controversy with Francesco Nacci and the Medici branch in Naples to recover certain debts contracted by S.

Refs: Banker to whom Ferrante has pawned the revenues of Calabria for 45,000 ducats: M Trotti to G G Sforza, 30 June 1481, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 233. Pier Filippo Pandolfini hoped to deal with S over the problems of the Medici bank in Naples: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 27 Nov 1481, MAP, 51, 54. Today S ‘fatto cessione a Francesco Nacci di tutti i debitori si truova in buona forma et simile l’à fatto procuratore a poter riscuotere: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 19 Dec 1481,MAP, 51, 69. Francesco Gaddi gave Antonello Petrucci Lorenzo’s letter ‘sopra il facto del Serraglio’: F Gaddi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 26 Sept 1482, Sig, X, VIII, 63, 156-8. Gaddi and others in Naples are trying to get the S affair handed over to a judge: F Gaddi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 4 Oct 1482, Sig, X, VIII, 63, 160-1. Is finding it hard to extract from the Neapolitans the cash they owed him: 19 Jan 1485, G Lanfredini, Copialettere, BNF, II, V, 15, 204-5. Has a company with Carlo Borromei: 21 Jan 1485, Acq e Doni, 352, 179. Will bring Lorenzo a beautiful corsiere: 1 Sept 1485, G Lanfredini, Copialettere, BNF, II, V, 18, 61. Carlo Borromei asks Tommaso Capponi to arrest S: 10 Sept 1485, G Lanfredini, Copialettere, BNF, II, V, 18, 73. Lorenzo refers to Giovanni Lanfredini’s letter regarding the ‘facto nostro in AgnoloSerragli’: Lorenzo de’ Medici to N Michelozzi, 18 Sept 1485, Lettere, VIII, 285-6. Brings letters to the Dieci from Piero Capponi and Giovanni Lanfredini: 15 July 1486, Dieci, Miss, 7, 71-2.

Bibliog: De Roover, Rise and decline

 

Serragli, Bartolomeo di Agnolo

Refs: An Aretine elected notaio dei danni dati of Arezzo on condition that, in the first four of his six years in office, he carried out at his own expense certain repair works on fountains near Arezzo; the four years were up in Dec 1481, but because of plague and war he had not finished the work; he was allowed the final two years of his office to complete the work and must furnish adequate guarantors: 7-9 Feb 1482, Provv 172, 152; Lettere, V, 238-40.

 

Serragli, Benedetto

Career: Abbot of S Martino in Campo, c 1485.

Refs: Brother of Agnolo Serragli; supported Lorenzo in the Passignano affair; recommended by Giovanni Tornabuoni: 19 Mar 1485, MAP, 39, 109. Thanks Lorenzo for all he has done for him: 24 Mar 1485, MAP, 39, 191.

 

Serrazanella

Ref: Is coming to visit Lorenzo regarding the pratica: 25 Nov 1484, MAP, 39,391.

 

Serristori, Giovanni di Antonio di Salvestro c. 1414-1494

Career: Member of the Cambio guild. Original deputy for S Croce in the Balia, 1471. Podestà of Pisa, July 1472-Jan 1473. Sea consul, Jan-Mar 1474. Canal official, Mar 1475. Accoppiatore, 1477, 1484, 1491, 1494. Member of the Dieci di Balia, 1478-9, 1482-, 1486-. Member of the first half of the Council of 70, 1480, 1484. Master of the Zecca, Mar-Sept 1480. Member of the Otto di Pratica, Apr-Oct 1480, Apr-Oct 1481. One of the 12 Procuratori, Oct 1482-Apr 1483.

Refs: In the consulta S argued that, before raising new taxes and troops, he wanted to see what Florence’s allies would contribute: 29 May 1482, Min, 11, 365-7. A member of the Dieci departing on 26 Jan to visit Alfonso d’Aragona at Montepulciano: 25 Jan 1486, Dieci, Miss, 6, 10; 27 Jan 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 95. The Dieci’s commission to him and to Pier Filippo Pandolfini: 25 Jan 1486, Sig, X, VIII, 77, 223-4. Returned to Florence: 3 Feb 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 97-8.

 

Serristori, Ristoro d’Antonio b. c. 1424

Career: Provveditore of the consuls of Pisa, July 1454-July 1455. Patron of a western galley due to depart in Oct 1459. Gonfalonier of Justice, Sept/Oct 1470. Captain of the new citadel at Pisa, Nov 1475-May 1476. Accoppiatore, 1479. Member of second half of the Council of 70, 1480. One of the 12 Procuratori, Oct 1480-Apr 1481, Oct 1481-Apr 1482, Apr-Oct 1484. Captain of Pisa, Sept-Nov 1494. 1480 Catasto: sostanze 2,218 fl.

Refs: Sent as commissioner to Pietrasanta: 4 Dec 1484, Dieci, Delib, 24, 72-6. General commissioner at Pietrasanta: 3 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 17-18.

 

Severini, Francesco

Career: A leading Sienese political figure.

Refs: Has just arrived as Sienese ambassador to Naples: 19 Apr 1485, Dieci, Resp, 34, 38. Alfonso d’Aragona tells him to go to Siena so that no novità happen there: 2 Feb 1486, Dieci, Resp, 33, 276.

 

Severini, Roberto

Ref: Brother of Francesco Severini; Alfonso d’Aragona wants S to be hired by Florence: 11 Mar 1486, MAP, 45, 240.

 

Sfondrato, Battista di Francesco d. 1497

Career: A Cremonese lawyer who served as podestà of Milan in 1483 and obtained Milanese citizenship in 1487. There followed a series of diplomatic missions for the Sforza before his death at the age of thirty-seven.

Refs: One of the Milanese ambassadors to be sent to France: Z Saggi in Milan to Federico Gonzaga, 7 Oct 1483, ASMa, AG, 1628. Has been appointed envoy to the League in Cesena: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 2 Apr 1484, ASMa, cit. Milanese emissary in Ferrara; is now being sent to Rome as ambassador; he will then proceed to Naples as ambassador: 29 Sept 1484, MAP, 48, 53. Milanese ambassador in Ferrara: 27 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 291. Milanese ambassador to Rome: 19 Mar 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 507.

Bibliog: Cerioni, I, 229-30

 

Sforza, Ascanio, cardinal 1455-1505

Career: Fifth son of Francesco Sforza, duke of Milan, and of Bianca Maria Visconti; brother of Galeazzo Maria and Ludovico Sforza, dukes of Milan, and of Ippolita Sforza, duchess of Calabria. His first experience of exile from Milan after the assassination of Galeazzo Maria and his second exile, 1480-2, after Ludovico’s seizur eof power. He became considerably more significant after Sixtus IV made him a cardinal in 1484. Succeeded Rodrigo Borgia as vice-chancellor of the Church when Borgia became pope in 1492, but left Rome when Alexander allied with Louis XII, whose claim to the duchy of Milan rivalled that of the Sforza. Joined Ludovico in exile and in his ill-fated attempt to recover Milan. Captured by the Venetians after the siege of Novara and handed over to the French. Released from imprisonment in 1503 to assist the candidature of Cardinal d’Amboise in the conclave, but used his wealth and influence to advance the compromise election of Francesco Todeschini-Piccolomini. With the accession of Julius II he bided his time, waiting for a chance to strike at the French. In 1505 conspired to restore the Medici to Florence and evict the French from Milan. His own sudden death ruined the plot.

Refs: Arrested and exiled from Milan a second time: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 3 Mar 1480, ASMa, AG, 1627. Ercole d’Este has agreed to S coming to live in Ferrara at Bona’s request: E d’Este to Bentivoglio, 5 Mar 1480, Dallari, 38. His sister Ippolita says she visited Ferrara to urge him to obey their nephew the duke of Milan: F Sacramoro to Bona and G G Sforza, 1 Apr 1480, ASMi, SPE, Firenze, 299. Reference to a past affair concerning S, in which Gaspare Toscano was arrested and imprisoned and Roberto di Sanseverino put in charge of his examination: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 13 May 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 206-7. Pier Filippo Pandolfini does not know why Bona, after consulting Ludovico, sent Gian Giacomo Vismala to Ferrara, but suspects it has something to do with S: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 5 July 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 258. The reason for Vismala’s trip is apparently because Bona wants S to go and live at Naples: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 7 July 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 261-2. Lorenzo visited S today and so did Filippo Sacramoro; they talked only of domestic matters and Sacramoro thinks Vismala is keeping a good eye on him: F Sacramoro to Bona and G G Sforza, 30 July 1480, ASMi, SPE, Firenze, 300. S is getting restless in Florence: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 24 Aug 1480, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 2. Lorenzo wrote to S to congratulate him on his safe arrival in Florence: 16 Sept 1480, Prot, 117.

S is still in Ferrara but enjoying better treatment: Antonio d’Appiano to G G Sforza, 23 Jan 1481, ASMi, SPE, Ferrara, 326. Two Milanese emissaries visited Girolamo Riario with a message about S but were fobbed off: G Riario to G G Sforza, 6 Apr 1481, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 89. Milan is sending S to Naples and requests that he be greeted: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 27 Aug 1481, ASMo, cit. The Otto agree to see that S is accompanied through Florentine territory on his trip to Naples: Otto to T Ridolfi, 30 Aug 1481, Sig, Miss 1a Canc, 48, 243-4. S is leaving Ferrara and will be met on the frontier by Giovanni Bentivoglio: G F Salarolo to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 16 Sept 1481, MAP, 38, 326. S arrived here yesterday and was well received by Virginio Orsini and by Sixtus; today he left for Rome: B Castiglioni at Bracciano to Bona and G G Sorza, 28 Sept 1481, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 90.

Pandolfini has told Ippolita Sforza of Lorenzo’s efforts to secure S’s return from exile; Ippolita is also very anxious for this, as the division between her brothers is drawing ‘us’ closer to war: Ippolita Sforza d’Aragona to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 1 Apr 1482, MAP, 38, 435. Ludovico feared that S, like their sister, would be a tool of Ferrante’s schemes to control Milan: B Rucellai in Milan to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 2 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 104. The main commission of Ferrando dalla Cava, Ferrante’s envoy to Milan, concerned S; Ferrante expressed to Branda Castiglioni a great anxiety to see S restored, which has upset Ludovico; Castiglioni writes from Rome that Gaspare Toscano, who frequently travels between Naples and Rome on S’s behalf, is in Rome: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 9 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 112. Ferrando dalla Cava asked, among other things, that Milan give S a provisione of 12,000 ducats and that Toscano be allowed to return home; Ludovico refused the provisione, saying that all the Sforza brothers should be treated in the same way, but agreed that Toscano could return: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 12 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 118. Simone di Guerrerzo has been sent by Ferrante to Florence and Milan to explain about S: Ferrante to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 11 June 1482, MAP, 45, 108. Ferrante was very upset and Ippolita Sforza in tears about S’s departure: P Capponi in Naples to the Otto, 12 June 1482, Otto, Resp, 2, 404. S left Naples in disguise and has arrived at a Conti castle near Rome; he is expected in the city tomorrow: anonymous report from Rome to G G Sforza, 13 June 1482, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 91. A letter of 8 June from Ferrante to Ludovico Sforza says that S fled, claiming it was because he had nothing to live on; Ludovico is sending a copy of letter to all dependent signori, especially Federico Gonzaga; Ludovico told Zaccaria Saggi that Ferrante was behind S’s flight, because he wanted to change the stato in Milan; he seized a number of presumed supporters of S and Roberto di Sanseverino, and is trying to gain the support of others, particularly the Ghibelline citizens; Ludovico later told Saggi that S is asking for 50,000 ducats p a provisione and 200,000 in damages; Ludovico says an accord between them is impossible: Z Saggi in Milan to Federico Gonzaga, 18 June 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. Passed through here the other day: F Riccio from Alfonso d’Aragona’s camp at Grottaferrata to G G Sforza, 18 June 1482, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 239. S arrived in Rome yesterday and was paid much honour: S Ottieri and L Lanti in Rome to the Signoria of Siena, 20 June 1482, ASS, Conc, 2048, 76. Ludovico wrote to Ferrante, asking him to see that S returns to his place of exile; Ludovico appears to believe that Ferrante can do this: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 21 June 1482, ASMa, cit. It appears that Federico da Montefeltro has been saying that Ferrante deliberatly sent S northwards in order to bring about the overthrow of Ludovico and of Lorenzo: ------. S has warned Alfonso d’Aragona of a plot afoot to get his janissaries to desert to the papal side: F Ricchi at Grottaferrata to G G Sforza, 25 June 1482, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 239. S has apparently fled to Rome: Otto to B Rucellai, 27 June 1482, Min, 12, 355-6. Ludovico is being advised not to let S come to Milan at present, in case this causes a division in the stato; this is particularly undesirable in the present circumstances, though Ludovico is advised to try to come to an agreement with him; S seems ready for such an agreement, but wants to return to Milan; Ferrante sent Simone, a chancellor of Ippolita Sforza, who spoke to S and then went to see Ludovico, Federico da Montefeltro and others: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 30 June 1482, ASMa, cit.

Milan says Girolamo Riario has tried to turn S against his nephew the Milan: G G Sforza to Alfonso d’Aragona, 8 July 1482, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 91. S asked for a safeconduct from Rome to Venice via Pesaro, but Camilla Sforza refused: Otto to B Rucellai and P Capponi (identical letters), 31 July 1482, Min, 12, 446-7. The Venetian Senate agrees to spend 20 ducats a day on expenses to honour S’s arrival in Venice: 10 Aug 1482, ASV, Sen Terra, 8, 165. S should have arrived in Venice, where preparations have been made to receive him honourably; it is said he will go to consult Roberto di Sanseverino: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 15 Aug 1482, ASMa, cit. S arrived in Venice, but after a few days he left because he could not get what he wanted and made his way to Milan: 30 Aug 1482, Sanudo, Vite dei dogi, I, 286. Zaccaria Saggi thinks Milan asked for the comte de Ligny to be sent to give a pretext for bringing Bona back and trying to defuse the threat from S: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 4 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. A Milanese spy reported seeing S at Padua, that he was expected in Brescia and that was Venice giving him 1,000 horse: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 8 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. Ludovico has been hinting at a great scheme just coming to completion; it will show him to be a ‘prudentissimo S.re’; does he mean an agreement with S, even though this would not be significant enough to fit his hints?: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 12 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. Ludovico sent Pietro da Birago and Ugolotto Crivelli to Trezzo to see S; Saggi cannot believe that S is to be admitted to Milan, for he is feared even more inside the city than outside: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 13 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. Seven councillors will go to Trezzo tomorrow to negotiate with S; if an agreement is reached they will being him back to Milan: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 14 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. S has recognised that the Venetians cannot reconcile him to his family; he has asked for reconciliation and obtained it: G G Sforza to the Milanese ambassadors, 17 Sept 1482, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 240. S is quite happy to agree to come to Milan at the discretion of the duke and Ludovico Sforza; he arrived in the city today with the seven councillors: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 17 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit; Dieci to B Rucellai, 21 Sept 1482, Dieci, LC, 5, 2-4. Ludovico never believed S would agree to come to Milan with so few conditions; he would not have sent the seven councillors if he had thought so; Ludovico has been avoiding S, pretending to be ill: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 20 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. S stays ‘in corte’ and does not go to the castello very often; he is not trying to take part in government, but leaves everything to Ludovico: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 22 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. Rumours that S has been promised 12,000 ducats p a and revenue from benefices: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 24 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. S’s affairs have not been settled: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 29 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit.

S’s provisione has not yet been settled; he does not want to accept less than his brothers had; Ludovico Sforza is beginning to bring him into affairs a little; he says he only came to Milan under the guarantee of Vercellino Visconti, who is backing him: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 5 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. Bona returned to Milan, met by Ludovico, the duke and S: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 19 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. If Ludovico pays a surprise visit to Mantua, as Saggi believes he may, he will bring S: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 1 Nov 1482, ASMa, cit. In a discussion at Alfonso d’Aragona’s camp with Giordano Orsini, it was decided that Girolamo Riario should be asked to favour S’s promotion to the Sacred College: G F Cagnola at S Lorenzo to G G Sforza, 14 Nov 1482, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 241. Ludovico and S have gone hunting for a few days, to avoid business and demands for money: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 18 Nov 1482, ASMa, cit. They have now returned: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 23 Nov 1482, ASMa, cit. S’s promotion was raised in the peace negotiations, but could not be formally written in: G G Sforza to G A Sangiorgio, 5 Dec 1482, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 92. Milan does not want S’s promotion to be forgotten in the peace terms: G G Sforza to B Castiglioni, 22 Dec 1482, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 241. Is going to chat with Ludovico: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 22 Jan 1483, ASMa, AG, 1628. Ludovico is taking S with him to Cremona, while leaving Filippo Sforza in charge in Milan: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 31 Jan 1483, ASMa, cit. Is with Ludovico in discussions at Viadana with Bartolomeo Maraschi, Francesco and Federico Gonzaga and Francesco Secco: E Malatesta at Viadana to F Gonzaga, 20 Feb 1483, Secco d’Aragona, Giornale, 325. Is acting as go-between for Ludovico’s council while Ludovico is at Cassino, refusing to see anyone: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 8 July 1483, ASMa, cit. Ludovico is sending an envoy to Rome to urge once again that S be made a cardinal: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 20 Nov 1483, ASMa, cit. He has been made a cardinal, although the other cardinals are said to be not too pleased: G A Vespucci to the Dieci, 17 Mar 1484, Dieci, Resp, 27, 159. Ludovico and Gian Galeazzo Sforza returned to Milan from Vigevano to welcome S on his triumphal entry into the city: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 28 Mar 1484, ASMa, cit. S thanks Federico Gonzaga for his kind letter, recalling support he had given S in more difficult times: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 2 Apr 1484, ASMa, cit. Is getting ready to go to Rome; Ludovico is trying to speed him on his way; some of those who have been asked to accompany him have been refused, but his household alone provides an honourable suite: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 6 Apr 1484, ASMa, cit. S is being urged to go to Rome; Girolamo Riario says he will not leave Rome until S arrives there: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 7 May 1484, ASMa, cit. None of the Milanese citizens who have been told to accompany S want to go: M Contughi in Milan to E Malatesta, 10 May 1484, ASMa, cit. Will not leave for Rome before Sept: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 30 May 1484, ASMa, cit. Is accompanying Ludovico as far as Pavia and then returning to Milan: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 28 June 1484, ASMa, cit. Is exercising the same powers in Milan as Ludovico does when he is there: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 11 July 1484, ASMa, cit.

S does not want another Milanese to have greater authority than him in the Church, so will not back Cardinal Arcimboldi for the papacy: 14 Aug 1484, MAP, 39, 285. Guidantonio Vespucci thinks that if S and Cardinal d’Aragona unite they may make whoever they want pope: 24 Aug 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 73. Wants to exclude the followers of Venice in the conclave: 24 Aug 1484, MAP, 39, 295. Cardinal Borgia tried to persuade S to vote for Cardinal Margarit; then, when Giuliano della Rovere built up a coalition of Cardinals Riario-Sansoni, Orsini and Colonna behind Cardinal Cibo, S – incited to this by Sclafenati, who is very influential with him – put his weight behind Cibo so that he would owe the papacy to him: 29 Aug 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 93. Appears to want Arcimboldi for pope and to have persuaded Borgia of this; he and Cardinal d’Aragona are quite agreed about who they do not want, not about who they do: 25 Aug 1484, MAP, 39, 296. S saw that it was not possible to get Borgia elected, so with d’Aragona he fixed an accord between Riario-Sansoni and Orsini, on one hand, and Giuliano della Rovere, and then persuaded Borgia to back Cibo; S is getting Girolamo Riario’s house as part of the deal; the election of Cibo is entirely attributed to S: 29 Aug 1484, MAP, 39, 302a. Received the Bolognese legation, renounced by Giuliano Della Rovere, and gave it to Cardinal Savelli; Innocent gave the legation to the Patrimony to Cardinal Sclafenati, who gave it to S; S is also receiving Girolamo Riario’s house: 29 Aug 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 93. His dealings with Roberto di Sanseverino before the peace of Bagnolo was concluded made Ludovico Sforza suspicious; S’s Ghibelline sympathies: 30 Aug 1484, MAP, 48, 32. Has the legation to the Patrimony: 30 Aug 1484, MAP, 39, 306. His resentment towards Cardinal Riario-Sansoni: 31 Aug 1484, MAP, 39, 307. Joined forces with Cardinals d’Aragona and Giuliano della Rovere to block a Venetian candidate for the papacy: 31 Aug 1484, G Lanfredini, Copialettere, BNF, II, V, 15, 128. His was the principal role in Innocent’s election: 2 Sept 1484, MAP, 48, 36. Received the votes of Cardinal Nardini, Arcimboldi and Sclafenati throughout conclave: 4 Sept 1484, MAP, 48, 37. Joined with Cardinal d’Aragona and Borgia to ensure ‘che per la prima mattina non si facessi il Papa per acessioni di voci’; persuaded Cardinals Orsini and Savelli to back his plan to have Cibo elected pope; alsopersuaded d’Aragona and Borgia; will retain the legation to the Patrimony: 4 Sept 1484, MAP, 48, 37. Accepted the invitation of Cardinals Orsini and Savelli to settle the Orsini-Colonna dispute: 9 Sept 1484, MAP, 48, 43. Played the most important part Cibo’s election: 13 Sept 1484, MAP, 39, 325. Persuaded Cardinal Domenico della Rovere to cede S Stefano in Pace to Lorenzo for Giovanni de’ Medici: 16 Sept 1484, MAP, 39, 329. The danger of S making a deal with Filippo degli Eustachi to the detriment of Ludovico Sforza: 19 Sept 1484, MAP, 48, 50. Giuliano della Rovere says S showed he favoured some of Girolamo Riario’s demands: 25 Sept 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 213. The Otto are delighted with his letter to Innocent backing Florence over the Sarzana issue: 3 Oct 1484, Otto, Miss, 3, 99-100. His suspicions of Giovan Francesco Oliva: 18 Oct 1484, ASMi, SPE, Roma. His opposition to Giovanni della Rovere receiving the captaincy of the Church: 2 Nov 1484, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 96. Tries to get Girolamo Riario made captain of the Church: 12 Nov 1484, G Lanfredini, Copialettere, BNF, II, V, 15, 173. Piero de’ Medici is to recommend the Medici family to S: Lorenzo de’ Medici to Piero de’ Medici, 26 Nov 1484, Lettere, VIII, 74.

S’s deal with the Martelli family: 3 Jan 1485, MAP, 48, 279. A Spaniard in S’s house warns Florence of an impending attack against Siena: 20 Feb 1485, MAP, 39, 89. Guidantonio Vespucci writes to him regarding the Passignano affair: 12 Mar 1485, MAP, 39, 103. Describes the Genoese as subjects of Milan: 8 Apr 1485, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 97. With regard to the movements of Gaspare di Sanseverino, S told Guidantonio Vespucci that Florence’s problems with Genoa are the root cause of everything, and said he feared Roberto di Sanseverino will attack Siena; Vespucci fears that the affairs of Genoa are so important both to Giuliano della Rovere and to S that they would allow anything to happen to avoid a threat to it: 17 Apr 1485, Dieci, Resp, 34, 32. Sent a message to Filippo delgi Eustachi and was prevented by Ludovico Sforza from coming to Milan; Venice appreciates the danger to the Milanese regime his visit might have caused: 18 June 1485, ASV, Dieci, Misti, 22, 184. The Venetian cardinals declare to S that they were no longer subject to Venice but had obligations only to the Holy See: 24 June 1485, ASMi, cit. Lorenzo’s letter to S stressing that Florence had never refused a settlement of the Sarzana question: 11 July 1485, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 98. Pressed Florence to restore to Guidantonio Vespucci power to negotiate: 16 July 1485, Otto, Miss, 3, 152-3. As legate to Bologna: 18 July 1485, ASMi, cit. S’s letter to Lorenzo regarding a possible accord over Sarzana: 22 July 1485, ASMi, cit. S writes to Lorenzo regarding Innocent’s decision over the accord between Florence and Genoa: 29 July 1485, Otto, Miss, 3, 155-6. His request that Leonardo Botta be allowed to return to Rome to serve him in a private capacity: 8 Dec 1485, MAP, 26, 495. The Otto ask him to persuade Cardinal Sclafenati to lift the interdict on the church of S Maria Impruneta: 20 Apr 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 184-5. Theodosio, S’s mandato, arrived at the League camp: 6 June 1486, Dieci, Miss, 7, 49-50. S as one of the participants in the papal peace initiative: 8 June 1486, MAP, 48, 350. The three capitoli that Lorenzo tells Piero Capponi he must insist on before accepting the compromesso being pushed by S: 19 June 1486, MAP, 39, 524. The Dieci approve the line Capponi takes in his letter to Lorenzo regarding S’ s compromesso: 26 June 1486, Dieci, Miss, 7, 61. His role in the compromesso proposed between the League and Innocent: 27 June 1486, Dieci, Miss, 7, 61-3. His familiar visits Florence en route to Milan: 7 July 1486, Otto, Miss, 5, 18. Not used in the peace negotiations to prevent him acquiring too much repute and because he wanted just conditions: 18 Aug 1486, MAP, 39, 546.

Bibliog: Cerioni, I, 230-1; M Pellegrini, Ascanio Maria Sforza

 

Sforza, Bianca Maria 1472-1510

Career: Daughter of Galeazzo Maria, duke of Milan, and Bona of Savoy; m (1) Philibert, duke of Savoy, in 1476, (2) Emperor Maximilian in 1494.

Ref: Negotiations for a marriage between S, widow of the duke of Savoy, and the illegitimate son of Matthias Corvinus: 8 Apr 1485, Dieci, Resp, 34, 11. More on this, a sign of the close ties her uncle Ludovico was forging with Hungary: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 1 Aug 1485, MAP, 51, 330.

 

Sforza, Bona (Bona of Savoy) 1449-1503

Career: Daughter of Louis, duke of Savoy, and Anne of Lusignan. On the death of her mother in 1462 she was sent to the court of Queen Charlotte, wife of Louis XI of France. m Galeazzo Maria Sforza, duke of Milan, in 1468. Mother of Gian Galeazzo Maria (1469-1494), duke of Milan, Ermes (1470-1503), Bianca Maria (1472-1510) and Anna Sforza (1473-1497, m Alfonso d’Este in 1491). After the murder of Galeazzo Maria on 26 Dec 1476, Bona became regent for her son Gian Galeazzo, with Cicco Simonetta as her principal adviser; Bona and Gian Galeazzo were styled as ‘the dukes’ and nominally ruled together. The late duke’s brothers, Sforza and Ludovico, returned from France with Roberto di Sanseverino and the Ghibelline nobility to get rid of Simonetta. Their first attempt failed. Antonio Tassini emerged as Bona’s ‘lover’ and was opposed by Simonetta. In Sept 1479 Ludovico entered Milan and Simonetta was arrested. Bona remained regent, but power slipped into the hands of Tassini and Ludovico. In Oct 1480 she lost control over her son and retired to her castle of Abbiategrasso in Nov. She was refused permission to go to her native Savoy and lauched plots against Ludovico in early 1481 and Dec 1483. After Louis XI applied pressure, she was allowed to return to Milan in Sept 1482, but was again dispatched to Abbiategrasso after the 1483 plot. From 1495 she lived in France and moved to Savoy in 1500.

Refs: Mentioned in the league signed between Sixtus, Naples, Milan and Florence, 13 Mar 1480: Lettere, V, 280 and 284-6. S’s authority seems to be growing daily, although she might not have ‘ quello consiglio’ necessary for so much power; S is anxious for Ercole d’Este, of whom she thinks very highly, to receive an increased condotta and the title of captain of the League; she was displeased with the request from Naples for a condotta for Alfonso d’Aragona, though willing to accept it on certain terms: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 2 Apr 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 169-71. S is suspicious of Ferrante and suggested that Lorenzo be an intermediary between them to convey her thoughts on such matters as the condotte; she is against Florence’s policy of hiring Giovan Francesco di Sanseverino; Milanese policy is very variable, ‘qui non sono persono se non lei [Bona] o chi lei vuole’: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 8 Apr 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 176-9. Arranged a marriage between Francesco Gonzaga and Isabella d’Este [announced 15 May 1480]: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 13 Apr 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 179-80. On her care for and confidence in Lorenzo: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 15 and 21 Apr 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 181-2 and 186-8. S wants Florence to employ Pietro dal Verme, who has married Chiara, an illegitimate daughter of her late husband, because Milan cannot afford to do so: Bona and G G Sforza to F Sacramoro, 17 Apr 1480, ASMi, SPE, Firenze, 299. Antonio Tassini ‘del tutto la [S’s] governo’: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 19 Apr 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 184-6. She sends copies of all her foreign correspondence to Ferrara for Ercole d’Este’s advice: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 22 Apr and 3 May 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 188-9 and 194-5.

S is reluctant for Roberto di Sanseverino to gain Ercole d’Este’s old position of captain of Florence and Milan: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo, de’ Medici, 7 May 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 199-200. S wants to control everything and at times no one can talk with her without Antonio Tassini’s mediation; she sees all letters from outside before anyone else; Pier Filippo Pandolfini suggested she should trust Ludovico Sforza more and give him more authority; she still had great faith in Lorenzo, but is a woman and changeable: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 13 May 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 206-7. Giovanni Battista Bentivoglio, the Neapolitan orator at Milan, thought that Girolamo Riario’s agent, Fra Tomino, had begun to develop an understanding with S, but that it had been broken off when his first visit to Milan was concluded and now she ‘vadi a buon camino’: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 22 May 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 215-16. Letter of recommendation for Francesco Gaddi: Lorenzo de’ Medici to B Sforza, 24 May 1480, Lettere, V, 24-5. Antonio Tassini is trying with some success to persuade Bona to move to Pavia: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 3 June 1480, Otto, Resp, 1, 15-16. S has given every sign of being firmly attached to Lorenzo and to Ercole d’Este and of having considerable suspicion of Naples; however, she suspected that Lorenzo might be negotiating secretly with Alfonso d’ Aragona to give him a larger provisione than Ercole: P F Pandolfini to ------, 20 June 1480, ------. S has shown concern for Florence’s affairs, meaning the restitution of the towns claimed by Siena: P F Pandolfini to the Otto, 20 June 1480, ------. S was extremely angry with Ferrante when she realised that Fra Tomino’s second visit to Milan was encouraged by Naples: P F Pandoflini to the Otto, 19 July 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 273-4. Mentioned in the text of the League signed between Naples, Milan, Florence and Ferrara, 25 July 1480: Lettere, V, 291, 293-4 and 296-7.

Mentioned in the accord for the restituion of Poggibonsi, Colle Val d’Elsa and Monte S Savino, 29 Mar 1481: Lettere, V, 302 and 307. Francesco Gaddi, Florentine ambassador to France, put in a good word for S to Louis XI, as many had asked him to do, but the king replied that he would not interfere in Milan as long as Ludovico Sforza behaved himself: F Gaddi at Tours to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 8 Apr 1481, MAP, 38, 132. Louis did send Ludovico a note saying he was prepared to favour him in the government of Milan provided he treated S properly: F Gaddi at Tours to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 13 Apr 1481, MAP, 38, 140. A messenger from S arrived, had a short audience with Louis, and then disappeared; no one knows what it was about: F Gaddi at Tours to the Otto, 17 Aug 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 422. S’s emissary has returned to Italy after telling of her discontent: F Gaddi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 4 Sept 1481, Sig, X, VIII, 75, 53-4. Gaddi does not think that Louis takes much account of S’s complaint: F Gaddi to T Ridolfi, 18 Sept 1481, Sig, X, VIII, 75, 55-6. Gian Galeazzo Sforza has arrested Antonio della Torre, S’s emissary to France: T Ridolfi in Milan to the Otto, 3 Oct 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 2, 4 and 5. Ludovico visited S yesterday and was apparently well received by her: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 11 Oct 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 14-15. The seneschal of Savoy has been refused permission to visit S, but Piero da Pusterla and Pier Francesco Visconti have gone to her with a large guard; Antonio della Torre, her servant, was arrested, and some chests of jewels and silver seized and sent to Milan; the plan seems to be to force her to return there; Louis does not seem very upset by this: F Gaddi at Tours to the Otto, 12 Oct 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 18. Although Louis pretends not to care very much about what happens to S, he has secretly taken offence and may well take some action: F Gaddi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 12 Oct 1481, Sig, X, VIII, 75, 57-8. Two ambassadors from Savoy have excused the action of Mons de ‘Meliolan’ [‘Miolans’], the seneschal; he had not intended to take S away, merely visit her: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 18 Oct 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 23-4. Ugo di Sanseverino is said to have started a pratica in Austria to restore her: G G Sforza to E d’Este, 21? Oct 1481, ASMi, SPE, Ferrara, 326. The Savoyard ambassadors were treated kindly and reassured about S: T Ridolfi in Milan to the Otto, 22 Oct 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 29. There seems to be a plan to marry S to Sigismund of Austria: F Gaddi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 23 Oct 1481, Sig, X, VIII, 75, 58-9. Four Savoyard ambassadors have arrived to seek assurances that S will be well treated: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 8 Nov 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 4--1. Philippe [de Bresse] has been to see Louis XI about his sister, S, ‘ma il Re non mostra d’essersene riscaldato molto’: F Gaddi at Tours to the Otto, 11 Nov 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 44. Gaddi informed Louis of S’s imminent return to Milan; Philippe de Commynes later told Gaddi that Louis had heard S was far from content and had been forbidden to write letters; although Louis is not showing it, he is very annoyed at this and may act, especially as he is very attached to Roberto di Sanseverino and knows of his breach with Ludovico: F Gaddi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 12 Nov 1481, Sig, X, VIII, 75, 59-61. Louis has asked that S be allowed to leave Milan for France; the Milanese plan to persuade her not to do so, using the disturbances in Piedmont as an excuse: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 1 Dec 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 71-2. S says she has no intention of leaving the state in spite of the French invitation: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 5 Dec 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 87.

Ludovico Sforza has just returned from Bia, where he visited S: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 29 Jan 1482, Otto, Resp, 2, 209-10. The mandate of Bernardo Rucellai, Tommaso Ridolfi’s replacement at Milan, dated 3 Feb 1482, instructs him to consult with Ludovico on the appropriate way to present his letter of credence to S. Ludovico said he wanted a reconciliation with S and to bring her back to Milan, but she was proving obstinate; so he intended to let things rest, hoping she would change her mind, particularly as Louis did not seem anxious to press her cause: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 20 Feb 1482, MAP, 20, 100. On his arrival, Rucellai had told Ludovico of Lorenzo’ s feeling that, if possible, S should be brought back to Milan; nothing had been done; perhaps Rucellai should raise the matter again, or Lorenzo might write: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 16 Mar 1482, MAP, 51, 89. ‘Iseppe del S.re Roberto’ traced the origin of the Roberto/Ludovico rift to the former’s desire to please France by bringing S into active participation in government again: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 7 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 107. Louis XI has taken great offence at Ludovico’s usurpation and intends to send someone to restore S; this is because of what Gaspare di Sanseverino said: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 16 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 123. Louis’ man was Lorenzo Patevino, who arrived in Milan c 19 Apr and demanded that S be ‘freed’ and her jewels restored: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 25 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 128. This envoy apparently reached an agreement over a settlement for S: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 28 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 129. The Otto are sure that Ludovico can handle the French embassy and that the affair of S will have a ‘quieto et tranquillo exito’: Otto to B Rucellai, 6 May 1482, Min, 12, 242-3. Sixtus and Girolamo Riario hope that France will try to restore S to Milan: Otto to B Rucellai, 6 May 1482, Min, 12, 242-3; G A Vespucci to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 8 May 1482, MAP, 38, 446.

The French envoy, S’s nephew the comte de Ligny, demanded the restoration of S to government and of her property to her; he was told that she left Milan of her own accord; she cannot come back on terms discussed two years before, and if she does return, must ensure her retinue behaves properly: -- Sept 1482, BNF, II, IV, 311, 60. De Ligny should arrive in Milan tomorrow; Zaccaria Saggi thinks Milan asked for him to be sent to give a pretext for bringing S back and to try to defuse threat from Ascanio Sforza: Z Saggi in Milan to Federico Gonzaga, 4 Sept 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. De Ligny is pressing hard for S; he was told that she can come to stay with her son, but must choose her servants carefully and that, as the duke is now fourteen, he is old enough to sign letters alone, according to Milanese custom: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 11 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. The French ambassadors are trying hard on behalf of S, but there is no settlement yet: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 29 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. S accepted all the conditions demanded of her, because she wants to return to Milan: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 9 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. Ludovico hinted to Saggi that S was coming to Milan: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 11 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. Ludovico left Milan to bring S back to the city; they should arrive tomorrow; rooms have been prepared for her in the rocca: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 17 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. S returned to Milan yesterday and was met by Ludovico, Duke Gian Galeazzo and Ascanio; she is very glad to be back and has promised not to interfere in government: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 19 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. A French envoy has come to Milan to discuss her affairs, it is said: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 17 Nov 1483, ASMa. Luigi and Pacino da Vimercato have confessed to plotting to kill Ludovico and restore S with the help of Roberto di Sanseverino: B Buongirolami to the Dieci, 5 Jan 1484, Dieci, Resp, 27, 15-16. Ludovico clearly believes that S is mixed up in a plot against him: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 6 Jan 1484, ASMa, AG, 1628. Three ambassadors from Savoy have come to Milan to ask for S to be allowed to go to Savoy, where she would be given a new husband; Ludovico said he did not want her to leave Milan: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 3 Feb 1484, ASMa, cit. Two Savoyard envoys are in Milan to seek concessions for S and recover 15,000 ducats she lent to the duke of Savoy: F Gaddi in Milan to N Michelozzi, 7 Feb 1484, MAP, 96, 141. Her attempts to get cash and jewels out of Lombardy: 27 Jan 1485, MAP, 48, 282.

 

Sforza, Camilla (Corella da Marzano)

Career: Daughter of Giovanni Francesco Mariano, duke of Sessa; m Costanzo Sforza, vicar/signore of Pesaro, in 1475. After Costanzo’s death, Camilla was regent for his illegitimate son Giovanni Sforza from 1483 to 1489.

Refs: Has refused Ascanio Sforza’s request for a safeconduct through Pesaro as he travelled from Rome to Venice: Otto to B Rucellai and P Capponi (identical letters), 31 July 1482, Min, 12, 446-7; Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 1 Aug 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. After Costanzo Sforza’s death, the people of Pesaro called for her to act as regent for Costanzo’s natural son, Giovanni: Dieci to G A Vespucci, 21 July 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 412-13. She clearly has great faith in Ottaviano Ubaldini, who has repulsed Luca Pisani, sent by Venice to try to take over Pesaro: Dieci to B Rucellai, ?25 July 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 468-9 and 474. Reports that Ercole Bentivoglio has written to say he is ready to adhere to the League [though he was already in Florentine service], but wants Giovanni Sforza to be invested with Pesaro and have a condotta; S has sent ambassadors to Sixtus ‘come suo feudatario’: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 29 July 1483, ASMo, cit. With Giovanni Sforza, S is to be invested with Pesaro for a payment of 4,000 ducats and census of 1,500: G A Vespucci to the Dieci, 3 Nov 1483, Dieci, Resp, 29, 277-8. S says she is very grateful to Milan for settlement of her affairs: S Taverna in Pesaro to G G Sforza, 19 Nov 1483, ASMi, SPE, Firenze, 308. Alfonso d’Aragona proposes she should marry Gian Giacomo Trivulzio: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 23 July 1484, ASMo, cit.

Nominated as collegato and aderente of Milan after the peace of Bagnolo: 4 Oct 1484, Libri commemoriali, V, 289. Nominated by Venice among its post-Bagnolo collegati and aderenti: 22 Oct 1484, Libri commemoriali, V, 291. The Dieci send Antonio Francesco Sinibaldi to S and Giovanni Sforza to recover some mules: 2 Nov 1484, Dieci Delib, 24, 64-6. S and Giovanni reject Venice’s nomination of them on the grounds that they are tied to the papacy by political necessity: 29 Nov 1484, Libri commemoriali, V, 294. The Otto ask S and Giovanni to tell Bartolomeo Mancini to agree to the adjudication of the case of the mulattieri in one of the towns suggested by the Otto: 26 Dec 1484, Otto, Miss, 4, 59-60. S and Giovanni Sforza thank the Dieci for offering them protection together with the other powers of the League: 4 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 24. S has the government of Pesaro in her hands; Innocent thinks that marriage negotiations between her and one of the sons of Roberto di Sanseverino may well come to fruition as S has no protection from anyone; Innocent argues that Naples or Milan should hire her: -- Apr 1485, Dieci, Resp, 34, 49-50. More on these negotiations: 29 Apr 1485, Dieci, Resp, 34, 75. S and Giovanni Sforza write to Lorenzo regarding the release of Francesco Giugni from prison: 7 Aug 1486, MAP, 39, 528. At Lorenzo’s recommendation, S and Giovanni agree to appoint Donato Giannerini of Arezzo as podestà of Pesaro: 12 Sept 1486, MAP, 39, 561.

 

Sforza, Carlo 1458-1483

Career: Illegitimate son of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, duke of Milan; m Bianca, daughter of Angelo Simonetta.

Refs: Has been recalled from the Ferrarese; quarrelled with Gian Francesco Gonzaga?: Z Saggi in Milan to Federico Gonzaga, 9 Oct 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. Arrived in Milan today; told Ludovico Sforza that Mantuan troops had not been active against Venice: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 15 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. Ludovico now says he does not really believe what S ‘busardo & homo legero’ says: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 19 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. Has died of fever: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 10 May 1483, ASMa, AG, 1628.

 

Sforza, Caterina 1462-1509

Career: Illegitimate daughter of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, duke of Milan, by Lucrezia Landriani. m (1) Girolamo Riario, in 1477, (2) Giacomo Fea (1468-1495), in 1494 (3) Giovanni ‘il Popolano’ de’ Medici (1467-1498), in 1497. By her first husband she was the mother of of Bianca, Ottaviano, Cesare, Giovanni Livio, Francesco Sforzino and Galeazzo Riario. By her third husband she was the mother of the condottiere Giovanni ‘delle bande nere’ de’ Medici (1498-1526, m Maria, daughter of Jacopo Salviati and Lucrezia de’ Medici). Vigorously defended Girolamo Riario’s state in the Romagna after his assassination in 1488. In 1500 Cesare Borgia took Forlì and imprisoned Caterina in Castel S Angelo. Her later years were spent in Florence.

Refs: The entry into Forlì of Girolamo Riario and S: Antonio d’Appiano to G G Sforza, 15 July 1481, ASMi, SPE, Romagna, 192. Left Imola on 4 Sept: Antonio d’Appiano to G G Sforza, 7 Sept 1481, ASMi, cit. Has asked Galeotto Manfredi for permission for Girolamo Riario to pass through his lands; Manfredi replied that, when given more notice, he would come out and do him the proper honours: Galeotto Manfredi at Faenza to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 14 Oct 1481, MAP, 38, 178. Alfonso d’Aragona says that, if Sixtus is sincere in his negotiations, he must give hostages, S and her children: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 8 July 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. Refuses to go to Naples, as promised, as security for peace: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 8 Dec 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. With Girolamo Riario, S left for Forlì on Tuesday: Sienese ambassadors in Rome to the Balia of Siena, 31 May 1483, ASS, Balia, 510, 97. S went into Castel S Angelo while Riario moved his army away from Rome, so that the conclave could proceed: 15 Aug 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 36. For security reasons Riario put S in Castel S Angelo: 18 Aug 1484, MAP, 39, 289.

 

Sforza, Costanzo 1447-1483

Career: Son of the condottiere Alessandro Sforza, vicar/signore of Pesaro, and of Costanza da Varano of Camerino; m Camilla (known as Corella) Marzano in 1475, after having inherited the vicariate of Pesaro in 1473. As a condottiere, Costanzo fought for his papal master against Pandolfo Malatesta in 1463, with Bartolomeo Colleoni for Venice against Florence and Milan in 1467, and for the Church against Niccolò Vitelli in 1474-5. In the Pazzi War of 1479 he saw action for Florence against Sixtus and Naples, after which he remained in Florentine employment – as captain-general – until early 1483 in the northern theatres of the War of Ferrara. In May 1483 he defected to become Venetian governor-general, but died at Pesaro two months later.

Refs: Florence would never desert S or his state, although the peace terms did not contain a guarantee of his security: Dieci to C Sforza, 22 Mar 1480, ------, Palat, 1091, 86-7. Had sent Antonio da Pesaro to Lorenzo to see how his affairs stood and Lorenzo advised him ‘ad starne de bene vollia e securo’: F Sacramoro to Bona and G G Sforza, before 29 Mar 1480, ASMi, SE, Firenze, 299. Ferrante suggested the League’s orators at Rome ask Sixtus to guarantee the security of the signori of the Romagna; Milan wanted Ferrante’s opinion on how the League should protect S if Sixtus refused, to include him as a collegato or find some other way: Bona and G G Sforza to F Sacramoro, 24 Mar 1480, ASMi, cit. The Milanese and Florentine orators at Rome certainly received instructions to ask Sixtus to forgive the signori and guarantee their security; Milan wrote to S reassuring him and he replied that he was content and felt protected: F Sacramoro to Bona and G G Sforza, 1 Apr 1480, ASMi, cit. Ferrante replied that S’s nomination (as a collegato) must wait until he could persuade Sixtus: F Sacramoro to Bona and G G Sforza, 3 Apr 1480, ASMi, cit. Ferrante and Lorenzo are anxious for S to go to Rome for a reconciliation with Sixtus: Bona and G G Sforza to F Sacramoro, 5 Apr 1480, ASMi, cit. Bona was not happy about pressing S to do this, as she was aware of the hatred between S and Girolamo Riario and of Federico da Montefeltro’s cunning: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 2 and 5 Apr, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 169-71 and 173; Bona and G G Sforza to F Sacramoro, 5 Apr 1480, ASMi, cit. Bona cancelled this when S replied that he would do anything to avoid going to Rome and she decided not to press him further: Bona and G G Sforza to F Sacramoro, 6 Apr 1480, ASMi, cit; P F Pandolfini in Milan to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 6 Apr 1480, MAP, 34, 307. The hatred between S and Girolamo Riario; Anello Arcamone’s report to Ferrante of Riario’ s complaints about S: F Sacramoro to Bona and G G Sforza, 18-22 Apr 1480, ASMi, cit. Bona poured scorn on any idea of a threat to S if he went to Rome: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 21 Apr 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 186-8. Florence nominated S as a confederate: Otto to P Nasi, 7 June 1480, Sig, Miss 1a Canc, 48, 66-7 and 72-4; Otto, LC, 1, 22-5. Milan urges Florence to make S captain-general: Bona and G G Sforza to the Signoria of Florence, 26 July 1480, Sig, Resp, copiari, 2, 154. Filippo Sacramoro pressed Florence about S’s appointment as captain-general but was fobbed off, though he thought that Lorenzo was favourable: F Sacramoro to Bona and G G Sforza, 5 Aug 1480, ASMi, SPE, Firenze, 300. Ferrante did not accept this nomination until much later: Otto to P Nasi, 2 Sept 1480, Sig, Miss, 1a Canc, 48, 137 and 142-4. S complains about his lack of pay from Florence: C Sforza to Bona and G G Sforza, 8 and 12 Dec 1480, ASMi, SPE, Marca, 150.

With the backing of Federico da Montefeltro, S has proposed a way of paying his census to Rome in instalments: C Sforza at Pesaro to G G Sforza, 31 Jan 1481, ASMi, SPE, Marca, 150. A detailed complaint about Florence’s treatment of him: C Sforza to G G Sforza, 13 Mar 1481, ASMi, cit. Milan has protested to Florence about her treatment of S: G G Sforza to C Sforza, 24 Mar 1481, ASMi, cit. Further complaints from S; Florence must act: G G Sforza to F Sacramoro, 10 Apr 1481, ASMi, SPE, Firenze, 302. S complains and threatens to seek service elsewhere: C Sforza to G G Sforza, 17 Apr 1481, ASMi, SPE, Marca, 150. S’s complaints about Florentine treatment of him: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 6 May 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 204-5. Florence decided to dismiss S retroactively to the end of Apr 1481; Ludovico Sforza was very upset at this, saying his recommendation had been ignored; Tommaso Ridolfi regarded this as a crisis in relations between Milan and Florence: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 11 May 1481, MAP, 61, 130. Further complains about S’s treatment from one of the governors, who pointed out that he might join the Venetians; Ridolfi had apparently given hope that Florence might change her mind: T Ridolfi in Milan to the Otto, 12 May 1481, MAP, 38, 220. Milan was prepared to employ S: T Ridolfi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 19 May 1481, Sig, X, VIII, 4, 37. Ludovico Sforza is very anxious to get a settlement for S along the lines Ridolfi wrote about on 12 May; Ridolfi favours Milan and Florence sharing S: T Ridolfi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 21 May 1481, Sig, X, VIII, 4, 38-9; MAP, 48, 77. Following the Otto’s instructions, Ridolfi told the duke of Milan that Florence was seeking a way round the Costanzo problem, but the financial stringency was really very great: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 21 May 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 244. Ludovico has continued to badger Ridolfi about S: T Ridolfi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 22 May 1481, MAP, 48, 76; Sig, X, VIII, 4, 39-40. S complains about the decision taken in Florence: C Sforza to G G Sforza, 29 May 1481, ASMi, SPE, Marca, 150. Florence cannot change her mind about S, as her people will not support all the expense; the pressures of the past year have made it impossible for Florence to meet all her commitments; Milan knows where the root of the trouble lies and Florence hopes they can help her in this: Otto to T Ridolfi, early June 1481, Min, 11, 329-30 and 338. S is in danger because he has not paid his census; what was done for Galeotto Manfredi must also be done for S, who can pay neither his troops nor his census unless Florence pays him his provisione; immediate action is imperative: G G Sforza to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 2 June 1481, MAP, 45, 197. Tommaso Ridolfi communicated the Otto’s good intentions about S in their letter of 30 May: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 4 June 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 306-7. Ludovico fears that S will take service with Venice; a Venetian commissary is at Pesaro: T Ridolfi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 7 June 1481, Sig, X, VIII, 4, 44. The position in Florence is that they expect to hire Roberto di Sanseverino as captain-general and leave S entirely to Milan: ------, 9 June 1481, ------. The pressure on S to pay the census, although Sixtus knows all about his problems with Florence: Milanese orators in Rome to G G Sforza, 15 June 1481, ASMi, SPE, Rome, 89. S has sent word that his census payment will be at Rome in five or six days; the bull of absolution will not be issued until it arrives: G A Vespucci in Rome to the Otto, 22 June 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 384. S seems to be getting help from Federico da Montefeltro to pay his census: Milanese orators in Rome to G G Sforza, 22 June 1481, ASMi, cit. Giovanni Formiconi presented to the Otto a letter from S of 26 May, asking them to pay the 400 ducats S owed out of his pay for the next four months; this money is apparently owed for saltpetre which Formiconi purchased for S: 26 June 1481, Otto ------.

Ludovico Sforza has written to S urging him to be content with 16,000 ducats: T Ridolfi in Milan to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 4 July 1481, Sig, X, VIII, 4, III, 19-20. S justifies his behaviour and insists on at least 18,000 ducats a year in peace and that some of the other clauses be more reasonable: C Sforza at Pesaro to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 5 July 1481, MAP, 38, 246. S asks the Otto to pay Giuliano Gondi a debt of 1,200 ducats from his salary: C Sforza at Pesaro to the Otto, 26 July 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 396. S agrees to 17,000/28,000 ducats for 100/150 men-at-arms from Milan, which Milan appears ready to satisfy: T Ridolfi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 27 July 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 363-4; Sig, X, VIII, 4, 35-6. Tommaso Ridolfi informed Ludovico of Florence’s decision to forget the Sanseverino condotta, partly because of the need to do something for S; Ludovico accepted this and urged Florence not to ‘far disperare Costanzo’: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 30 July 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 405. On 1 Aug Gian Filippo Salarolo wrote that he thought S had reached an agreement in Milan and that Roberto di Sanseverino would stop at Bologna on his way to the Romagna; now it seems the negotiation has broken down and Roberto is not coming; S is sending Antonio da Pardo to Bologna and then on to Florence with Salarolo, who is being sent by Giovanni Bentivoglio: G F Salarolo at Bologna to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 4 Aug 1481, MAP, 38, 281. Antonio da Montecatini feels that desipite being determined that there can be no condotta for S, Lorenzo is seeking a way to accommodate him: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 10 Aug 1481, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 2. Gian Filippo Salarolo reported to Giovanni Bentivoglio Lorenzo’s ideas on S’s future; Bentivoglio says he and Ludovico Sforza are anxious for Lorenzo to settle this affair and to persuade his colleagues to agree to it: G Bentivoglio to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 15 Aug 1481, MAP, 38, 288. S seems to be prepared to accept less money and get the title; the Otto still refuse, but Lorenzo really wants it, at the right price, i e less than 12,000 ducats: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 16 Aug 1481, ASMo, cit. It seems that S was unpopular at Milan, except with Ludovico, and that the Milanese did not want him there and were reluctant to give him a condotta. Lorenzo says the Council of 70 is ready to accept S, because Milan will pay part; Florence refuses to go above 8,000 ducats: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 18 Aug 1481, ASMo, cit. Bentivoglio again asks Lorenzo to find a solution to the Costanzo problem, in particular to dissuade S from the idea of staying at Milan: G Bentvoglio to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 20 Aug 1481, MAP, 38, 297. The latest terms, which Lorenzo told Antonio da Pardo were as far as he could persuade the Otto to go: 10,000 ducats in peace, excluding the captaincy (and other terms not specified); Pandolfo Collenuccio reported that this result was entirely Lorenzo’ s work and that the causes of any difficulties were: 1) Lorenzo’s and the Otto’s annoyance at S’s ‘exclusione’ of the pratici when they wanted to give him the captaincy with 15,000 ducats, and 2) that Florence has heavy expenses, which were incurred by S’s refusal (‘exclusione’); S apologies for having rejected the Florentine offer and concluding with Milan; now he is willing to accept the 10,000 ducats as Florence’s share and renounce the other 12,000 ducats he had before; however, he wants his back pay – 12,000 ducats – and the title of captain, even though Florence refused Ludovico’s request for this: C Sforza to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 23 Aug 1481, MAP, 38, 301. Giovanni Bentivoglio’ s delight that Lorenzo has, after much trouble, settled S’s affair: G Bentivoglio to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 28 Aug 1481, MAP, 38, 305. As agreed with Pandolfo Collenuccio, S’s contract as captain-general was deliberated at Florence on 30 Aug; S was awaited with great eagerness there: Otto to C Sforza, 31 Aug 1481, Sig, Miss 1a Canc, 48, 244. His condotta ‘fatto’; 10,000 ducats for two-and-a-half years; the Milanese contribution is not mentioned: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 31 Aug 1481, ASMo, cit.

S accepted the Florentine offer with pleasure and promised to put his troops in order to come to Florence as soon as Pandolfo Collenuccio returned with the terms: C Sforza to the Otto, 3 Sept 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 434. Thanks for help: C Sforza to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 3 Sept 1481, MAP, 138, 225. S is sending back his orator, Collenuccio, with news, and will himself follow shortly: C Sforza at Pesaro to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 16 Sept 1481, MAP, 38, 325. The Otto want to know what share of S’s condotta Milan is prepared to pay; despite Florence’s financial problems, they have honoured him with a condotta, particularly in order to avoid S going over to Venice or elsewhere: Otto to T Ridolfi, 18 Sept 1481, Min, 12, 1. The duke [of Milan] was very pleased at news of the condotta and said he would like to share in it: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 24 Sept 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 460. S stayed at Francesco Nori’s palace in Florence, Oct 1481: Lettere, VI, 47. S came to Florence and was honoured; yesterday he recived the baton and standards; he is soon leaving for Milan: Otto to T Ridolfi, 3 Oct 1481, ------. The costs of gifts to S (baton, standard, veste di cavallo and helmet) and his expenses came to 700 fl: Provv 172, 133-4. Will arrive at Bologna tomorrow and probably leave on Saturday: G F Salarolo to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 10 Oct 1481, MAP, 38, 340. S arrived at Milan today and was received with great honour; he was very pleased with the reception he received at Florence: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 18 Oct 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 23-4. Ludovico Sforza sends Lorenzo a copy of Milan’s terms with S and asks him to get the Florentines to agree that Milan can have part of his company if necessary; if there is trouble, Milan will send Florence not only all S’s company, but other troops as well: Ludovico Sforza to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 23 Oct 1481, ------. Milan has decided to give S 7,000 ducats p a and ‘ tasse di cavallo’ for 1,200 ducats a year and the possibility of title of governor or similar; with regard to the division between Milan and Florence, the duke suggests S lives in Milan during peace, while his 100 men-at-arms remain in Tuscany; in war, when Milan and Florence are fighting separately, Florence could claim the men-at-arms and Milan claim S with fifty men-at-arms; if they are on the same side, whoever asks him first would take all; he wants Florence’s opinion; S hopes that Florence will not agree that Nicola Orsini, if hired, will not have to obey him, as Orsini is asking: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 27 Oct 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 30. As Milan’s terms with S were substantially different from those he agreed with Florence, Milan has today made a new condotta with him; 7,000 ducats p a in peace (and tax for 200 horse) and 13,000 in war; he will reside at and serve Milan, but will come to help Florence whenever needed; Tommaso Ridolfi has accepted this without a preliminary mandate, as he knows Florence would want to please Milan, and Florence still has a month to ratify it; Florence’ s initial agreement with S of 30 Aug and Milan’s separate terms of 14 Nov follow: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 14 Nov 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 52. As S’s presence at Milan promotes the union between Milan and Florentine, he should be kept well paid: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 12 Dec 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 102-4.

S asks Lorenzo to have regard for the sons of Orfeo Cenni, whom he has loved: C Sforza at Milan to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 9 Jan 1482, MAP, 38, 67. S is being sent with Gian Giacomo Trivulzio, 500 men-at-arms and 1,000 provvisionati, against Gaspare di Sanseverino, who is harassing merchants and ducal messengers near Tortona; he left this morning: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 12 Jan 1482, Otto, Resp, 2, 176-7. Gaspare di Sanseverino has gone to Tortona to talk to S: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 27 Jan 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 202-3. Has been ordered to the Parmigiana, whence he is to send 500 infantry in response to Ercole d’Este’s request: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 7 Feb 1482, Otto, Resp, 2, 222. S, at Castelnuovo, reported Roberto di Sanseverino’s embarcation at Quarto: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 10 Feb 1482, Otto, Resp, 2, 244-5. S was at Firenzuola, on his way to reduce Roberto’s castle at Colornio; to bernardo Rucellai he expressed his great devotion to Lorenzo and promised to consult him further when he returned to Milan: B Rucellai at Firenzuola to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 14 Feb 1482, Otto, Resp, 2, 255. A full report of the conversation between S and Rucellai: B Rucellai in Milan to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 18 Feb 1482, MAP, 26, 294. S is very much in favour in Milan: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 23 Feb 1482, MAP, 26, 295. After the campaign against Roberto di Sanseverino, S was sent to besiege Pier Maria de’ Rossi in S Secondo: T Ridolfi and B Rucellai to the Otto, 23 Feb 1482, Otto, Resp, 2, 282. Ludovico Sforza recalled S to Milan to have his advice: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 26 Feb 1482, MAP, 51, 80. Apparently, S was recalled because he advised against the campaign, but S responded by sending to Milan the advice of all the senior condottieri in the camp, who agreed against taking the field at this time: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 11 Mar 1482, MAP, 51, 86. S has returned to Milan for the time being: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 13 Mar 1482, MAP, 51, 87.

The Milanese ducal council is discussing sending troops to the Venetian frontier and against the Rossi; S is going to the frontier to organise everything: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 2 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 104; Otto to B Rucellai, 6 Apr 1482, Min, 12, 193-4. A clause in Federico da Montefeltro’s condotta provided that, if war did not come, S would go to Florence and leave Federico in charge in Milan, an arrangement which neither S not Florence wanted: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 7 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 107. Lorenzo suggested getting S to go to Florence without accelerating Federico’ s arrival in Milan; Rucellai thinks he can achieve this fairly quickly if Lorenzo wants it: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 9 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 112. Florence needs S and wants him dispatched as quickly as possible with the Milanese share of his war prestanza: Otto to B Rucellai, 13 Apr 1482, Min, 12, 207-8. Florence would like S, her captain-general, back; Milan will no longer need him once Federico da Montefeltro is there: Otto to G G Sforza, together with a letter of recall, 13 Apr 1482, Min, 12, 204. Ludovico Sforza feels that, since there is no danger in Tuscany, S would be more useful at Bologna (within striking distance of the Romagna); when Bernardo Rucellai urged Ludovico at least to prepare S by giving him his prestanza, Ludovico replied that S would have to wait until Ercole d’Este received his: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 16 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 123. The Neapolitan orator agrees that S would be best positioned at Bologna, where he could, by threatening Rimini, prevent Roberto Malatesta from sending aid to Sixtus; Rucellai agrees; however, Milan is writing to Federico da Montefeltro, since it was his idea that S should go to Tuscany; Rucellai suspects the delay in giving S his prestanza was in order to avoid giving the others theirs: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 19 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 126. The Otto are pleased that S is being allowed to come to Tuscany but, as he will come without his prestanza, Florence will be poorly defended and will have to retain some of Federico da Montefeltro’s troops: Otto to B Rucellai, 20 Apr 1482, Min, 12, 221-2. Billets for 400 of S’s cavalry are being prepared in Bologna: S Taverna at Bologna to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 23 Apr 1482, MAP, 38, 440. Florence is not happy about paying S’s prestanza alone: Otto to B Rucellai, 24 Apr 1482, Min, 12, 226-7. Ludovico has finally agred to pay S’s prestanza in four days’ time, but still insists he go to Bologna and not leave Milan until Federico arrives; he does not seem to mind if Florence keeps her share of Federico’s troops in Tuscany: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 28 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 129. S has received 3,000 ducats and is getting ready quickly, but Federico’s word is still awaited on where he should go: B Rucellai to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 30 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 130.

Because of news of Venetian troop movements in the Padovano and Cremonese, Milan is sending S and others to fortify Cerreto: B Rucellai in Milan to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 2 May 1482, MAP, 51, 132. Is leaving for Lodi, where he will stay until it is decided whether he should go to Bologna, Tuscany or Cerreto: Z Saggi in Milan to Federico Gonzaga, 2 May 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. The Venetian raid on Bagnacavallo shows how vulnerable Florence is and how important it is for S to come ‘ here’ as quickly as possible: Otto to B Rucellai, 6 May 1482, Min, 12, 242-3. Federico da Montefeltro now feels S should be in the Arezzo/Anghiari area; Milan must have given him his prestanza by now, so he should be on his way; the plan was for him to go to Tuscany or Bologna, whichever Federico decided: Otto to C Sforza, 6 May 1482, Min, 12, 245. The Otto wants S to defend Florence and, if need be, the territory of Urbino: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 7 May 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambascaitori, Firenze, 3. The Otto want him to make haste: Otto to B Rucellai, 11 May 1482, Min, 12, 260-1. The Dieci order him to Faenza, as quickly as possible: Dieci to C Sforza, 30 May 1482, Min, 12, 284. Has not received his full prestanza: Dieci to B Rucellai, 30 May 1482, Min, 12, 285-6. Left Milan on 24May: Otto to B Gianfigliazzi, 30 May 1482, Min, 12, 288-9. Had been unwilling to go to Faenza without more troops, partly because of his honour: E d’Este to Antonio da Montecatini, 6 June 1482, ASMo, cit. Has been refused entry to Faenza: Otto to C Sforza, 6 June 1482, Min, 12, 305. Ordered to Florence: Otto to B Gianfigliazzi, 8 June 1482, Min, 12, 307. Saw the Otto this morning: Otto to B Gianfigliazzi, 13 June 1482, Min, 12, 318-19. In Milan it is said that S should have left on 23 June for Faenza: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 30 June 1482, ASMa, cit. Has negotiated the surrender of a rocca at Città di Castello on 8 July: C Sforza to G G Sforza, 4 July 1482, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 91. Has negotiated the surrender of a second fortress at Città di Castello in ten days’ time if no help arrives: C Sforza from the camp at ‘Tipherna’ to G G Sforza, 5 July 1482, ASMi, SPE, Marca, 150. S wants to go to Celle, and then Citerna, when the fortresses at Città di Castello have fallen: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 14 July 1482, ASMa, cit. The Sienese are worried that S is to be used against them, but Sixtus and Girolamo Riario say they are in no danger and that there is a plan to attack Pesaro: S Ottieri and L Lanti in Rome to the Signoria of Siena, 30 July 1482, ASS, Conc, 2049, 32. Wants to lead the attack on Forlì, but the Otto oppose this; they are sending him 600 provvisionati and Pandolfo Collenuccio to discuss a possible impresa against Perugia: Otto to C Sforza, 2 Aug 1482, Min, 12, 448. S is taking part in negotiations about Perugia: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 12 Aug 1482, ASMo, cit. Milan wants S to go with troops to the Romagna; C wants to go to the Marche: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 12 Aug 1482, ASMa, cit. Is instructed to devastate the country around Citerna: Otto to B Rucellai, 14 Aug 1482, Min, 12, 472-4. Lorenzo Zane has sent an envoy to negotiate with S, but withdrew him when news of Alfonso d’Aragona’s defeat arrived: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 25 Aug 1482, ASMo, cit. Ludovico Sforza is writing to Florence to send S to the Romagna, and to keep Galeotto Manfredi steady if Federico da Montefeltro’s troops leave that region: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 27 Aug 1482, ASMa, cit.

S is to go to the Romagna, to put pressure on Girolamo Riario’s lands: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 5 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. S is to go to the Romagna when the rocca at Citerna has fallen: S Bettini to F Gonzaga, 8 Oct 1482, ASMa, AG, 1102. One of the measures agreed by the ambassadors of the League to counter the Venetian threat to Argenta was that Florence should send as many troops as possible to the Romagna, under the command of S (who should be ordered to obey the League ambassadors without further commission) and the Feltreschi: E d’Este to Antonio da Montecatini, 10 Oct 1482, ASMo, cit. If Girolamo Riario’s arrival does not detain S, he should go to the Romagna with eight squadrons: G G Sforza to B Castiglioni, 12 Oct 1482, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 240. When Riario came, S was ordered to stay near Città do Castello with twenty-three squadrons: S Bettini to F Gonzaga, 15 Oct 1482, ASMa, AG, 1102. S sent four squadrons to Pesaro, against the wishes of the Dieci, when papal troops seemed to be heading there: Dieci to B Rucellai, 17 Oct 1482, Dieci, LC, 5, 84-6. S followed Riario to the Romagna, to stop him attacking Pesaro: S Bettini to C Sforza, 21 Oct 1482, ------. S is delaying going to the Romagna; it is too late in the season for a proper campaign; he advises a stronger defence of Ferrara, but would want, inter alia, 6,000 infantry to do it, and full command of the impresa: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’E ste, 3 Nov 1482, ASMo, cit. S’s man, Pandolfo Collenuccio, showed Lorenzo a letter from S setting out his demands before he could effectively guard Ferrara: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’E ste, 3 Nov 1482, ASMo, cit. The Dieci are dissatisfied with S; if he will not go to the Romagna as ordered, they want him at least to send troops: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 4 Nov 1482, ASMo, cit. S will not move because he is wary of papal troops seeking to enter the Romagna, but some of his troops are going there: Dieci to B Rucellai, 5 Nov 1482, Dieci, LC, 5, 20-2. There was a long dispute between S’s representative, Pandolfo Collenuccio, and the Dieci regarding the conditions S sought to impose before he moves to the Romagna; nothing was agreed, perhaps because Lorenzo is away at his villa: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’ Este, 5 Nov 1482, ASMo, cit. Florence again orders S to the Romagna; one reason he is being so difficult is because he has not not paid by Milan; Florence has sent him 2,000 ducats: Dieci to B Rucellai, 7 Nov 1482, Dieci, LC, 5, 22-3. The Dieci insist to Collenuccio that S must obey their orders and go to Castrocaro; they are very annoyed with him for not obeying: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 7 Nov 1482, ASMo, cit. Ludovico Sforza has agreed to give S 2,000 ducats and Florence to give him 2,600; he has said he will go to the Romagna or wherever commanded: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 12 Nov 1482, ASMa, cit. S is now ready to obey: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 14 Nov 1482, ASMo, cit.

S has sent a list of conditions which must be fulfilled before he is ready to move; these are summarised; the Dieci sent a copy to Ferrara and Milan; they gave Pandolfo Collenuccio, S’s man, 1,000 ducats and have arranged for him to recover two necklaces of S’s wife, worth 500 ducats; has S’s ambition been whetted by the death of Federico da Montefeltro?; the Dieci advised Collenuccio to go to him immediately: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 16 Nov 1482, ASMo, cit. S will be ready to move from Pesaro in a few days; he could act more quickly in the future if paid promptly: C Sforza to the Dieci, 21 Nov 1482, Dieci, Resp, 26, 248. S has said he does not want to go to the Romagna because he has not been paid by Milan: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 23 Nov 1482, ASMa, cit. Is on the move with his troops: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 25 Nov 1482, ASMo, cit. The Dieci are to ask Ercole d’Este to agree to halt the provvisionati going to S; Antonio da Montecatini is sure Ercole will not agree: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 25 Nov 1482, ASMo, cit. Will be at Castrocaro tomorrow; may go immediately to Ferrara to discuss the situation: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 2 Dec 1482, ASMo, cit. S arrived in Ferrara with fifty mounted archers to take charge of its defence: 11 Dec 1482, Zambotti, 122. Lodged in La Certosa; does not feel very secure, and not yet been paid by Milan: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 18 Dec 1482, ASMo, cit. Has arranged billets in the Ferrarese, so the impresa is really getting under way: G G Sforza to B Castiglioni, 18 Dec 1482, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 241. It is thought in Rome that S may go over to Venice; S does not want to stay in Ferrara with the troops of Alfonso d’A ragona and Girolamo Riario: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 24 Dec 1482, ASMo, cit. Milan is sending 700 of the 1,000 ducats promised to S; Milan assumes he has announced his intention of abandoning the impresa, as he threatened to do in his letter of 20 Dec: G G Sforza to C Sforza, 27 Dec 1482, ASMi, SPE, Marca, 150. Complains that he cannot do anything; wants to leave Ferrara; the Dieci told him it was neither ‘conveniente’ or ‘ honesto’ for him to do so: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 29 Dec 1482, ASMo, cit. S is complaining that Pietro dal Verme refused to give him a squadron for which he had asked: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 29 Dec 1482, ASMo, cit. Is urging Lorenzo to move him from Ferrara; Lorenzo says S has nothing to fear from Alfonso d’Aragona: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 30 Dec 1482, ASMo, cit.

S states that he left Ferrara because he not been paid and his troops were hungry, not because he did not want to meet Alfonso d’Aragona: C Sforza from the camp at Ferrara to Ferrante, 12 Jan 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 37. Ercole d’Este’s account of S’s departure: E d’Este to Antonio da Montecatini, 13 Jan 1483, ASMo, cit. The Florentines are very annoyed at his departure: Dieci to B Gianfigliazzi, 16 Jan 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 106-7. It is agreed that S should stay in the Romagna and a relative of his command the remainder of his troops in Ferrara: 16 Jan 1483, Caleffini, 56. The Dieci tell S they are very annoyed with him for leaving Ferrara, and order him to Florence to discuss his position: Dieci to C Sforza, 18 Jan 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 46-7. It is said that S is negotiating a condotta with Venice; the Florentines have Nicola Orsini, so it is likely that S will be given a licenza: L Lanti in Rome to the Signoria of Siena, 18 Jan 1483, ASS, Conc, 2054, 43. S is at Pesaro: Dieci to P Capponi, 19 Jan 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 198-200. Ludovico Sforza says he had made preparations for the honourable withdrawal of S from Ferrara, if only S had been patient; he would have sent him to the Parmigiana; Ludovico thinks S’s condotta should be cancelled, so the Venetians cannot say they stole the League’s captain-general: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 20 Jan 1483, ASMa, 1628. S has written to Ferrante to excuse his departure; Ferrante is very annoyed: B Castiglioni to G G Sforza, 22 Jan 1483, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 241. S sent a man to Alfonso d’Aragona to say he is well disposed towards the League and to solicit money; Alfonso received the envoy well and will send men to Pesaro to see S: Eleonora d’Aragona to Antonio da Montecatini, 30 Jan 1483, ASMo, cit. Ferrante has replied to S’s letter, urging him to stay with the League, but suspects he will end up with the Venetians: B Castiglioni to G G Sforza, 2 Feb 1483, ASMi, cit. The Venetian ambassador in Rome says S has not yet come to terms with Venice: R Ricchi in Rome to the Balia of Siena, 12 Feb 1483, ASS, Balia, 508, 5. Ferrante is disturbed by the letter Gian Galeazzo Sforza sent to S, but says he is pleased that S is persisting in his loyalty to the League: B Castiglioni to G G Sforza, 13 Feb 1483, ASMi, cit. S has written to Ferrante, saying he would always serve the League and that he did not leave Ferrara because he was afraid of Alfonso d’Aragona, but because he could not sustain his troops: B Castiglioni to G G Sforza, 19 Feb 1483, ASMi, cit. The Florentines have given him 650 ducats and are supporting him, as Lorenzo urged: Dieci to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 28 Feb 1483, ------.

Girolamo Riario told the Florentines they should retain S; Florence says she will do so to please him: Dieci to P F Pandolfini, 1 Mar 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 136-7. S offers obedience if he is paid everything due from his old condotta and prestanza; he claims that the diet agreed his condotta be extended if he promised obedience; the Dieci understand the diet’s decision rather differently and prefer to consider that his service ended from the date he left Ferrara: Dieci to B Rucellai, 25 Mar 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 53-4. The Florentines feel that the diet left them with a choice to rehire S or not; Milan argues that the majority in the diet were in favour of rehiring him and that Florence should do this before he joins the Venetians; if necessary, Milan will take him on: B Rucellai to the Dieci, 1 Apr 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 211-12. Is believed by some to have connived at Pier Gentile da Varano’s possible defection to Venice: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 3 Apr 1483, ASMo, cit. Has written to Girolamo Riario to say that, as he has not received his advances, he will take action: P F Pandolfini to the Dieci, 8 Apr 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 237. The Dieci are ready to agree to Milan taking all S’s condotta in exchange for some Milanese troops: Dieci to B Rucellai, 8 Apr 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 57-8. The Florentines say that the diet did not decide to rehire S; they do not really want to do so, but if Milan is ready to negotiate an extension, that is fine; if not, Florence is prepared to see S have his licence: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 8 Apr 1483, ASMo, cit. It is not believed that S will be prepared to accept the offer a Milanese condotta, because he will lose title of captain-general: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 11 Apr 1483, ASMo, cit. Promises made in the diet are to be kept: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 12 Apr 1483, ASMa, cit. S has probably gone over to Venice and will have the title formerly held by Roberto Malatesta: B Rucellai to the Dieci, 17 Apr 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 263. The Florentines want to be rid of S: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 19 Apr 1483, ASMo, cit. S is being taken by Venice to replace Roberto Malatesta; Alfonso d’Aragona has written to Milan urging them to retain S: Dieci to J Guicciardini, 21 Apr 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 218-21. The Dieci say they are content to retain S: Dieci to P F Pandolfini, 21 Apr 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 151-2. S is reported to be going over to Venice, though Florence paid him punctually and agreed to ‘exchange’ him with Milan: Dieci to B Rucellai, 21 Apr 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 61-4. His affairs are settled; has promised to come to the Parmigiana to meet Ludovico Sforza: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 22 Apr 1483, ASMa, cit. Jacopo Guicciardini has heard Milan has paid S his arrears and written to Florence asking the Dieci to do the same: Dieci to J Guicciardini, 26 Apr 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 221-3.

Alfonso d’Aragona feels that, after the summer, the League should dispense with S altogether: J Guicciardini in Ferrara to the Dieci, 1 May 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 308-9. The Dieci have now agreed to retain S at end of his condotta: Dieci to J Guicciardini, 6 May 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 223; Dieci to B Rucellai, 6 May 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 64. S tells the Dieci he will return to Pesaro, from where he has been absent because of plague, to get his troops together, although the money they sent him is scarcely enough: C Sforza a Imperiali to the Dieci, 15 May 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 340. He will leave in four or five days to carry out the Dieci’s instructions; they have told him to obey Lorenzo, but Lorenzo has only written one letter, brought by Pier Filippo Pandolfini: C Sforza at Pesaro to the Dieci, 17 May 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 350. Has been paid 7,000 ducats by Florence, but is still owed money by Milan: Dieci to B Rucellai, 19 May 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 65-6. The Dieci send S messages every day and want to use him in the Lunigiana; he has written to say that he will be in Florence in ten days’ time: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 19 May 1483, ASMo, cit. S is supposed to leave today; he will come with 100 men-at-arms: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 23 May 1483, ASMo, cit. Florence want to use S in the Lunigiana, but he will not move without money from Milan: Dieci to B Rucellai, 25 May 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 68. Florence’s allies would rather S be used in the Lunigiana than Nicola Orsini: J Guicciardini in Ferrara to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 30 May 1483, MAP, 48, 307. Sforza Bettini has been sent to S, in a final attempt to get him to move: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 31 May 1483, ASMo, cit. S came to terms with Venice and is to be governor of Venetian troops in the Romagna with a condotta of 55,000/35,000 ducats: June 1483, Sanudo, Vite dei dogi, I, 368. He has sent more demands and excuses to Florence and the Dieci have heard rumours from Venice that he is negotiating with them: Dieci to G A Vespucci and to P Nasi, 4 June 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 394. Jacopo Guicciardini thinks any money spent by Florence on S is wasted: J Guicciardini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 5 June 1483, MAP, 48, 322. News from Rimini to Milan that S left to go to Florence, then claimed to be ill and returned to Pesaro, and then said he was in Venetian service; this is not believed in Milan: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 6 June 1483, ASMa, cit. Anxiety amongst the League leaders about the possible loss of S: E d’Este to Antonio da Montecatini, 9 June 1483, ASMo, cit. There are increasing indications in Naples that S has deserted the League: P Nasi in Naples to the Dieci, 11 June 1483, Dieci, Resp, 28, 22. S justifies leaving Florentine service by citing broken Florentine promises and equivocations: C Sforza at Pesaro to the Dieci, 12 June 1483, Dieci, Resp, 28, 25-6. S has promised to assemble his troops near Arezzo before he receives his prestanza: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 14 June 1483, ASMa, cit. Sforza Bettini is going back to S; the Dieci are hopeful of an agreement: Dieci to G A Vespucci, 14 June 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 397-8. The Florentine part of S’s prestanza is to be given to Ottaviano Ubaldini to hold until S has assembled his troops: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 14 June 1483, ASMa, cit. S has demanded back pay in full and that his current pay be depositied with Ubaldini; this the Dieci have accepted; Ferrante is very pleased: P Nasi to the Dieci, 15 June 1483, Dieci, Resp, 28, 32. Ercole d’Este is pleased by the arrangements made for S because his real intentions will be revealed: E d’Este to Antonio da Montecatini, 16 June 1483, ASMo, cit. Girolamo Riario has suggested that Florence takes Giulio Cesare da Varano in place of S; the Dieci replied that they are not yet certain that S has deserted: Dieci to G A Vespucci, 17 June 1483, ------. Sforza Bettini, who has just returned from S, reports ‘si è acconcio et che in tucto ha preso partito con nostri inimici’: Dieci to G A Vespucci, 19 June 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 400. News in Rome that S has definitely gone over to Venice: G A Vespucci to the Dieci, 22 June 1483, Dieci, Resp, 28, 50-1. It is said in Ferrara that S has gone over to the Venetians with 300 men and is plotting something in the Romagna: J Guicciardini to the Dieci, 23 June 1483, Dieci, Resp, 28, 28-9. S has written a letter of justification to Ferrara and Milan: Dieci to B Rucellai, 27 June 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 461-2. Milan has no need to reply to S’s attempts to justify his actions; it was not the first occasion that S had been guilty of such a grave breach of faith: G G Sforza to M Sacramoro, 6 July 1483, ASMi, SPE, Firenze, 308. Ludovico Sforza does not want to hear more about S, ‘perche lo ha tanquam mortuum mundo’: B Rucellai at Chiaravalle to the Dieci, 7 July 1483, Dieci, Resp, 28, 138. Girolamo Riario advised from Ferrara not to give S a safeconduct from Pesaro to Ravenna, but not to oppose his passage because he would be less trouble in Ravenna: J Guicciardini to the Dieci, 15 July 1483, Dieci, Resp, 28, 219. News arrived in Ferrara that S died three days ago: 21 July 1483, Zambotti, 143. S died on 18 July: Dieci to G A Vespucci, 21 July 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 412-13.

Bibliog: Cerioni, I, 231-2

 

Sforza, Ermes 1470-1503

Career: Second son of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, duke of Milan, and Bona of Savoy; brother of Gian Galeazzo, duke of Milan. After the fall of Ludovico Sforza in 1499, Ermes had a claim to rule Milan, but was driven into exile in Austria.

Ref: Ludovico Sforza wants to send him to Venice: 9 Aug 1484, MAP, 48, 19.

 

Sforza, Filippo Maria 1448-1492

Career: Second son of Francesco Sforza, duke of Milan, and Bianca Maria Visconti; m Costanza Sforza, daughter of Bosio Sforza of S Fiora.

Refs: Asked the Neapolitan orator in Milan to seek a wife for him in Naples: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 24 Apr 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 189-90. Sent greetings to Bona Sforza on her return to Milan: Z Saggi in Milan to Federico Gonzaga, 19 Oct 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. Is to be left in charge in Milan while Ludovico Sforza is away at Cremona: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 31 Jan 1483, ASMa, AG, 1628.

 

Sforza, Gian Galeazzo Maria, duke of Milan 1469-1494

Career: Elder son of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, whom he succeeded as duke of Milan in 1476, and of Bona of Savoy; brother of Ermes, Bianca Mariaand Anna Sforza. m Isabella d’Aragona, daughter of Alfonso d’Aragona and Ippolita Sforza, duke and duchess of Calabria, in 1489. Father of Francesco, ‘il duchetto’ (1491-1512), whose hereditary claim to the duchy of Milan was ignored when his great-uncle Ludovico Sforza became duke in 1494, Ippolita (1493-1501) and Bona (1495-1558, m Sigismund, king of Poland-Lithuania). After the murder of Galeazzo Maria on 26 Dec 1476, Bona became regent for Gian Galeazzo, with Cicco Simonetta as her principal adviser; Bona and Gian Galeazzo were styled as ‘the dukes’ and nominally ruled together. In addition to Milan, Gian Galeazzo was also ruler of Genoa and Corsica from 1476 to 1481. From 1479 the young duke’s uncle, Ludovico, was the dominant force in the Milanese regime, effectively ruling in his nephew’s name.

Refs: Has been ill, but refuses to stay in bed: Z Saggi in Milan to Federico Gonzaga, 25 Aug 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. Has been ill again, but will not obey his doctors: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 8 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. The comte de Ligny has been pressing hard for Bona Sforza, who can come to stay with S; S is now fourteen and old enough to sign letters alone, according to the Milanese custom: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 11 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. Bona returned to Milan yesterday, met by Ludovico, S and Ascanio Sforza: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 19 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit.

Will not send his ambassadors to Rome until Innocent has pardoned Venice: 19 Sept 1484, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 96. Has promised to nominate the Lucchese as his aderenti e raccomandati in the peace: 21 Sept 1484, ASMi, cit. His collegati and aderenti include: Charles VIII of France, the dukes of Savoy and Urbino, the marchesi of Mantua and Montferrat, Finale, Incisa, Villafranca, Fosdinovo, Carretto di Novello and Ceva, Camilla and Giovanni Sforza of Pesaro, Girolamo Riario, Pandolfo Malatesta, Galeotto Manfredi, Guido Sforza, the Swiss cantons, Bologna, Lucca, Gian Luigi Fieschi and members of the Spinola family: 4 Oct 1484, Libri commemoriali, V, 289. Will release Obietto Fieschi if he gives a guarantee not to attack the ducal stato: 5 Oct 1484, ASMi, cit. The Dieci ask S to write to the marchesi Malaspina, his raccomandati, urging them to do all they can to favour the Florentine cause, especially by accepting Florentine troops in their territory: 18 Oct 1484, ASMi, SPE, Firenze, 307. Refuses to give Gian Giacomo Trivulzio to Florence for the Pietrasanta campaign: 20 Oct 1484, ASMi, cit. His conflict with the bishop of Valese: 11 Nov 1484, ASMi, cit. End of hostilities between S and the bishop of Valese: 21 Nov 1484, ASMi, cit. His jewels had been pledged by Ercole d’Este in Florence: 23 Dec 1484, ASMi, cit. Leonardo Botta claims that S was delaying sending an embassy to Rome to render obedience to Innocent in order to be united with the other powers: 22 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 235. A suspected plot by the Bourbon lords against S in aid of the duke of Orléans: 5 Feb 1485, MAP, 39, 77. Nominates the following as confederati and collegati as part of a secret treaty with Venice: Innocent, Charles VIII of France, Ferdinand of Aragon and Sicily, Charles, duke of Savoy, Florence, Ferrara, Siena, and Roberto di Sanseverino; as raccomandati he named nearly all the same figures as for the peace of Bagnolo: 18 Apr 1485, Libri commemoriali, V, 298.

 

Sforza, Giovanni di Costanzo 1466-1510

Career: Illegitimate son of Costanzo Sforza, vicar/signore of Pesaro, whom he succeeded in 1483. m (1) Maddalena, daughter of Federico Gonzaga, (2) Lucrezia Borgia, illegitimate daughter of Pope Alexander VI, (3) Ginevra Tiepolo. The Borgia marriage was annulled by the pope in 1497, after which Giovanni lost command of Pesaro in 1500, but regained it at the death of Alexander in 1503.

Refs: The people of Pesaro want him as ruler after death of his father Costanzo: Dieci to G A Vespucci in Rome, 21 July 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 412-13. Florence cannot afford to contribute to a condotta for him: Dieci to B Rucellai, early Sept 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 479-80. The Florentines are pleased about S’s investiture with Pesaro: Dieci to G A Vespucci, 11 Sept 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 427-8. S and Camilla Sforza are to be invested with Pesaro: G A Vespucci to the Dieci, 3 Nov 1483, Dieci, Resp, 29, 277-8. Sixtus wants S to take an oath that will not enter into any condotta without the pope’s leave: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 8 Nov 1483, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. His company is to be used against Città di Castello next season: ambassadors of the League in Rome to the diet, 14 Jan 1484, Dieci, Resp, 27, 48-9. Ferrante has given S his prestanza: Z Saggi in Milan to Federico Gonzaga, 20 May 1484, ASMa, AG, 1628. His four squadrons are to stay in the Romagna to confront those of Giulio Cesare da Varano: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 15 June 1484, ASMa, cit.

Nominated as one of Milan’s collegati and aderenti after the peace of Bagnolo: 4 Oct 1484, Libri commemoriali, V, 289. Nominated as one of Florence’s raccomandati after Bagnolo: Sig, Miss 1a Canc, 49, 157. Nominated by Venice among its collegati and aderenti after Bagnolo: 22 Oct 1484, Libri commemoriali, V, 291. The Dieci send Antonio Francesco Sinibaldi to S and to Camilla Sforza to recover some mules: 2 Nov 1484, Dieci, Delib, 24, 64-6. Both Milan and Venice nominated him in accordance with the peace of Bagnolo: 17 Nov 1484, ASMi, SPE, Venezia, 373. He and Camilla decline Venice’s nomination of them on the grounds that they are tied to the papacy by political necessity: 29 Nov 1484, Libri commemoriali, V, 294. The Otto ask S and Camilla to get Bartolomeo Mancini to agree to the adjudication of the case of the mulattieri in one of the towns suggested by the Otto: 26 Dec 1484, Otto, Miss, 4, 59-60. Asks the Dieci to do justice to Piero Dafo, a man-at-arms of Camilla Sforza, robbed by Leonardo d’Alfonso: 3 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 20. He and Camilla thank the Dieci for offering them protection, together with the other League powers: 4 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 24. By the terms of deal between Milan and Naples S will be hired by Innocent: 19 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 194. Innocent says he cannot afford to hire S: 12 Feb 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 334. Offers his services to the League: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini in Milan, 20 Mar 1486, Lettere, IX, 206. His house in Milan by Porta Nuova is one of those being considered by Lorenzo: 30 June 1486, MAP, 39, 525. He and Camilla write to Lorenzo regarding the release of Francesco Giugni from prison: 7 Aug 1486, MAP, 39, 528. At Lorenzo’s recommendation, S and Camilla agree to appoint Donato Giannerini d’A rezzo as podestà of Pesaro: 12 Sept 1486, MAP, 39, 561.

 

Sforza, Guido 1445-1508

Career: Grandson of the condottiere Muzio Attendolo Sforza; son of Bosio Sforza and Cecilia Aldobrandeschi. From his father Guido he inherited the county of Cotignola in 1476, and from his mother that of S Fiora, near Siena. m Francesca, daughter of Angelo Farnese and Costanza Malatesta. Father of Federico (m Bartolomea/Diana, daughter of Nicola Orsini and Elena Conti), Cecilia (m Ludovico degli Atti of Todi), Giulia (m Pietro Paolo Conti), Aurelia (m Belisario d’A ppiano of Piombino), Zenobia (m Grifone Baglioni of Perugia) and Marzia (m (1) Pietro Rucellai, (2) Gian Giacomo Cesarini).

Refs: First appearance of the proposal that S should renounce S Fiora to Siena and accept estates in Naples or Lombardy as compensation: L Lanti in Rome to the Signoria of Siena, 11 Dec 1481, ASS, Conc, 2045, 25; P F Pandolfini to the Otto, 28 Dec 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 142. Ippolita Sforza is preparing to send a secretary to S to persuade him about the plan: P Placidi and L Lanti in Rome to the Signoria of Siena, 14 Jan 1482, ASS, Conc, 2045, 73. Lorenzo’s attempt to persuade S to comply with the proposal: Lorenzo de’ Medici to P F Pandolfini in Naples, 25 Jan 1482, Lettere, VI, 230. Is coming to Alfonso d’Aragona with a letter from his son-in-law Ludovico degli Atti, who is a party leader in Todi: 22 Feb 1486, Dieci, Resp, 33, 387. Involved in a conspiracy at Todi [?]: 4 Mar 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 126-8. The Otto thank him for aid to the League army; regarding his legal case with Ugo degli Alessandri, the Otto will wait until his chancellor arrives and then do the best they can for him: 3 Apr 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 157. Ser Santi is his chancellor: 7 Apr 1486, Lettere varie, 1a parte, 90. His chancellor arrived in Florence today: 13 Apr 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 173-5. His quarrel with Elena Conti regarding ownership of Torre di Montorio: 16 May 1486, Dieci, Miss, 7, 26-8. His request for Florentine troops is rejected by the Dieci: 10 July 1486, Dieci, Miss, 7, 69.

 

Sforza, Ippolita Maria, duchess of Calabria 1446-1488

Career: Daughter of Francesco Sforza, duke of Milan, and Bianca Maria Visconti; sister of Galeazzo Maria and Ludovico Sforza, dukes of Milan, and of Cardinal Ascanio Sforza. m Alfonso d’Aragona, duke of Calabria, in 1465. Mother of Ferdinando II/Ferrandino (king of Naples, m Giovanna d’Aragona), Isabella (m Gian Galeazzo II, duke of Milan), Pietro d’Aragona. In Naples Ippolita was a useful point of contact for representatives of the north Italian states.

Refs: Thanked by the Dieci for her help in the peace negotiations which Lorenzo conducted at Naples, about which Lorenzo had told them: F Sacramoro to Bona and G G Sforza, 1 Apr 1480, ASMi, SPE, Firenze, 299. A messenger has just arrived from S with greetings for Lorenzo and to explain to Filippo Sacramoro the nature of her visit to Ferrara, which was to see her brother Ascanio Sforza and urge him to obey the Milanese ‘dukes’: F Sacramoro to Bona and G G Sforza, 1 Apr 1480, ASMi, cit. Antonio de’ Medici delivered a message to her on behalf of the Otto: Antonio de’ Medici in Naples to the Otto, 30 July 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 403-4. Sent Francesco Nacci a consignment of waters and perfume to send on to Lorenzo: F Nacci in Naples to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 22 Nov 1481, MAP, 38, 362. Report of her meeting with the Milanese ambassadors in which she discussed the towns disputed by Florence and Siena, and Ferrante’s desire for Sixtus to particpate in a new condotta for Federico da Montefeltro: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 26 Nov 1481, MAP, 51, 53. Has left the castle at Capua because a possible plague victim had been there: P F Pandolfini in Naples to the Otto, 14 Dec 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 109. Her request for a box like that Lorenzo sent to the sultan’s ambassador: F Nacci to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 24 Dec 1481, MAP, 38, 350. S may send her secretary to Guido Sforza to persuade him to exchange S Fiora for estates elsewhere: P Placidi and L Lanti in Rome to the Signoria of Siena, 14 Jan 1482, ASS, Conc, 2045, 73. S may go to Milan, officially to reconcile her brother Ludovico with Roberto di Sanseverino: P Placidi and L Lanti to the Signoria of Siena, 18 Jan 1482, ASS, Conc, 2045, 81. Pier Filippo Pandolfini thought her mission would be to reestablish the fortunes of her brother Ascanio: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 19 Jan 1482, MAP, 51, 20. Lorenzo has heard of the proposed mission: Lorenzo de’ Medici to N Michelozzi, 28 Jan 1482, Lettere, VI, 240. Comments on the mission: Lorenzo de’ Medici to P F Pandolfini in Naples, 28 Jan 1482, Lettere, VI, 245-6. Among those informed by Lorenzo of the death of Lucrezia Tornabuoni, 25 Mar 1482: Prot, 187-8. On her husband’s defeat at Campomorto: I Sforza d’Aragona at Capua to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 23 Aug 1482, MAP, 45, 233. Wants Lorenzo to try to reconcile her brothers Ascanio and Ludovico Sforza: [F Gaddi] in Naples to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 29 Aug 1482, Sig, X, VIII, 63, 141-2. Francesco Gaddi spoke to her about her debt to Lorenzo: [F Gaddi] to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 9 Oct 1482, Sig, X, VIII, 63, 164. With her daughter Isabella, was visited by a Milanese envoy in the name of Isabella’s future husband, Duke Gian Galeazzo Sforza: F Tranchedino to G G Sforza, 4 Dec 1482, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 241. Writes to Lorenzo regarding her fears about Ludovico Sforza and the Milanese situation: 15 Sept 1484, G Lanfredini, Copialettere, BNF, II, V, 15, 124. Lorenzo’s letter of 23 Sept to Giovanni Lanfredini regarding S’s request: 2 Oct 1484, G Lanfredini, Copialettere, BNF, II, V, 15, 148. Asks Lorenzo to pay Giovanni and Rinieri Scolari so that they will release the jewels they have from her as security: 2 Mar 1486, MAP, 45, 241. Her fears regarding Federico d’Aragona: 8 June 1486, MAP, 48, 350.

Bibliog: E Welch, ‘ Between Milan and Naples: Ippolita Maria Sforza, duchess of Calabria’ in D Abulafia (ed), The French descent into Renaissance Italy, 1494-95, Aldershot, 1995, 123-36

 

Sforza, Leonardo d. 1484

Refs: Sent by (his brother?) Ludovico Sforza to meet Alfonso d’Aragona: Z Saggi in Milan to Federico Gonzaga, 17 July 1483, ASMa, AG, 1628. One of four ambassadors Ludovico intends to send to Venice: 20 Aug 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 53. Died today: 19 Sept 1484, MAP, 48, 49.

 

Sforza, Lione

Career: Illegitimate son of Ludovico Sforza; abbot of S Vittore at Vigevano from 1495.

Refs: Son of Ludovico, from whom he received the Rossi signoria: -- Dec 1484, MAP, 48, 267. Invited to a Venetian giostra: 1 Dec 1484, MAP, 48, 268. Returned after a very satisfactory trip to the Venetian giostra: 25 Feb 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 359.

 

Sforza, Ludovico (‘il Moro’) 1451-1508

Career: Fourth son of Francesco Sforza, duke of Milan, and Bianca Maria Visconti; brother of Galeazzo Maria (duke of Milan), Ippolita Maria (duchess of Calabria), Filippo Maria, Sforza Maria, Cardinal Ascanio Maria, Elisabetta (m Giovanni Paleologo), and Ottaviano Sforza, together with numerous illegitimate siblings, including Caterina Sforza, who provided a close dynastic link with Girolamo Riario. m Beatrice (1475-1497), daughter of Ercole d’Este and Eleonora d’Aragona, in 1491. Father of Ercole Massimiliano (1493-1530), duke of Milan 1512-15, and Sforza Francesco (1495-1535), duke of Milan 1521-4 , 1525 and 1529. His illegitimate children were Leone, Cesare, Maddalena, Bianca Francesca (m Gian Galeazzo di Sanseverino), Bona, and Gian Paolo Sforza. On the assassination of his brother Galeazzo Maria in 1476 Ludovico schemed to seize power, but his initial attempts were resisted by Galeazzo Maria’s widow, Bona of Savoy, mother of the young duke, Gian Galeazzo. After a palace revolution, Ludovico took charge and completely dominated his nephew. Fearing Venetian efforts to call the French into the Ferrarese War, Ludovico was largely responsible for the brisk negotiations that led to the peace of Bagnolo in Aug 1484. He assisted reluctantly in the war between Naples and Innocent VIII and again strove to secure peace. His marriage to Beatrice d’Este brought Milan into alliance with Naples and Florence. On Gian Galeazzo’s death in 1494 Ludovico was proclaimed duke. Neapolitan hostility to this was due to his treatment of Gian Galeazzo’s wife, Isabella d’Aragona. This led him to encourage French designs on Naples and support Charles VIII in his impresa. Frightened by the rapid success of the French, he joined the Holy League, but was again defeated at the peace of Vercelli. As duke he devoted much attention to the well being and safety of his people and the development of Milanese agricultural resources, but the cost of these policies and his autocratic style of government made him increasingly unpopular. On Louis XII’s accession Milan itself became a French target and capitulated with surprising ease in 1499, forcing Ludovico into exile in Germany. His attempts to restore the Sforza dynasty in Milan led to his capture and lengthy incarceration in France.

Refs: ‘Il Sig. Ludovico è di buona natura et forse è tanto buono che è troppo’; he is close to Roberto di Sanseverino, but both defer to the duchess [Bona]: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 2 Apr 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 169-71. Has suggested to the Neapolitan ambassador that Milan might satisfy Alfonso d’Aragona and forget about Ferrara, although Bona is of the opposite opinion: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 18 Apr 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 176-9. S wants to secure Galeotto Manfredi via a marriage alliance; his first thought was of pairing Galeotto with Chiara di Galeazzo Maria Sforza, but Bona, unaware of this, married Chiara to Pietro dal Verme, and this upset S very much: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 18 Apr 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 183. Bona told Pier Filippo Pandolfini she was planning a marriage for S with a daughter of Ercole d’Este, who is aged seven and in Naples; as S is content, it will probably go through; this, says Pandolfini, will mean increased Ferrarese influence at Milan and a better ‘conditione’ eventually for S; S has told Pandolfini that he will favour Ercole even more if he becomes his son-in-law: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 19 Apr 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 184-6. Both Naples and Ferrara have agreed to the marriage proposal and at Milan the news is beginning to become public: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 21 Apr 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 186-8. Speaking of the Ascanio affair and Bona’s suspicions of Roberto di Sanseverino, Pandolfini writes that he thinks S knows something of what is going on, ‘ma è di natura che sopporta facilmente quello pare a Madonna, et al Sig Roberto in segreto non ha buona animo’; one solution to the problems in the Milanese government, suggests Pandolfini, would be for Bona to trust S more and give him more authority; ‘lui è universalmente amato et conosciuto di buona natura’; S is very worried about Fra Tomino’s presence because it creates suspicions in the League; he is beginning to speak more boldly to Bona, though always with due deference; however, since S is estranged from Roberto, he is not the man to solve the problem; rather, Ercole d’Este is: P Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 13 May 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 206-7.

Together with Ercole d’Este and Pier Filippo Pandolfini, S tried in vain to persuade Bona to recall Leonardo Botta from Venice: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 1 June 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 224. S is receiving more frequent audiences than he used to, and therefore Antonio Tassini is trying harder to keep on his good side and also is trying to persuade S that Bona’s going to Pavia is a good idea by telling him he would be left in control of the state, and ‘Ludovico è si buono che se le crede’; all the Council are fed up with the way things are being run, particularly with Tassini, and would back S if he made a decisive move; however, ‘lui è in freddo che poi se ne sta; et sopratuto è huomo da essere piu tosto governato che governare altri, et credete non vuole troppe noie[?], et attende a confortare le voglie sue’: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 3 June 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 226-7. Bona has decided not to go to Pavia, and S is every day regaining his authority, which he seemed to have lost; this is good news for the League: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 7 June 1480, ------. S and Tassini are now on close terms and, as a result, S sees Bona almost every day; these two have made all the decisions in the past few days; Pandolfini regrets this mode of affairs, and that S is so close to the much-hated Tassini; Pandolfini is unsure whether there is a true alliance between them or if each is deceiving the other: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 15 June 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 240-1. S and the others have decided to kill Cecco [Simonetta] and are proceeding with his trial; they do not want to worry about him any more, knowing that women’s minds change easily; however, they are trying to make him disgorge all his money first; they are doing the same with Orfeo Cenni; Pandolfini intervened with S to try to persuade him to release Cenni, saying that if he did he would have a very faithful servant (‘uno schiavo’): P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 23 June 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 247-8. S agrees with Lorenzo’s judgement that there should be no more dealings of any sort with Girolamo Riario: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 1 July 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 255-6. Pandolfini had a long meeting with S, and thinks he will do what Lorenzo wants: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 7 July 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 261-2. Pandolfini spoke at length to S ‘della faccendo mi scrivesti in cifra’ and S has thought of a remedy for the doubts Lorenzo raised; ‘Qui per hora le cose si vanno alquanto rasettando in migliore forma, et se il disegno facto per il Sig. Ludovico riesce come pare ragionerole, di queste cose si potra stare sicuro’: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 11 July 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 266-7.

The Otto thank S for his intervention in the Torelli affair [in the Lunigiana] and for his role in this whole affair [of the restitution of the towns?]: Otto to T Ridolfi in Milan, 8 Feb 1481, Min, 11, 122-3. S was planning to exile Orfeo Cenni to Naples; Tommaso Ridolfi interceded and wants Lorenzo to do the same: T Ridolfi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 6 Apr 1481, MAP 48, 65. Ridolfi told S that the Otto were prepared to receive a representative of the Torelli and hear their claims: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 10 Apr 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 133. Like Lorenzo, S is disposed to do anything to maintain peace, and feels the orators should try to discover what Ferrante really wants: T Ridolfi to Lorenzo, 7 June 1481, Sig, X, VIII, 4, 44. S does not doubt what Lorenzo says about Orfeo Cenni and promises a conclusion which will please him: Ludovico Sforza in Milan to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 23 Oct 1481, MAP, 45, 13-14.

Milan thinks Florence will need more troops, and therefore S suggests they hire Pietro dal Verme, who is very faithful and has good troops: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 19 Jan 1482, Otto, Resp, 2, 186. S’s suspicions about Ferrante’s attitude towards the Rossi affair: B Rucellai in Milan to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 2 Apr 1482, MAP, 51, 104. S wants Federico da Montefeltro to join the camp against the Rossi: Z Saggi in Milan to Federico Gonzaga, 2 May 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. S has decided to pursue the campaign against the Rossi; c 2,000 infantry and 350 men-at-arms will be involved: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 26 May 1482, ASMa, cit. S is thinking of sending Guglielmo Paleologo against the Rossi: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 24 June 1482, ASMa, cit. S has returned from talks with Paleologo at Bremo: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 8 Aug 1482, ASMa, cit. S sent Alessandro Arrivabene to try to recover the Florentine merchants and their goods: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 31 Aug 1482, ASMa, cit.

S is not prepared to make direct approaches to Guido de’ Rossi, because he feels this would encourage extravagant demands, but wants Lorenzo to send someone privately: N Michelozzi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 6 Sept 1482, Sig, X, VIII, 11, 10. S is waiting for the results of Federico Gonzaga’s intercession with Marsilio Torelli, via Francesco Secco, regarding the Florentine merchants and their goods; S is anxious for an agreement with Guido de’ Rossi and wants Gonzaga to intercede; Giacomo di Piero de’ Rossi has seized his brother Giovanni at Torchiara; S thinks he can exploit this; S has promised to send ten squadrons to the Ferrarese; he asked for an exchange with Ercole d’Este’s ambassador in Milan regarding Milanese help for Ferrara; at last S, under pressure from Florence too, promised to move some troops from the Parmigiana to help Ferrara: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 8 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. S is hinting at a great scheme, nearly brought to completion, by which ‘si comprendera manifestamente chel non si sia governato da giarine[?] ma da prudentissimo S.re’; the agreement with Ascanio is not significant enough to fit that description: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 12 Sept 1482[?], ASMa, cit. S sent Pietro da Birago and Ugoletto Crivelli to Trezzo to see Ascanio; Zaccaria Saggi cannot believe that Ascanio is to be admitted to Milan, for he is feared even more inside the city than outside; S got consiglieri di castello to tell the Florentine and Neapolitan ambassadors that they think it would be a good idea for S to succeed Federico da Montefeltro in command of the League’s forces; S has also spoken to Saggi about this: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 13 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. Before the Ferrarese ambassadors in Milan received Ercole’s letter suggesting Alfonso or Federico d’Aragona as captain, S had already said he would like the position; very keen; Ercole d’Este’s ambassadors thought it best not to mention the Neapolitan candidates, but one of them, Giacomo Trotti, tried to suggest to S that it might not be a good idea to leave the government of his stato, and put himself under the command of others, but S was still keen: E d’Este to Antonio da Montecatini, 18 Sept 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. S never believed Ascanio would agree to come to Milan with so few conditions; he would not have sent the seven councillors if he had thought so; he sent them primarily for his own justification; S has been avoiding Ascanio, pretending to be ill; the Milanese are not pleased by this behaviour; S ‘non comunica mai le cose con alchuno se non quando le non si possono tener piu secrete et … tuti le oratori e consiglieri si dogliano di questo: parendoli dissere dilligiati, et il piu de le volte intendono per la terra prima le novelle, cha da SS’: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 20 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. Florence thinks S has enough to do governing Milan without becoming captain of the League: Dieci to P Capponi in Naples, 21 Sept 1482, Dieci, LC, 5, 175-8. The Milanese ambassador in Florence had no instructions about S’s wish to become captain; the Dieci ‘tute stetono sopra di se’ at proposal, and said would have to consult citizens; when Antonio da Montecatini told Lorenzo that Ercole d’E ste wanted to suggest Alfonso or Federico d’Aragona, but had been forestalled by S, Lorenzo told Antonio to tell this to the Neapolitan ambassador immediately, because S is surely proposing himself to stop Alfonso doing so; Antonio believes that if S persists, Florence will support him: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’E ste, 21 Sept 1482, ASMo, cit. Ascanio avoids the court and leaves the burden of government to S: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 22 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. The Milanese ambassador in Florence had not been told of S’s wish, because S wanted Niccolò Michelozzi to inform Florence; Ercole thinks Ferrante probably wants the command for his son Federico, but may be prepared to agree with S to keep relations with Milan good and because S is proposing to take over certain condotte: E d’Este to Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 24 Sept 1482, ASMo, cit. S is not pleased with the Florentine response to his proposal; S ‘La viduto in se solo tute le audientie publice e private e cosa lexpeditione dogni cosa ne piu si odono cause in consiglio como si soleva salvo chel venerdi si va alaudientia publica’: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 24 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. S is keeping business to himself more than ever: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 24 Sept 1482, ASMa, cit. News in Milan that Lorenzo had expressed his pleasure at the idea of S as captain-general: C Valentini and G Trotti, 28 Sept 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Milano, 3.

Guido de’ Rossi offered to submit to arbitration, but S was not willing to agree: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 2 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. Guido again suggested arbitration; S wants a free surrender: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 5 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. Ferrante does not think it would be good for either the League or Milan for S to become captain, but feels it would strain relations with Milan if he said this too openly and wants Lorenzo to mediate: F Gaddi in Naples to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 7 Oct 1482. Lorenzo would like S to be captain, but sees great difficulties and thinks Ferrante will not like it: S Bettini in Florence to F Gonzaga, 8 Oct 1482, ASMa, AG, 1102. Ferrante thinks the League should not appoint a new captain for the moment, so as to avoid offending S; appointing S would mean increased expenses: [F Gaddi] to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 10 Oct 1482, Sig, X, VIII, 63, 166. S hinted to Zaccaria Saggi that Bona Sforza was coming to Milan: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 11 Oct 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. Ercole d’Este would like to propose Federico d’Aragona as captain in Milan, as Lorenzo and the Neapolitan ambassador in Florence asked, but feels he cannot do so now: E d’Este to Antonio da Montecatini, 13 Oct 1482, ASMo, cit. S says he is sending five squadrons to the Ferrarese from the Cremonese, and Ugo di Sanseverino with three; has sent money to the infantry there; S says Pietro dal Verme has refused to go to Ferrara because does not want to be under Sforza command: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 13 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. S ordered Gian Pietro del Bergamino to Ferrara with seven squadrons and 500 infantry under Giuliano da Bagnara: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 14 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. S left for Abbiategrasso, to bring Bona back to Milan; they should arrive tomorrow: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 17 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. Bona returned to Milan yesterday, met by S, Gian Galeazzo and Ascanio; has promised, S is not to interfere in government; S ‘molte volte gli acaddera de dire qualche cosa con collera che da poi ne sera malcontenta e non vorria per cosa alchuna che si fosse scritto quello che lhavesse ditto’: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 19 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. S still has great hopes of being captain, and is very keen to go to the camp if the war continues: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 23 Oct 1482, ASMa, cit. The Dieci replied as they did regarding the captaincy to please Ferrante, but believe their views on the matter are clear: Dieci to P Capponi, 25 Oct 1482, Dieci, LC, 5, 183-5.

Ferrante has said he would go along with his allies regarding the captaincy, but has already said would like Guidobaldo da Montefeltro to have it in order to thwart S; perhaps S and Ascanio will go to Mantua, possibly under cover of a hunting expedition: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 1 Nov 1482, ASMa, cit. S wants to send Pietro dal Verme to Argenta, for which he has promised to raise 400 infantry: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 5 Nov 1482, ASMa, cit. Zaccaria Saggi thinks S has given up hope of the captaincy: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 10 Nov 1482, ASMa, cit. Lorenzo does not think S is condiering the captaincy at the moment; Florence does not want this at any price: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 12 Nov 1482, ASMo, cit. S is sending 1,500 ducats to Ferrara and possibly as much again; he is also raising 200 schioppettieri: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 12 Nov 1482, ASMa, cit. S and Ascanio have gone hunting for a few days, to avoid business and demands for money: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 18 Nov 1482, ASMa, cit. S has sent Francesco Tranchedini to Alfonso d’Aragona, among other things to ask for help for S’s appointment as captain: [F Gaddi] to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 22 Nov 1482, Sig, X, VIII, 63, 183-6; MAP, 41, 390. S and Ascanio have now returned; S promised Ercole d’Este 2,000 more infantry and supplies: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 23 Nov 1482, ASMa, cit. Ferrante says he is happy that S should be captain, but before he makes his support public he wants to write to Lorenzo, so Naples and Florence can share credit for agreeing to this: B Castiglioni to G G Sforza, 23 Nov 1482, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 241. S is keen to act on the Florentine suggestion that he should go to Ferrara himself, ‘si per gloria sua’ and partly to please Florence, but his councillors do not want him to go: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 28 Nov 1482, ASMa, cit. Their advice: he governs the stato and performs a valuable task of preparing support for Ferrara, but a visit by him personally would need much preparation; he will not go: G G Sforza to B Castiglioni, 29 Nov 1482, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 241. Milan wants to know what Florence really thinks of S as captain-general: G G Sforza to B Castiglioni, 1 Dec 1482, ASMi, cit. Francesco Tranchedino and other Milanese ambassadors in Naples are discussing S’s ambition with Ferrante; apparently S is prepared to agree to anything Ferrante wants if it gets him the captaincy; Francesco Gaddi told Ferrante that Lorenzo could not agree to the expense of a new condotta and if S had to be refunded, Lorenzo did not want the blame; Ferrante saw the point: [F Gaddi] to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 8 Dec 1482, Sig, X, VIII, 63, 187-8; MAP, 38, 533. Ferrante has stopped negotiations with the Milanese ambassadors regarding the captaincy; he says this is so S will blame him as much as Lorenzo: [F Gaddi] to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 10 Dec 1482, Sig, X, VIII, 63, 188; MAP, 38, 534. Milan thanks Ferrante for agreeing that S should be captain of the League; Ferrante has asked for this to be kept secret until Florence and Lorenzo agree to it: G G Sforza to B Castiglioni, 16 Dec 1482, ASMi, cit. Zaccaria Saggi has heard from a good source that Ferrante agreed to make a financial contribution to S as captain: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 17 Dec 1482, ASMa, cit.

Alfonso d’Aragona and S have written to Lorenzo telling him it is imperative he should come to the diet: E d’Este to Antonio da Montecatini, 28 Jan 1483, ASMo, cit. S has offered Guido de’ Rossi’s stato to Guido Torelli, if he will help capture it; S says he will keep the promises made regarding benefices for Guido Torelli: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 29 Jan 1483, ASMa, AG, 1628. S is going to raise a further 600 infantry for Parma; he wants Francesco Secco to come to settle Marsilio Torelli’s affairs: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 30 Jan 1483, ASMa, cit. S is taking Ascanio with him to Cremona and leaving Filippo Sforza in charge: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 31 Jan 1483, ASMa, cit. S is delaying at Parma for a few days, on his way to Cremona, because of the Rossi rebellion: Dieci to B Gianfligliazzi, 6 Feb 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 111. S is going to Casalmaggiore to discuss the affairs of Guido Torelli with Federico Gonzaga: G G Sforza to B Castiglioni, 9 Feb 1483, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 241. S is going to Cremona to make provision for the Parmigiana, and then to Pama ‘per confirmare li animi de li citadini’: B Castiglioni to G G Sforza, 13 Feb 1483, ASMi, cit. Yesterday an agreement was made between S and Gonzaga, whereby Guido Torelli is to have a provisione of 4,000 ducats until he has benefices of equivalent value: G G Sforza to B Castiglioni, 21 Feb 1483, ASMi, cit. S has gone to besiege the castle of Felino, taking with him as hostage the son of Guido de’ Rossi who was captured trying to flee to the Venetians; it is said he plans to kill him within sight of his mother in the castle: B Rucellai to the Dieci, 10 May 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 329. There are rumours in Milan than Marsilio Torelli been held in the camp by S: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 18 May 1483, ASMa, cit. After supplying Felino, S hopes to have all the other Rossi territories soon: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 23 May 1483, ASMa. Ercole d’Este will not agree to give Castelnuovo da Reggiano to -- Torelli, unless he receives something in exchange; Alfonso d’Aragona says S will never agree; Federico Gonzaga is complaining he because feels his honour is involved: J Guicciardini in Ferrara to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 26 May 1483, MAP, 48, 304. S wrote yesterday that he has come to terms with Torchiara and taken hostages; his hopes of securing S Secondo soon: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 6 June 1483, ASMa, cit. S is about to begin the siege of S Secondo: B Rucellai to the Dieci, 11 June 1483, Dieci, Resp, 28, 23. A doctor is being sent from Milan to the Milanese camp; Saggi thinks S is afraid of Roberto di Sanseverino and wants to return to Milan, saying it is on medical advice: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 12 June 1483, ASMa, cit. S has had Marsilio Torelli arrested: 13 June 1483, Caleffini, 103. When Saggi spoke to S about money for Federico Gonzaga, Marsilio Torelli and Francesco Secco, S said he did not want to make himself ill by attending to business: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 10 July 1483, ASMa, cit. S has taken to going hunting, Saggi thinks this is to avoid being asked for money, rather than because he wants to go: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 16 Dec 1483, ASMa, cit.

S’s practice is not to pass on news until two or three days after he has received it: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 17 May 1484, ASMa, cit. Talks between Bernardo Buongirolami, Antonio Baldracane and S: Z Saggi to Federico Gonzaga, 24 June 1484, ASMa, AG, 1628. S wishes to assure himself of Pietro dal Verme by getting control of his fortresses: -- Aug 1484, MAP, 48, 32. Guidantonio Vespucci thinks that S wants peace for two reasons, one of which he has already mentioned to Lorenzo; the other is to be reconciled with Roberto di Sanseverino in order to deprive his rivals in Milan of Roberto’s support: 3 Aug 1484, MAP, 39, 275. S is angry that he is being blamed for the peace decision: 3 Aug 1484, MAP, 39, 290. His designs on Monferrato: 9 Aug 1484, ASS, BC[??], 519, ins 61. His closeness to [Roberto di?] Sanseverino: 9 Aug 1484, MAP, 48,19. The Venetian provveditori persuade S to agree that the Genoese be allowed to ‘entrare nella pace’ since this was a matter ‘principalmente apartenente allo stato di Milano’: 10 Aug 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 23. Considers Cardinal Sclafenati a possible ally: 14 Aug 1484, MAP, 48, 24. His words against the Torelli: 15 Sept 1484, G Lanfredini, Copialettere, BNF, II, V, 15, 135. His previous predilection for Cardinal Piccolomini as pope: 18 Aug 1484, MAP, 39, 289. His first choices for papacy are Cardinals Nardini and Arcimboldi, his second choices Cardinals Piccolomini and Carafa: 20 Aug 1484, MAP, 48, 28. Is doing all he can to be friendly to Girolamo Riario; nominates for pope Cardinals Carafa, Arcimboldi, Nardini, Rangone, Piccolomini and Margarit, and excludes Cardinals Cibo, Costa and Borgia: 21 Aug 1484, MAP, 39, 292. His plan to remove the castellan of Piziatone; Lorenzo has urged S to control his fortresses: 24 Aug 1484, MAP, 48, 31. Under pressure from Pier Filippo Pandolfini, S refused to concede to Domenico Doria the office of S Giorgio: 26 Aug 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 79. S’s desire to stop paying the Torelli: 29 Aug 1484, MAP, 48, 34. Luca Grimaldi spoke to Alfonso d’ Aragona and S regarding the Sarzana impresa: 1 Sept 1484, Otto, Miss, 3, 95-6. Urged Lorenzo to hold firm to negotiations with ser Taddeo and with the Ordelaffi: 4 Sept 1484, MAP, 48, 39. Lorenzo’s letters to Pandolfini tell him to ask S to order Milanese troops to obey Florentine commissioners in case of an attack against Pietrasanta: 5 Sept 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 125. At the insistance of Giovanni Angelo Talenti Lorenzo gets Pandolfini to recommend Vercellino Visconti to S in his name: 14 Sept 1484, MAP, 48, 47. His verbal attacks on Giovanni Borromei, the Torelli and the dal Verme; his sister Ippolita, duchess of Calabria, worries about him: 15 Sept 1484, G Lanfredini, Copialettere, BNF, II, V, 15, 135. He showed Pandolfini the agreement between Innocent and Milan whereby the pope committed himself to doing all he could to ensure that Genoa returns under Milanese domination: 15 Sept 1484, MAP, 48, 45. Told Roberto di Sanseverino that it would be good for all ambassadors to go together to render obedience to the pope; if he agreed with this, he should inform Venetian Signoria: 19 Sept 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 187.

S denies that there was clause in the peace of Bagnolo obliging the signatories to give him and Roberto di Sanseverino military help in Monferrato: 23 Oct 1484, ASMi, SPE, Venezia, 373. The Otto report to him that Gian Carlo Anguissola is being hired by the Genoese and ask him to stop it: 30 Oct 1484, Otto, Miss, 3, 104. Pressures Innocent to make Girolamo Riario Captain of the Church: 17/18 Nov 1484, MAP, 39, 384. Wants to recover S Mauro and is sending Stefano Taverna to stay with Giovanni Oliva and the Bentivoglio: 24 Nov 1484, MAP, 39, 389. His closeness to Girolamo Riario and Venetians (which Lorenzo says makes the other allies suspicious), his distrust of Ferrante and lack of esteem for Florence and Papacy: 26 Nov 1484, MAP, 48, 265. S shows great favour shown to the Venetian ambassador, the sons of Roberto di Sanseverino and Antonio Baldracane: 27 Nov 1484, MAP, 48, 266. A secret deal made after Bagnolo gave him the marquisate of Monferrato; S gave the Rossi signoria to son Lione: -- Dec 1484, MAP, 48, 267. His failed attempt to get 100 infantry into the castello of Milan: -- Dec 1484, MAP, 48, 271. Lorenzo’s letter of 25 Nov to Bernardo Rucellai urging S to give up Girolamo Riario: 1 Dec 1484, MAP, 48, 268. S favours Riario: 9 Dec 1484, G Lanfredini, Copialettere, BNF, II, V, 15, 184. According to a Milanese secretary, S has never changed his real view of Riario: 11 Dec 1484, MAP, 48, 269. Lorenzo persuades the Florentine ambassador to report (falsely, according to Venice) to S that Venice has a secret emissary in Rome to discuss the interdict: 13 Dec 1484, ASV, Sen Secr, 32, 116. Discussed relations between Florence and Milan with Bernardo Rucellai in the presence of Gian Giacomo Trivulzio, Giovanni Angelo Talenti, Bartolomeo Calco, and Luigi Terzago’s secretary: 14 Dec 1484, MAP, 48, 27(4). Jacopo Antiquario claims that S was bribed by Riario to take a friendly line towards him, and bribed by Venice to make sure they got the Polesine; Rucellai has also heard that S is very well off to tune of 300,000 ducats, and all the expenses of his residence outside Milan are paid by his nephew the duke: 19 Dec 1484, MAP, 48, 274. Rarely enters the rocca and with a few intimates like Terzago, not, as before, with a great train; the council no longer meets in the rocca: 24 Dec 1484, MAP, 48, 277. Summoned Gian Giacomo Trivulzio, Giovanni Aangelo Talenti, Giovan Andrea Cagnola, Antonio da Marliano, Piero da Birago and Bartolomeo Calco to be present at his great justification of Milanese policy towards Florence: 30 Dec 1484, MAP, 48, 278. Bernardo Rucellai complained to S regarding the failure of the Torelli to give satisfaction to Florentine merchants; Lorenzo’s letter to Rucellai of 23 Dec regarding getting S to declare himself, or make a full justification of the Milanese position: 30 Dec 1484, MAP, 48, 278. Is keen for a league with Venice: 31 Dec 1484, ASV, Dieci, Misti, 22, 131.

S is keen not to give Girolamo Riario a stipendio, just protection, lest Lorenzo start being perturbed by Riario’s greatness: 1 Jan 1485, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 245. Justifies to Rome and Naples his failure to send ambassadors to Rome to render obedience; prohibits Battista Fregoso from returning to the Genoese impresa: 1 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 2. The great importance he attaches to Genoese affairs is behind his ordering Agostino Fregoso and Giovanni Spinola not to proceed further with the Genoese impresa: 2 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 10. Told Battista Fregoso not to proceed further without his leave: 2 Jan 1485, Otto, Miss, 3, 111. Niccolò Michelozzi is sent to Milan to discover why S has ordered Spinola and Fregoso to desist from the Genoese enterprise: 2 Jan 1485, Dieci, Delib, 22, 86-8. Lorenzo’s view that the Sforza line on Girolamo Riario is caused by S’s desire to be able to use both Riario and Florence to best advantage; S’s great fear is that Ferrante will take over Genoa and his fear of Roberto di Sanseverino makes him stick close to Venice: 3 Jan 1485, MAP, 48, 279. The purpose of Michelozzi’s mission is to find out why S is behaving badly to Florence; the secrecy of his ambassadors, and his attitude towards Genoa: Lorenzo de’ Medici to N Michelozzi, [3] Jan 1485, Lettere, VIII, 111-21. Is prepared to let Giovanni Spinola go on the Genoa enterprise, but not Battista Fregoso, as he dpes not trust him: 7 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 58. S’s fear of Ferrante stopped him helping Florence to overthrow the regime in Genoa: 7 Jan 1485, MAP, 48, 280. The Spinola are S’s raccomandati: 8 Jan 1485, Otto, Miss, 3, 113-15. S is much better disposed towards Florence than he was before: 13 Jan 1485, MAP, 48, 288. By the terms of the deal between Milan and Naples, he will hire Girolamo Riario: 19 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 194. His licenza to Giovanni Spinola to go on the Genoese impresa: 20 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 201. Allowed Florence to use Carlo Fieschi; ordered Gian Carlo Anguissola to leave Genoese service: 21 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 227. According to Innocent, S is party to Roberto di Sanseverino’s designs on Bologna: 25 Jan 1485, MAP, 39, 71. Claims that Ferrante offered Cardinal Paolo Fregoso all sorts of bribes to surrender Genoa to him: 27 Jan 1485, MAP, 48, 282. Held up all the infantry commanders hired by Florence; then said that would let them go providing Florence guarantees that they would help recover Genoa if it fell into foreign hands: 27 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 290. Refuses cash for the impresa against Genoa, even though Gian Luigi Fieschi is an enemy of his: 7 Feb 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 329. Lorenzo’s dislike for close relations both S and Venice and S and Riario; Lorenzo says that S did not help him in 1479; however, Lorenzo is determined to try for good relations between Florence and Milan: 12 Feb 1485, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 4.

The Adorno pratica with Simonetto Belprat in which Lorenzo is involved; their negotiations for an accord with Paolo Fregoso and with the community of Genoa; S is also involved, at least in the first of these: 2 or 3 Apr 1485 [probably 1486], Dieci, Resp, 34, 2. S’s involvement in negotations for an accord between Florence and Genoa; he asks Bernardo Rucellai if thinks that he should step in as an intermediary; Rucellai thinks this means S wants to have Pietrasanta in his hands; S does not like the idea of a cash settlement: 8 Apr 1485, Dieci, Resp, 34, 10. S wants the Milanese and Venetian ambassadors to thank Innocent for lifting the censures against Venice, and to apologise for delay in dispatch of embassies; is negotiating for a marriage between his widowed sister Bianca and the illegitimate son Matthias Corvinus; isdispleased by the Monferrato-Savoy marriage, although he feigns pleasure at it: 8 Apr 1485, Dieci, Resp, 34, 11. A long tour d’horizon letter from Bernardo Rucellai on S’s current likes, dislikes and objectives: 20 Apr 1485, MAP, 51, 300. With regard to Roberto di Sanseverino, S does not think there will be a war, but pledges support for Florence if there is: 22 Apr 1485, Dieci, Resp, 34, 46. Via intermediaries, S has put to Paolo Fregoso the three alternative Florentine proposals for resolution of the Sarzana business; washes his hands of the Biolchi case: 22 Apr 1485, Dieci, Resp, 34, 46. Concedes Giovanni Spinola to Florence for the Genoa enterprise: 22 Apr 1485, MAP, 51, 299. Neither denied nor accepted Roberto di Sanseverino’s pleas to let him go against Siena; referred the matter to Venice, who refused Roberto leave to go: 27 Apr 1485, Dieci, Resp, 34, 62. Guarantees Giovanni Bentivoglio’s regime in Bologna: Lorenzo de’ Medici to N Michelozzi, 29 Apr 1485, Lettere, VIII, 176-7. Tells Bernardo Rucellai that he will do all he can to prevent Roberto from moving south: 30 Apr 1485, Dieci, Resp, 34, 77. His attempts to get the Otto to induce Galeotto Manfredi to evict Anton Maria degli Ordelaffi, to remove Girolamo Riario’s fear and suspicion: 4 May 1485, Otto, Miss, 3, 132-3. Roberto di Sanseverino persuades S to ask Venice to release him so can engage in the Sienese enterprise: 11 May 1485, ASV, Dieci, Misti, 22, 166. Ordered Jacomino, Giovanni Spinola’s chancellor, to go to Siena to help the regime: 13 May 1485, MAP, 26, 363. Keeps asking Bernardo Rucellai about the progress of the translation of the Sforziad: 25 May 1485, MAP, 51, 312. Giuliano della Rovere reports that S is intriguing greatly with Paolo Fregoso and is discontented that Florence has got Pietrasanta: 30 May 1485, MAP, 26, 392. His complaints regarding the actions of Galeotto Manfredi against Girolamo Riario: 7 June 1485, Otto, Miss, 4, 64-5[cf Otto, Miss, 3, 132-3, 4 May 1485]. Tells Innocent that Genoa belongs to Milan: 4 June 1485, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 97. His hostility to the parentado between the son of Gabriele Malaspina and the daughter of Guido de’ Rossi: 8 June 1485, Otto, Miss, 4, 65-6. Prevents Ascanio Sforza coming to Milan; suspects Innocent, Florence, Naples and Roberto di Sanseverino of plotting against him: 18 June 1485, ASV, Dieci, Misti, 22, 184. Will not contemplate Florence launching attack on Sarzana; his subservience to Venice: 30 June 1485, MAP, 51, 321.

Supports Galeotto Pico against his brother Anton Maria in the Concordia affair: ------, MAP, 51, 330. His indifference to music: 26 Aug 1485, MAP, 51, 335. Lorenzo’s letter to Naples regarding confirmation of a particular league for mutual defence, and then using S to get Venice into a general league: 10 Sept 1485, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 246. Lorenzo says that S’s temporising was the cause of both the Ferrarese war and of the present one: Lorenzo de’ Medici to N Michelozzi in Florence, 19 Sept 1485, Lettere, VIII, 291. Lorenzo thinks that S is too scared to block Roberto di Sanseverino’s descent: Lorenzo de’ Medici to P F Pandolfini, 23 Sept 1485, Lettere, VIII, 298. Complains that it is Florence’s fault that she and Milan do not see eye to eye: Lorenzo de’ Medici to F Gaddi, 14 Oct 1485, BNF, GC, 137, 2-4; Lettere, IX, 7-24. Receives a lordship worth 12,000 ducats p a from Pietro dal Verme, who had died: 22 Oct 1485, MAP, 26, 465. His closest counsellor is Galeazzo di Sanseverino: 22 Oct 1485, MAP, 26, 465. Requests 6,000 ducats: Lorenzo de’ Medici to F Gaddi in Parma, 8 Nov 1485, Lettere, IX, 38. Lorenzo’s letter of 4 Nov to Francesco Gaddi regarding S’s financial contribution; Lorenzo’s instruction to Leonardo Botta on the blank sheet provided by S was much approved: 8 Nov 1485, MAP, 26, 478. Lorenzo has got the Martelli family to ‘fare la promessa di quella securtate’ for Montecchio, as S wanted: Lorenzo de’ Medici to Ludovico Sforza, 26 Nov 1485, Lettere, IX, 54-5. S’s letter to Lorenzo regarding persuading Ferrante to remove Anello Arcamone from Rome: 3 Dec 1485, Otto, Miss, 3, 184-6. His fear that Ferrante’s rapprochement with Antonello Petrucci will lead to a revival of Petrucci’s influence; S gives Lorenzo leave to open all the letters coming from Rome and Naples: 7 Dec 1485, MAP, 26,493. Jacopo Guicciardini to follow S’s instructions when visits Giovanni Bentivoglio in Bologna; wants Florence to cut off the flow of cash from France to Rome; S allows Lorenzo to read Stefano Taverna’s reports from Bracciano: Lorenzo de’ Medici to F Gaddi, 11-12 Dec 1485, Lettere, IX, 60-72. Agrees to Virginio Orsini being given the title of governor of the League’s forces: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini in Milan, 23 Dec 1485, Lettere, IX, 80. Asked Lorenzo for a copy of the Morgante: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini, 30 Dec 1485, Lettere, IX, 97.

S writes to Lorenzo regarding the departure of Leonardo Botta from Rome and leaving the decision to Lorenzo, who passes it on to the Otto: 3 Jan 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 89. Allows Lorenzo to send Niccolò Michelozzi to Virginio Orsini and Alfonso d’Aragona; has broken off the peace pratica Ascanio Sforza had with Innocent and is following that of Lorenzo: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini in Milan, 5 Jan 1486, Lettere, IX, 100-2. Has decided not to send an embassy to Venice; has decided to send only 500 provvisionati: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini, 14 Jan 1486, Lettere, IX, 123-7. Will send cash to Giovan Francesco di Sanseverino to hire 500 provvisionati if he invades Roman territory without waiting for reinforcemnts from Lombardy: 23 Jan 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 94-5. S had received letters from Virginio Orsini and Giovan Francesco Oliva, dated 15 and 18 Jan: J Guicciardini to the Dieci, 29 Jan 1486, Lettere, IX, 144. Lorenzo criticises S’s attempt to keep Ferrante from signing an accord with Innocent on the one hand while negotiating for a peace via Venice on the other: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini, 2 Feb 1486, Lettere, IX, 153. His views on negotiations with Castrocane da Monteleone[?], Francesco da Iesi and Boccolino da Osimo; on Todi; on negotiations with the Baglioni about Perugia and with sons of Niccolò Vitelli about Città di Castello; on hiring the Farnese lords: 4 Feb 1486, Dieci, Resp, 33, 281. Galeazzo Maria Sforza imprisoned Filippo degli Oddi because of his crimes; therefore S does not trust him: 8 Feb 1486, Dieci, Resp, 33, 304. Ferrante defends the option of summoning a council against S’s doubts: 2 Mar 1486, Dieci, Resp, 33, 455.An unnamed friar and papal cubicularius on a mission from Innocent to persuade S to back the papal side: 7 Mar 1486, Dieci, Resp, 33, 473. S asks Lorenzo to use his influence with the government of Siena to stop fra Simone de Plenis da Milano having the chapter of the Humiliati meeting at Siena instead of Milan; the chapter will elect a new general of the Order: 22 Mar 1486, MAP, 45, 205. His reluctance to offend Filippo degli Eustachi: 5 Apr 1486, MAP, 48, 345. Has begun to take seriously developments in France and wants to cause trouble for Paolo Fregoso: 15 Apr 1486, MAP, 39, 462. In Lorenzo’s estimation S has treated him very badly regarding his house in Milan: Lorenzo de’ Medici to G G Sforza, 15 Apr 1486, Lettere, IX, 249-51. His passionate desire for peace using the Venetians as intermediaries; his main fear is that Venice will declare in favour of Innocent: 16 Apr 1486, MAP, 39, 464. Lorenzo thinks S’s military preparations are slowing down: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini, 25 Apr 1486, Lettere, IX, 257-60. His new proposal to resolve the difficulty regarding Lorenzo’s house in Milan: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini, 6 May 1486, Lettere, IX, 266. Informs Lorenzo of the pratica of Gaspare del Paradiso and refers it to Alfonso d’Aragona: Lorenzo de’ Medici to Ludovico Sforza, 29 May 1486, Lettere, IX, 316. He will give Roberto di Sanseverino nothing: 8 June 1486, MAP, 48, 350. The Dieci tell Jacopo Guicciardini to persuade S to help Florence recover Sarzana: 9 June 1486, Otto, Miss, 5, 7-8. Lorenzo approves S’s decision, reported in Florence by Gaspare del Paradiso regarding the pratiche di pace: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini, 9 July 1486, Lettere, IX, 366. His distrust of Gian Giacomo Trivulzio: 11 July 1486, MAP, 39, 530. His tardiness in sending money is criticised by Lorenzo: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini, 21 July 1486, Lettere, IX, 380. Both Venice and Genoa have fooled him: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini, 26 July 1486, Lettere, IX, 383. Is sending 20,000 ducats for his troops: 7 Aug 1486, Dieci, Miss, 7, 82-3. Decides to send an embassy to Venice: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini, 11 Aug 1486, AGF, LC, 5, 331; Lettere, IX, 400. Uses Gian Giacomo Trivulzio in the peace negotiations: 18 Aug 1486, MAP, 39, 546. His debt to Galeotto Manfredi: 22 Aug 1486, Dieci, Miss, 6, 74-5. Is giving 400 men-at-arms and 500 provisionati to Ferrante: 29 Aug 1486, Dieci, Miss, 6, 75-6. The Dieci ask Jacopo Guicciardini to get him to persuade Giovanni Biolchi to accept Bologna as the site for a hearing regarding his silks: 2 Sept 1486, Dieci, Miss, 6, 76-7. Urges that Jacopo d’Appiano and Antonio da Marsciano be allowed to go to Naples with Alfonso d’Aragona: 6 Sept 1486, Dieci, Miss, 6, 77. Piero Alamanni’s mandate for his mission to S: 20 Nov 1486, Dieci, Miss, 6, 80-1.

 

Sforza, Sforzino (Sforza Secondo) 1433-post 1501

Career: Illegitimate son of Francesco Sforza, duke of Milan; m Antonia, daughter of Luigi dal Verme. Governor general of Parma in 1483; governor of Piacenza in 1484.

Refs: Asks Lorenzo to lend 100 ducats to Gian Paolo da Casale, who is going to Puglia on S’s behalf to buy horses: 21 Feb 1482, MAP, 137, 452. Ordered to obey Federico da Montefeltro: 13 May 1482, G G Sforza to S Sforza, ASMi, SPE, 843. Took S Andrea and Cavrone from Pier Maria de’ Rossi; failed to take Roccaleone: 14 May 1482, Cron Lomb, 106. Francesco Gaddi is to make himself known to S in Parma: Otto to F Gaddi, 30 May 1482, Min, 12, 301-2. Returned to Parma with many troops; made an unsuccessful attempt to besiege S Secondo: 8 June 1482, Cron Lomb, 109. Sent to the Ferrarese to command Milanese forces; Beltrame de’ Rossi has written to him, saying he wants to be reconciled with the stato; Ludovico Sforza has ordered S to help Beltrame against his brother Guido: Z Saggi in Milan to Federico Gonzaga, 4 Sept 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. Sent from Ferrara to the camp: 10 Sept 1482, Zambotti, 114. S arrived at the camp near Ferrara with Milanese troops: Dieci to B Gianfigliazzi, 21 Sept 1482, Dieci, LC, 5, 71-2; Dieci to B Rucellai, 21 Sept 1482, Dieci, LC, 5, 2-4. Is attacking the Rossi: Dieci to B Rucellai, 15 Oct 1482, Dieci, LC, 5, 11-13. Has a pratica with stradiotti: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 8 Dec 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3.

Bibliog: Cerioni, I, 232

 

Sgnippo, Bartolomeo

Refs: Secretary of Antonio da Montecatini; during Antonio’s absence from Florence, S reported on the plot of Battista Frescobaldi and Amoretto Baldovinetti to kill Lorenzo de’ Medici: B. Sgnippo to Antonio da Montecatini, 3 June 1481, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 2.

 

Silvestro da Forlì, fra

Career: Observant Franciscan, astrologer, councillor and friend of Galeotto Manfredi. Sometimes described as Galeotto’s pimp and his go-between with Cassandra Pavoni in the convent of S Maglorio.

Refs: With Gian Piccinino de’ Petrucci, appointed Galeotto Manfredi’s procurator for negotiations at Rimini, 1481: Lettere, V, 244. To be sent by Galeotto to Lorenzo (though there is some doubt about this): S della Stufa, captain of Castrocaro, to the Dieci, 17 Jan 1483, Dieci, Resp, 26, 49. With Antonio Paganucci, sent by Galeotto to Florence: Dieci to P F Pandolfini, 24 Apr 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 152-3. Again with Paganucci, left Florence yesterday, taking money for ‘il computo vechio’ of Ferrante and 500 ‘per computo’ of Florence: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 27 Apr 1483, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. With Paganucci, came to Florence to receive money and make an agreement: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’E ste, 27 May 1483, ASMo, cit. ‘[T]andem cognobi che Sua Signoria [Galeotto] amava piu questo frate chi el proprio honore’: F Redditi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 10 June 1483, MAP, 54, 305.

 

Simone d’Arezzo

Ref: Has left Pisa with sixty infantry: 11 Mar 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 135-6.

 

Simone da Corona

Ref: Infantry constable on the League side: 8 Mar 1486, Dieci, Resp, 33, 477.

 

Simone da Firenzuola

Ref: Recommendation for S, who is coming to Milan to try to regain some of his property from Jacopo Botti, bishop of Tortona: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini in Milan, 1 July 1486, Lettere, IX, 353.

 

Simonetta, Cicco c. 1410-1480

Career: Francesco Sforza’s Neapolitan secretary. Largely took over the Milanese government after the assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, and acted as regent for Duke Gian Galeazzo with the help of Duchess Bona. Always regarded as an upstart by the leading Milanese families. Successfully overcame the first attempts of Galeazzo Maria’s brothers to seize power. After the Pazzi conspiracy, when Naples and Sixtus attacked Florence, S sent troops to aid the Medici. Ludovico Sforza took the opportunity to ally with Naples and stir up a revolt in Genoa. S pacified Genoa by making Battista Fregoso doge. He was further distracted by a Swiss attack supported by Sixtus. Betrayed by Bona, who came to an agreement with Ludovico and welcomed him to Milan. A ghibelline revolt against him ensured his imprisonement at Pavia. Executed.

Ref: Ludovico Sforza and his associates have decided to kill S and are proceeding with his trial; they do not want to worry about him any more, knowing that women’s minds change easily; however, they are trying to get him to disgorge all his money first: P F Pandolfini at Milan to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 23 June 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 247-8. News that S has been executed: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 31 Oct 1480, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 2.

 

Sinibaldi, Antonello

Ref: A secretary and diplomatic representative of Virginio Orsini in 1485: Lettere, VIII, 210-1.

 

Sinibaldi, Antonio Francesco

Ref: Sent to Camillo and Giovanni Sforza at Pesaro to secure the return of mules taken by Bartolomeo Mancini: 2 Nov 1484, Dieci, Delib, 24, 64-6.

 

Sinibaldi, Falcone

Refs: Innocent makes him papal treasurer: 1 Sept 1484, MAP, 39, 308. Head of the French embassy to Italy and special mandato of René d’A njou, duke of Lorraine: 6 Apr 1486, MAP, 39, 459. A native of Provence: 14 Apr 1486, MAP, 39, 461. Put up at Poggio a Caiano, 8 May: 9 May 1486, MAP, 39, 480.

Bibliog: Partner, Pope’s men, 48-51, 251

 

Sinigardi, Pietro

Ref: Agent of the priors and gonfalonier of Arezzo, concerning grain from Giovanni de’ Medici’s abbey of S Michele at Arezzo: Lorenzo de’ Medici to the priors and gonfalonier of Arezzo, 10 Mar 1484, Lettere, VII, 367-8.

 

Sixtus IV (Francesco della Rovere) d. 1484

Career: General of the Franciscan order; cardinal, 1467; pope, 1471-84. His pontificate was characterised by nepotism on a scale unequalled by previous popes, his most highly favoured nipoti being the clerics Pietro Riario (d 1474) and Giuliano della Rovere, and the layman Girolamo Riario. Girolamo Riario was the key figure behind the Pazzi conspiracy to assassinate Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici in 1478, after the failure of which Sixtus excommunicated Lorenzo and, together with his Neapolitan allies, attacked Florence. Again, it was Riario who led the papacy into an alliance with Venice in 1480, in consequence of which Venice was encouraged to attack Ferrara in 1482. With Rome vulnerable to the forces of the anti-Venetian powers, Sixtus made peace with the League in Dec 1482. News of the peace of Bagnolo, which was favourable to Venice, precipitated the pope’s death in Aug 1484.

Refs: Text of the league signed between S, Naples, Milan and Florence, 13 Mar 1480: Lettere, V, 279-90. After the papal/Venetian peace was published at Venice on Ascension Day, a picture of Sixtus’s head was set up on a rostrum in Piazza S Marco, ‘la quale mi parve più giovane e più bello ch’io non ne stimaro’: L Guicicardini to the Otto, 13 May 1480, Otto, Resp, 1, 6. Venice undertook not to assist Antonello da Forlì if S chose to chastise him for his errors: G Franciotti in Rome to the Anziani of Lucca, 13 May 1480, Registri Anziani, 89. According to Pier Filipo Pandolfini, S agreed to pardon Roberto Malatesta at Venice’s request: P F Pandolfini to G A Vespucci in France, 16 May 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 208-9. There is a fear that S might have Roberto Malatesta strike at Forlì in retaliation for the League’s aiding of Cecco Ordelaffi’s sons: P F Pandolfini to the Otto, 13 July 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 10, 267-9. S is concerned about Ferrante’s influence in Genoa and has sent Prospero Adorno there; he also believes that Milan is backing Obietto Fieschi: Milanese ambassadors in Rome to G G Sforza, 12 Dec 1480, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 88. Received Lorenzo Zane: Milanese orators in Rome to G G Sforza, 28 Jan 1481, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 87. Leonardo Botta told Guidantonio Vespucci that S and Girolamo Riario had forgotten their rancour towards Lorenzo: G A Vespucci in Rome to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 20 Mar 1481, MAP, 36, 12. S has agreed to remove the censures against his vicars if they pay their censi within four months: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 24 Mar 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 99-100. S and Riario have sought to outlaw Filippo degli Oddi for having killed one of Cecco Ordelaffi’s sons, but the Perugians and Federico da Montefeltro have refused to accept the ban, and Federico says it is a device to shift guilt from Riario himself: G A Vespucci to the Otto, 26 Mar 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 98.

S rejected the idea of the Faenza censo being accredited to Ferrante and asked for cash down: G A Vespucci to the Otto, 1 Apr 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 112. It was said that S refused to accept credit for the Faenza censo because he needed money desperately for the fleet being prepared in Genoa; Milan asked Naples and Florence to pay their shares of Galeotto Manfredi’s condotta so that he could pay his census and avoid trouble with S: T Ridolfi in Milan to the Otto, 6 Apr 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 118-19. S asked Federico da Montefeltro for the year of rispetto without even consulting Naples: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 6 Apr 1481, MAP, 48, 65. S and Riario are asking Venice to pardon Lorenzo Zane: Council of Ten to Z Barbaro, 7 Apr 1481, ASV, Dieci, Misti, 20, 96. S has urged Florence and Milan to persuade Obietto Fieschi and Prospero Adorno not to attack Genoa: M Trotti at Matera to G G Sforza, 23 Apr 1481, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 232. According to Pier Filippo Pandolfini, S pardoned Galeotto Manfredi at Venice’s request: P F Pandolfini to G A Vespucci, 16 May 1481, ------. S is willing to forgive Manfredi if the census is paid and to issue bulls similar to those for Roberto Malatesta: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 24 May 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 261. Guidantonio Vespucci complains of not being able to speak to either S or Riario: G A Vespucci to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 26 May 1481, MAP, 38, 191. Riario was terrified that S might agree to Vespucci’s request to repay Lorenzo the money taken from him during the war, as all income now goes to him; Riario would not let S say anything, in fact, and made sure the request was firmly refused: G A Vespucci to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 5 June 1481, MAP, 38, 204. Ludovico Sforza suggested Cardinal d’Estouteville as a possible successor to S: T Ridolfi in Milan to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 18 July 1481, Sig, X, VIII, 4, 59-60. Antonio de’ Medici had waited two days for an audience with S, but had not been able to have one, as the pope was resting after an illness: Antonio de’ Medici in Rome to the Otto, 21 July 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 383. From the legate, Cardinal Savelli, S was under the impression that Obietto Fieschi had received men-at-arms, archers and infantry from Milan; Savelli admitted that it was probably a deception: Milanese ambassadors at Rome to G G Sforza, 25 July 1481, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 89. S’s opposition to Girolamo Riario’s visit to Venice has been withdrawn, despite the opposition of Federico da Montefeltro: one of the Milanese orators in Rome to G G Sforza, 7 Aug 1481, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 89. S apparently opposed to Riario’s trip to Venice but finally agreed because of the argument that Riario had to go to Padua for a vow, and therefore could not avoid visiting Venice: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’E ste, 16 Aug 1481, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 2. Louis XI has presented various requests via Cardinal Hugonet, which has irritated S because this bypasses Girolamo Riario as well as Giuliano della Rovere: T Ridolfi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 4 Sept 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 435-7. S is staying with the Orsini at Bracciano: B Castiglioni at Bracciano to the Otto, 28 Sept 1481, Otto, Resp, 1, 467. S is very annoyed by threats made by Charles II d’Anjou towards Giuliano della Rovere and is threatening to place Provence under an interdict: T Ridolfi to the Otto, 3 Oct 1481, Otto, Resp, 2, 2 and 4 and 5. The desire of S and Riario to implicate Galeotto Manfredi, Giovanni Bentivoglio and possibly Ercole d’Este in the plot at Forlì: Lettere, VI, 89. S has given Nicola Orsini a condotta of 8,000 ducats a year: G F Salarolo at Rome to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 2 Dec 1481, MAP, 38, 367. S claims he does not want war and regrets Venetian activities: G Tornabuoni to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 17 Dec 1481, MAP, 38, 376.

Galeotto Manfredi’s representative had an audience with S, who reprimanded him for his disobedience, but pardoned him: G Tornabuoni in Rome to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 5 Jan 1482, MAP, 38, 69. There is a rumour in Rome that Federico Gonzaga has been won over by S: G Tornabuoni in Rome to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 9 Jan 1482, MAP, 73, 388. S and Giuliano della Rovere have offered Louis XI a decima, of which he can have a share: F Gaddi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 11 Jan 1482, MAP, 38, 75. S is very pleased at the reception given to Giuliano in Pisa and Florence and is very much looking forward to seeing him in Rome: G Tornabuoni to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 29 Jan 1482, MAP, 38, 83. S turned down Tommaso Ridolfi’s petition about benefices because of Guidantonio Vespucci’s: G A Vespucci in Rome to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 23 Mar 1482, MAP, 38, 416. A joint condotta for Pier Maria de’ Rossi with Venice and S was agreed in late Apr; Venice is to pay the pope’s share in return for S paying a share of Giulio Cesare da Varano’s condotta: ASV, Sen Secr, 30, 83-4. S is holding up some of Federico da Montefeltro’s men-at-arms who have been lodged around Fermo: F Ricci to G G Sforza, late Apr/early May 1482, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 240. S and Girolamo Riario are hoping France will try to restore Bona Sforza in Milan: Otto to B Rucellai, 6 May 1482, Min, 12, 242-3; G A Vespucci in Rome to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 8 May 1482, MAP, 38, 446. S says Pietro Guglielmo Rocca and the Sienese ambassadors should go to the Camera Apostolica to find out why the Camera issued a brief against Sienese citizens: L Lanti to the Signoria of Siena, 25 May 1482, ASS, Conc, 2048, 20. Cardinals Colonna and Savelli and Mariano Savelli arrested by S for conspiring with the Neapolitans: 2 June 1482, Infessura, 91. They were incarcerated after S asked barons and cardinals to put fortresses under papal guard: S Ottieri and L Lanti in Rome to the Signoria of Siena, 3 June 1482, ASS, Conc, 2048, 33. S says Cardinal Savelli has been plotting to admit Alfonso d’Aragona to Rome and to assassinate S and Girolamo Riario: L Lanti to the Signoria of Siena, 5 June 1482, ASS, Conc, 2048, 35. There are rumours in Rome that S is thinking of making Rinaldo Orsini a cardinal: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 20 June 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. Together with Girolamo Riario and Giuliano della Rovere, S was pleased by news of Cardinal Piccolomini’s arbitration in Sienese affairs: S Ottieri and L Lanti in Rome to the Signoria of Siena, 30 June 1482, ASS, Conc, 2048, 98. S complained about Antonio da Montefeltro being at Città di Castello: L Lanti and S Ottieri to the Balia of Siena, 5 July 1482, ASS, Balia, 504, 45. S and Riario are negotiating via Giulio Cesare da Varano; Alfonso d’Aragona says that, if S sincere, he must give Riario’s wife and children as hostages: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 8 July 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. Nicola Caetani could not be more hated by S and Riario: Alfonso d’Aragona from the camp at Civita Lavinia to Ferrante, 11 Aug 1482, ASMi, cit. S is said to have reproached Riario for trusting too much in Venetian promises: B Castiglioni to G G Sforza, 20 Aug 1482, ASMi, cit. Giuliano della Rovere says S is more ready than before to make peace, because he now feels that he can negotiate from strength: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 30 Aug 1482, ASMo, cit. It has been reported from Rome that Giovanni Caracciolo and other prisoners taken after the Neapoltan defeat at Campomorto were well received by S, and that S was ready to negotiate peace: F Gaddi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 4 Sept 1482, Sig, X, VIII, 63, 145-6. Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia says that S and Riario are sure to have peace if they want it, whether they win or lose: B Castiglioni to G G Sforza, 9 Sept 1482, ASMi, cit. Anello Arcamone says S can only be brought to agree to peace by force of arms: B Castiglioni to G G Sforza, 10 Sept 1482, ASMi, cit. A major obstacle to S agreeing to peace with Ferrante is that Riario would lose Venetian protection and have to trust that of Lorenzo and the League: L Lanti to the Balia of Siena, 17 Sept 1482, ASS, Balia, 505, 77. S and Giuliano della Rovere are again enquiring about a condotta for Giovanni della Rovere: L Lanti to the Balia of Siena, 19 Sept 1482, ASS, Balia, 505, 81.

S is trying to reconcile Girolamo Riario to the League: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 2 Oct 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. S is again asking about a condotta for Giovanni della Rovere from Siena; the pope is very keen that Giovanni should have the title of Captain: L Lanti to the Signoria of Siena, 8 Oct 1482, ASS, Conc, 2050, 5. If S will not agree to peace on the terms specified, Giordano Orsini and other members of his family will go over to Naples: B Castiglioni to G G Sforza, 9 Oct 1482, ASMi, cit. Francesco da Noceto told Lorenzo Lanti of Sixtus’s plans to send Riario against the Florentines and request passage etc from Siena; S has considered investing Antonio da Montefeltro with the duchy of Urbino: L Lanti to the Balia of Siena, 12 Oct 1482, ASS, Balia, 506, 14. S threatened to withdraw Guidobaldo da Montefeltro’s investiture with Urbino if he attacked the Church: Z Saggi to Federico Gonzaga, 25 Oct 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. Ottaviano Ubaldini has heard from Giuliano della Rovere that S is willing to continue the peace pratica initiated by the late Federico da Montefeltro via Ubaldini; he suspects it may be just a gabit but feels that S may be inclined to peace: B Castiglioni to G G Sforza, 29 Oct 1482, ASMi, cit. Ludovico Sforza does not believe the approach to Ercole d’Este via Cardinal Gonzaga is genuinely meant by Sixtus: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 7 Nov 1482, ASMa, AG, 1627. S has written to Giovanni Bentivoglio, telling him to help Ferrara: ? to ?, 15 Nov 1482, included in Antonio da Montecatini’s dispatch of 20 Nov, ASMo, cit. Francesco Diedo said he had heard that S gave Giordano Orsini leave to speak to Alfonso d’Aragona, though the pope denies it: L Lanti in Rome to the Balia of Siena, 17 Nov 1482, ASS, Balia, 506, 48. S had instructed Giuliano della Rovere to write to Giovanni Bentivoglio about helping Ferrara: Milanese ambassador in Florence to Antonio da Montecatini, 20 Nov 1482, ASMo, cit. Giuliano has written to Ercole d’Este to say that S has reached an agreement with Ferrante: 25 Nov 1482, Caleffini, 33. Bartolomeo Scala’s opinion is that a league with the pope is possibly a bad thing, as S only wants advantages for himself and Riario: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 25 Nov 1482, ASMo, cit. S is determined that a condotta for Riario should be part of the peace terms: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 8 Dec 1482, ASMo, cit. Text of the peace treaty signed between Sixtus and the League in Rome, 12 Dec 1482: Lettere, VII, 481-98. Giuliano della Rovere told Ercole d’Este that S intended to send him as legate to Ferrara when peace has been concluded: G G Sforza to B Castiglioni, 16 Dec 1482, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 241. S says that Anello Arcamone and Riario are behind idea of Alfonso d’Aragona going via Sienese territory; S would rather he went by another route: L Lanti in Rome to the Balia of Siena, 21 Dec 1482, ASS, Balia, 506, 88. Alfonso d’Aragona’s private audience with S; S proposed that the League should give Pandolfo di Roberto Malatesta a condotta of 46,000 ducats p a: [F Gaddi] to the Dieci, 30 Dec 1482, Sig, X, VIII, 63, 195-6.

S has given two benefices in Faenza to an enemy of Galeotto Manfredi, a man of Girolamo Riario: S della Stufa to the Dieci, 17 Jan 1483, Dieci, Resp, 26, 49. Francesco Diedo says that S has already agreed to make Giovanni Battista Orsini a cardinal: L Lanti in Rome to the Signoria of Siena, 23 Jan 1483, ASS, Conc, 2054, 53. S has instructed Bartolomeo Maraschi, bishop of Città di Castello, to try to make agreement with the Torelli: Eleonora d’A ragona to Antonio da Montecatini, 30 Jan 1483, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. Giovanni Gianderoni says that S, contrary to the report by Sforza Bettini, is determined that Sienese territory should not be touched; it is said that Nicola Orsini did not have leave from S to take a condotta with Florence, and that S is not pleased with him: L Lanti in Rome to the Balia of Siena, 1 Feb 1483, ASS, Balia, 516, 79. S told Cardinal Piccolomini that Cardinal Cibo is being sent to Siena; Piccolomini, trying to stir up the pontiff, says that the Florentines are boasting that they have a good understanding with S: L Lanti in Rome to the Balia of Siena, 10 Feb 1483, ASS, Balia, 516, 99. S has already raised 100,000 ducats for Riario, who should soon be on his way to the Romagna with the money; they hope to have another 40,000 from the Spanish decime: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 13 Mar 1483, ASMa, AG, 1628. The diet at Cremona decided that Galeotto Manfredi’s condotta be renewed and that S was to accept him into the League despite the clause about the pope being free to chastise his vicars: Dieci to P F Pandolfini, [14-20?] Mar 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 140-1. Joan Margarit y Pau gave a decision very favourable to S when asked to adjudicate about Città di Castello; was this because he wanted a cardinal’s hat?: P F Pandolfini to the Dieci, 25 Mar 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 186-7. Following a conversation between S and Cardinal Zeno, Venice again offered Faenza to Riario in the hope of persuading S to consent to Venice keeping the Polesine: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 29 Mar 1483, MAP, 51, 221. S says that, as no ‘magistrato’ was involved in the trouble in Siena and, as it was not premeditated, Cardinal Cibo should stay: L Lanti to the Signoria of Siena, 3 Apr 1483, ASS, Conc, 2052, 5. Cardinals Barbo and Foscari have approached S about a peace: Dieci to P F Pandolfini, 5 Apr 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 146-7. S has ordered Simonetto Belprat to go to Genoa at once: B Castiglioni to G G Sforza, 13 Apr 1483, ASMi. S denies a report that Venice offered Riario a free hand in Faenza in return for the Polesine di Rovigo, saying that Venice regards Riario as an enemy: ambassadors in Rome to the Dieci, 27 Apr 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 294-5. S has suggested sending an envoy to Switzerland to stir up trouble against René, duke of Lorraine: ambassadors of the League to the Dieci, 6 May 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 321-4. S is pleased that Guidantonio Vespucci is to be the permanent ambassador: G A Vespucci to the Dieci, 10 May 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 330. S and Riario are urging the Sienese not to think of the restitution of Florentine towns at the moment: G A Vespucci to the Dieci, 15 May 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 338-9. In Riario’s absence Sixtus is referring the ambassadors to Cardinal Riario-Sansoni: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 31 May 1483, ASMo, cit.

S claims he has warned Lorenzo Zane not to help the Sienese exiles: G A Vespucci at Rome to the Dieci, 17 June 1483, Otto, Resp, 3, 5-6. S suggests Florence should give a condotta to Giulio Cesare da Varano on the same terms as those Costanzo Sforza had: G A Vespucci in Rome to the Dieci, 22 June 1483, Dieci, Resp, 28, 50-1. Giovan Francesco da Tolentino says that S is threatening to withdraw the bull of censure and concentrate on Città di Castello if Florence persists with the Sarzana impresa: B Rucellai to the Dieci, 30 June 1483, Dieci, Resp, 28, 83. Alfonso d’Aragona and S are asking for Nicola Orsini to be sent to Ferrara: T Biringhucci to the Balia of Siena, 30 June 1483, ASS, Balia, 512, 32. Cardinal Gonzaga says S does not want Riario to go to the camp and that he will probably return to Rome: J Guicciardini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 13 July 1483, MAP, 48, 329. S has instructed Riario not to leave the Romagna and to keep whatever troops he feels necessary, sending what he can to Lombardy: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 1 Aug 1483, ASMa, cit. Stefano Taleazzi has been to Venice without S’s permission and brought back terms that have persuaded S at least to listen: ambassadors of the League in Rome to their princes, 29 Oct 1483, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 94 and ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Roma, 3. S is not sending Taleazzi back to Venice, as had originally planned: ambassadors of the League in Rome to the Dieci, 7 Nov 1483, Dieci, Resp, 29, 289-91. Bernardo del Nero told Antonio da Montecatini that S and Riario do not want peace; too may people gain by the continuance of war: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 17 Nov 1483, ASMo, cit. Ludovico Sforza is sending Jacopo Antiquario to Rome to urge S to promote Ascanio Sforza: Z Saggi to Federico Gonzaga, 20 Nov 1483, ASMa, AG, 1628. S is sending Francesco da Noceto to Genoa: Dieci to G A Vespucci, 15 Dec 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 335. S has agreed to withdraw Stefano Taleazzi from Venice: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 7 Jan 1484, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. The Otto have learned that S has decided to suspend negotiations with Genoa and deal with the exiles instead: Otto to G A Vespucci, 15 Jan 1484, Otto, LC, 2, 3-4. Bongianni Gianfigliazzi believes the League will have to follow S’s lead regarding peace, but thinks that the pope will decide on war: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 17 May 1484, ASMo, cit. S is keen to prevent Giulio Cesare da Varano being hired by Venice: 7 June 1484, Otto, Miss, 2, 37-8. The Colonna rising in Rome may divert forces from the war effort against Venice; the Otto are angry that Sixtus and Girolamo Riario have got involved in this private affair at this point: 7 June 1484, Otto, Miss, 3, 70-2. S thought of calling in either the Swiss or Louis, duke of Orléans: G A Vespucci to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 31 July 1484, MAP, 39, 245. Anello Arcamone is forbidden to talk to S lest he make him oppose the peace negotiations: 3 Aug 1484, MAP, 39, 275. S is pleased with the idea of peace; has been persuaded that Anello Arcamone’s arguments against peace are simply special pleading: 5 Aug 1484, ASMi, SPE, Venezia, 373. Lorenzo’s letter of 6 Aug 1484 to Guidantonio Vespucci regarding reasons for S changing his mind regarding peace: MAP, 39, 281, 11 Aug 1484. Left only 25,000 ducats and c 200,000 ducats-worth of debt: 30 Oct 1484, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 96.

 

Soderini, Bartolomeo

Ref: Vicar of Francesco Soderini in the latter’s capacity as bishop of Volterra; the Dieci instruct the soprastanti alle Stinche to do with Thomme di Giovanni and Francesco di Ludovico Contughi whatever S wants: 2 Apr 1485, Dieci, Delib, 24, 103.

 

Soderini, Francesco di Tommaso 1453-1524

Career: Brother of Piero and Paolantonio. Studied canon law at Pisa. Bishop Volterra 1478-1509; cardinal, 1503. In 1480 he was one of the twelve ambassadors who petitioned Sixtus to left the ban of excommunication on Florence. Also one of six Florentine ambassadors who congratulated Innocent after his election in 1484. Accompanied Charles VII to Naples in 1494. Ambassador to Louis XII in 1501 when he violently resisted the plans of Cesare Borgia. In 1502 Alexander VI made him a cardinal to conciliate Piero Soderini. Vicar of Rome while Leo X went to Bologna in 1515. Compromised in the Petrucci conspiracy against Leo in 1517. Nearly elected to the papacy in 1521, but actively opposed by Giulio de’ Medici. After this he intrigued with Francis I, urging him to descend on Florence and drive out the Medici. Adrian VI discovered his intrigues and put him in Castel S Angelo to await execution. Adrian’s death intervened to save him and Clement VII pardoned him. Of S and his brother, Niccolò Machiavelli is supposed to have said: ‘If Piero had been Francesco he would have been a great prince; if Francesco had been Piero he would have been a pre-eminent pope.’< /font>

Refs: Delivered a formal oration to Sixtus which was much praised: A Trivulzio and A Bracelli to Bona and G G Sforza, 27 Nov 1480, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 88. At first instructed to remain in Rome with Guidantonio Vespucci at the successful conclusion of their mission: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 7 Dec 1480, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 2. It appears that S and Vespucci were recalled in Dec because S was thought to be currying favour with the cardinals for his own purposes; this angered Tommaso Soderini, who held up the election of a new ambassador to Rome in Jan: Antonio da Monteactini to E d’E ste, 3 Jan 1481, ASMo, cit. Apparently S had obtained a bull for 2,000 ducats-worth of Florentine benefices to be conferred on him: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 5 Jan 1481, ASMo, cit. The Otto are delighted that S has been made a referendarius: Otto to G A Vespucci, 13 May 1481, Min, 11, 322. Search for a Lenten preacher: Otto to F Soderini, 2 July 1481, Sig Miss 1a Canc, 48, 225-6. Among those informed by Lorenzo of the death of Lucrezia Tornabuoni, Mar 1482: Prot, 187-8. Papal brief to S for the raising of a clerical decima: 1 Oct 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 238.

Bibliog: K J P Lowe, Church and politics in Renaissance Italy: the life and career of Cardinal Francesco Soderini, 1453-1524, Cambridge, 1993; P C Clarke, The Soderini and the Medici, Oxford, 1991

 

Soderini, Paolantonio di Tommaso 1448-1499

Career: m (1) Lisabetta di Tommaso Spinelli, (2) Margherita di Strozza Strozzi. Rector of the Studio Fiorentino, 1474. Prior, 1479. Podestà of Montecarchi, 1480. Member of the Otto di Custodia, Nov 1480-Feb 1481. Vicar of Poppi, 1484. Commissary of Dieci di Balia in Pisa, Mar 1485. Admitted to the Council of 70, 1488. Accoppiatore, 1491. Mission to Venice with Tommaso Ridolfi, 1494. Contributed actively to the revolution which overthrew the Medici. Member of the Dieci di Libertà e Pace, Dec 1494. Although outwardly a supporter of Savonarola, he was only interested in establishing a republic along the lines of Venice, where he had spent some time as ambassador. He was the force behind the 1494/5 constitution. Negotiated with Alexander VI over a possible mediation over Pisa and about Savonarola, whose partisan he was. In Aug 1495 he was in the camp at Pontadua with Francesco Valori and 20,000 fl to pay the soldiers. Gonfalonier of Justice, Nov/Dec 1497. In 1498 he only just escaped the fury of the mob which had seen Savonarola burned and fled to Lucca to escape the fate of Valori. By Feb 1498/9 he had returned to Florence and was sent to Venice with Giovanni Battista Ridolfi as ambassadors. Concluded a peace between Venice and Florence. Killed under the walls of Pisa when commissary for the army. Noted for the vigour with which he carried on the war against the Pisans.

Refs: Ercole d’E ste is buying copper from him; Lorenzo is helping to arrange the deal?: E d’Este to Antonio da Montecatini, 12 July 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. Sent by the Dieci to offer condolences to Pandolfo Malatesta on the death of his father, Roberto: commission of the Dieci to P Soderini, 3 Oct 1482, Sig, X, VIII, 77, 153-4. Commissioner in Pisa and the Pisano: 17 Oct 1485, Dieci, Delib, 24, 129.

Bibliog: P C Clarke, The Soderini and the Medici, Oxford, 1991

 

Soderini, Piero di Tommaso 1452-1522

Career: m Argentina di Gabriele Malaspina. A man of wealth and a good citizen, who lacked firmness as a politician and diplomat. Prior, 1481, 1489. Member of the Otto di Custodia, Apr 1482-Feb 1483. Podestà of Pistoia, 1485. Commissary at Firenzuola, 1487. Podestà of Arezzo, 1490. Joined Gentile Becchi in the embassy to Charles VIII in 1494. Took a leading part in the government after the overthrow of the Medici. During the war with Pisa he was charged with the task of winning over the Lucchese. Undertook embassies to Lucca and Savoy for anti-Pisan purposes, 1495/6. In 1496 he was sent to Charles VIII to win his support against the Pisans; on the way he was captured and imprisoned by Ludovico Sforza and only released on angry protestations from Charles. To France and Germany seeking help against Pisa. Gonfalonier of Justice, 1501. Had to cope with Cesare Borgia’s invasion of Florentine territory. Became gonfalonier for life and ruled Florence with moderation, 1502-12. Ideally suited to this, having no children and few relatives. Overthrown on the return of the Medici, aided by Spain and the papacy. Confined at Ragusa for five years and then retired to Rome. Innocently involved in the Alamanni conspiracy.

Refs: The financial dealings of S and his father Tommaso with Ferrante: Lorenzo de’ Medici to N Michelozzi, 1 Aug 1484, Lettere, VII, 474. Letter written at S’s ‘place’: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini in Milan, 16 Jan 1486, Lettere, IX, 130.

Bibliog: P C Clarke, The Soderini and the Medici, Oxford, 1991

 

Soderini, Tommaso di Lorenzo 1403-1485

Career: Matriculated in the Calimala guild. m (1) Dianora Tornabuoni, sister of Lucrezia and therefore Lorenzo’s aunt, (2) Alessandra ------. Regarded by Lorenzo as a second father and was the chief bulwark of the Medicean cause during the difficult period after the death of Cosimo. Captain of the citadel of Arezzo, 1431. Ambassador to Alfonso of Aragon, 1435. Podestà of Fucecchio, 1436. Prior, 1438, 1444. Captain of S Marco, Pisa, 1441, and of Castracaro, 1442. Vicar of Certaldo, 1443. Podestà of Arezzo, 1445. Gonfalonier of Justice, 1449, 1454, 1460, 1467, 1479. Captain of Cortona, 1450. Podestà in Pisa, 1452; captain there, Aug 1452-Feb 1453. One of the five governatori of Pisa, Aug 1458-Aug 1459. Ambassador to Venice, 1459, 1463, Nov 1478-9. Camerlengo delle gabelle di Pisa, 1460. Provveditore, Nov 1460-Nov 1461. Captain of Cortona, 1462. In 1464 ambassador to Paul II, who made him cavaliere a spada d’ oro. Mar-Sept 1465 captain/governor of Pisa, but a fall from his horse made him late taking up this appointment. The frustration of the Pitti conspiracy is often attributed to his firmness in the Medici cause. In 1469-70 he travelled extensively in an attempt to secure a permanent peace. Member of the Balia for S Spirito, 1471-2. Monte official, 1472. Accoppiatore, 1473. After a successful peace mission to Milan in 1474 he was the object of an almost triumphant procession in Florence. Captain of Pisa, Mar-Sept 1475. In Milan with Luigi Guicciardini, 1477-May 1478. Member of the Dieci di Balia, 1478-83 (at least). Took complete control in Florence while Lorenzo was on his mission to Naples. Dec 1478-c Sept 1479, in Venice, where he was ill with tertian fever in July/Aug 1479. The first member to be elected to the Council of 70, 1480. Vicar of Pescia, 1480. Member of the Otto di Pratica, Apr-Oct 1480, 1482-6. Took over as one of the masters of the Zecca on the death of Angelo Vettori in 1482. Captain of Arezzo, 1482. 1485 captain of Pisa, where he died. Had a reputation as an arbiter of taste and was probably responsible for Botticelli getting a commission in the redecoration of the Sala della Mercanzia in 1470; the resulting allegorical figure of Strength is Botticelli’s first known work. S’s wife commissioned a gold cross from Pollaiuolo for the Carmine. Called to judge Neri di Bicci’s work for the friars of S Maria delle Selve in 1454 and commissioned Neri to restore a painting in S Frediano. While S was Gonfalonier of Justice in 1445 Neri di Bicci recieved a commission from the Signoria for a tabernacle for the Pandects and other communal treasures. 1480 Catasto: extensive estates together with a quarter of the mines of Montecatini near Volterra.

Refs: Together with Lorenzo and five others, S was deputed to decide the commissions of the Milanese orators to Rome and Naples, Antonio Trivulzio and Antonio Bracelli: F Sacramoro to Bona and G G Sforza, 18 Apr 1480, ASMi, SPE, Firenze, 299. When Trivulzio and Braccelli reported to the Florentines on their mission, S replied ‘qui vexillifer iustitia Bernardus huc Albertus etsi prudens, bonusque vir existimaretur non satis eloquentia valebat: et alium ex collegis respondere ingnominia ascribi posse existimabat’; S then thanked the orators for revealing their mission, in which Florence fully concurred: 23 Apr 1480, Risp verb di oratori, 2, 73. S described as ‘marcheso’ and having ‘ingegno and autorità’ which places him in a group above the others, who do what they are told: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 30 Nov 1480, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 2. When Marino Tomacelli made a formal request to the Signoria for the subsidies promised to Ferrante in Sept for his war against the Turks, the Signoria consulted the Otto (to whom the request had been made on 1 Sept) and S (one of the Otto from Apr to Oct) gave the reply that Florence would not supply the subsidies until her towns were restored: 8 Dec 1480, Sig, X, VIII, 75, 44-5. With Lorenzo, Luigi Guicciardini, Piero Mellini and Francesco Dini, S formed a commission to deal with Milanese relations: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 23 Dec 1480, ASMo, cit. S was angry about the recall of his son, Francesco, from Rome, and sought to delay the appointment of a new ambassador: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 3 Jan 1481, ASMo, cit. S is said to be responsible for Florence rejecting Milanese advice to accept Ferrante’s offers as he still hoped for an alliance between Florence and Venice: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 28 Jan 1481, ASMo, cit. Among those leading Florentines with whom Federico da Montefeltro dined at the Palazzo Tornabuoni: F Sacramoro, G A Talenti and Giovanni Antonio da Pavia to G G Sforza, 29 Apr 1482, ASMi, SPE, Firenze, 304. Does not like the terms now requested by Sixtus; like other Florentines, he suspicious of Anello Arcamone’s mission to Rome: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 3 Nov 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. As spokesman for the Dieci, S told the Ferrarese ambassadors he is very displeased that the allies have so little consideration for Florentine interests: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 30 Dec 1482, ASMo, cit. Sforza Bettini says that, after the Rimini affair, S can take heart and speak in favour of the Venetians: Antonio da Montecatini to E 13 Apr 1483. A member of the commission of the Dieci to discuss with Sienese ambassadors a league between Florence and Siena: A Aringhieri and B Sozzini, 2 June 1483, ASS, Balia, 511, 5. Recommends Orlando Malavolti, ‘mio amicissimo’, to the Sienese Balia: T Soderini to the Balia of Siena, 9 July 1483, ASS, Balia, 512, 52. Sent to the Dieci to protest about the sale of some grain being held for Ercole d’Este: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 11 Mar 1484, ASMo, cit. Says he believes it to be necessary to follow the pope’s lead with regard to peace: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 17 May 1484, ASMo, cit. The financial dealings of S and his son Piero with Ferrante: Lorenzo de’ Medici to N Michelozzi, 1 Aug 1484, Lettere, VII, 474. His absence noted in the capitoli of Pietrasanta, 27 Nov 1484: Lettere, VIII, 319.

Bibliog: P C Clarke, The Soderini and the Medici, Oxford, 1991

 

Soderini, Tommaso di Lorenzo di Tommaso

Career: 1480 Catasto: he is very young and has inherited his father’s portion of the Soderini estates.

Bibliog: P C Clarke, The Soderini and the Medici, Oxford, 1991

 

Soranzo, Benedetto

Career: Brother of Vettore Soranzo. Archbishop of Nicosia, 1484-95. In 1483 he offered to mediate between Venice and Girolamo Riario. Undertook secret negotiations at Forlì, but Riario left there and the contact ceased.

Refs: According to a report from Rome he was to be commissary with the papal army in the Marches: 27 Apr 1482, ASV, Sen Secr 30, 77-8. Made responsible for recruiting infantry in Rome to be partly paid by Venice: 28 June 1482, ASV, Sen Secr 30, 97. Seems to have been in the Romagna helping to get Roberto Malatesta and his troops moving: 18 July 1482, ASV, Sen Secr, 30, 101-2.

Bibliog: G Dalla Santa, ‘Benedetto Soranzo, patrizio veneto, arcivescovo di Cipro, a Girolamo Riario’, Nuovo archivio veneto, ser II, 14 (1914), 308-87

 

Soranzo, Vettore

Career: Brother of Benedetto Soranzo. Captain-general of the Venetian fleet; commanded the Adriatic fleet which first attacked the coast of Abruzzi and Puglia in the summer of 1482 and then entered the Po in late autumn.

 

Sozzini, Bartolomeo

Career: Sienese appointed to teach law at the Florentine Studio in 1473. Also taught at Pisa. As a member of the Monte dei Riformatori, exiled from Siena, 14--.

Refs: Party to a conspiracy to overthrow regime in Siena: 24 May 1481, ASV, Dieci, Misti 20, ---. The Sienese exiles in Florence, especially S, are to be expelled: P F Pandolfini to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 14 Jan 1482, MAP, 51, 22. The Consiglio del Popolo of Siena demand his return and that of other exiles; the Signoria write to him that he ‘est revocatus et restitutus patriae et agregatus regimini populo favente nostro’: Signoria of Siena to the Sienese ambassadors in Rome, 7 June 1482, ASS, Conc, 1695, 102. Arrived in Florence to speak on behalf of Siena: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 18 June 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. Tells Siena that Florentine troops are at present on the borders of the Romagna and at Città di Castello; but warns them to watch for possible troop movements: B Sozzini in Florence to F Marretti, capitaneo, 18 June 1482, ASS, Conc, 2048, 69. Arrived in Florence, reporting on the movements of the Sienese exiles: B Sozzini to the Balia of Siena, 13 July 1482, ASS, Balia, 504, 57. In Florence: B Sozzini to the Balia of Siena, 5 Aug 1482, ASS, Balia, 505, 10. One of Monte dei Reformatori appointed to the new Sienese Balia on 6 Aug, following popular unrest: 7 Aug 1482, ASS, Balia, 26, 68[??]. Appointed to lecture on civil law for five years in Siena; accepted on 1 Oct, provided he could be freed from other commitments outside Siena: 25 Sept 1482, ASS, Balia, 26, 107. Siena wants S to return, to take part in government; asks Florence not to hinder this: Signoria of Siena to the ‘Florentines’, 13 Oct 1482, ASS, Conc, 1695, 144-5. Florence regrets that they cannot let him go for there is noone to take his place: Signoria of Florence to the Signoria of Siena, 16 Oct 1482, ASS, Conc, 2050, 10. Not a member of the new Balia: -- Nov 1482, ASS, Balia, ------. The Balia is surprised that S left Siena for Pisa; he is to return immediately: Balia of Siena to B Sozzini, 1 Nov 1482, ASS, Balia, 403, 55. If he does not return to Siena within eight days, he will be prevented from entering Sienese territory without the consent of Consiglio del Popolo: Balia of Siena to Florence, 6 Nov 1482, ASS, Balia, 403, 56; Balia of Siena to B Sozzini, 6 Nov 1482, ASS, Balia, 403, 56. S says that Siena gave him permission to take the job at Pisa; he cannot break his obligations to Florence and does not regard his departure as sudden: B Sozzini in Pisa to the Balia of Siena, 11 Nov 1482, ASS, Balia, 506, 39. His excuses for not returning to Siena are accepted; his contract will start next year: 15 Nov 1482, ASS, Balia, 26, 149. Florence again asks Siena to allow S to serve out his time at the university of Pisa: Signoria of Florence to the Signoria of Siena, 26 Nov 1482, ASS, Conc, 2050, 31. Thanks the Balia for their lenient treatment after their earlier threats: B Sozzini in Pisa to the Balia of Siena, 27 Nov 1482, ASS, Balia, 506, 59. The Balia will not carry out their threats, but want him to return as soon as possible; meanwhile, he is to keep his eyes open and keep them informed: Balia of Siena to B Sozzini, 28 Nov 1482, ASS, Balia, 403, 64-5.

The Dieci send S to Siena to assure the regime there of Florentine good will after the capture of Monteriggioni: Dieci to the Signoria of Siena, 2 Feb 1483, ASS, Balia, 507, 15. Elected as Sienese ambassador to Florence; will leave early tomorrow: 4 Feb 1483, ASS, Balia, 27, 9. Refuses to go to Siena, as the Dieci demand, to say that Siena must return the towns if they want Florentine good will; warns Siena if they want an ambassador in Florence, they must appoint someone else; S must begin lectures soon: B Sozzini to the Balia of Siena, 8 Feb 1483, ASS, Balia, 507, 87. Has been told by the Dieci that he should leave for Siena tomorrow, with their message for the Sienese regime: B Sozzini to the Balia of Siena, 11 Feb 1483, ASS, Balia, 508, 1. Is to be sent back to Florence, appointed ambassador by the Balia: 12 Feb 1483, ASS, Balia, 27, 17. Sent as ambassador to Florence: 13 Feb 1483, ASS, Balia, 404, 28. As Sienese ambassador in Florence: Dieci to P Capponi, 15 Feb 1493, Dieci, LC, 5, 203-4. Arrived in Florence yesterday; spoke to the Dieci about Monteriggioni; will go to Poggibonsi tomorrow: B Sozzini to the Balia of Siena, 15 Feb 1483, ASS, Balia, 508, 16. Was leaving Florence today, but stayed on at the request of Antonio Pucci and Luigi Guicciardini: B Sozzini to the Balia of Siena, 16 Feb 1483, ASS, Balia, 508, 25. Because he fears that Cardinal Cibo will try to reintroduce exiles from Siena, S (who had left for Siena) asks Florence to tell the exiles they would be welcome in Florentine territory, ten miles from the borders, but wants to be friendly to the present Sienese regime: Dieci to Lorenzo de’ Medici(?), 17 Feb 1483, ------. S came to ask Florence to deny help to the Sienese exiles: 18 Feb 1483, Risp verb di oratori, 2, 83. Has written to Antonio Pucci that the Monte dei Nove is completely excluded from the government of Siena, and that Siena is ready to be friends with Florence: Dieci to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 22 Feb 1483, ------. S is the new Capitano del popolo of Siena: -- Mar 1483, ASS, Conc, ------. Capitano del popolo in the new balia of thirty-six: 2 Apr 1483, ASS, Conc, 699, 16. Strongly criticised strongly by Girolamo Riario, who described S as ‘uno tristo, e condurebbe male quella città’: P F Pandolfini to the Dieci, 29 Apr 1483, Dieci, Resp, 27, 300-1. Is to be ambassador to Florence and leave tomorrow: 3 May 1483, ASS, Balia, 28, 41. Sent as ambassador to Florence, with letters of credence to the Signoria, Lorenzo and the Dieci: 8 May 1483, ASS, Conc, 1696, 63. Has been in Florence; says Siena still suspects that Florence is helping her enemies: Dieci to J Guicciardini in Ferrara, 13 May 1483, Dieci, LC, 5, 224-5. Is in Florence; has said Siena is prepared to agree to restore the towns: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 19 May 1483, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. Alberto Aringhieri sent to join S as Sienese ambassador in Florence: 30 May 1483, ASS, Balia, ASS, Conc, 1696, 72. S asks to be excused from the new commission Siena wants him to undertake; wants to finish his lectures at Pisa, having lost too much time already this year: B Sozzini to the Balia of Siena, 11 June 1483, ASS, Balia, 511, 46. Siena appoints him as commissioner to settle the disputed boundaries with Florence: 12 June 1483, ASS, Balia, 29, 16. Is dismayed that Siena insists on him going to the Valdichiara: B Sozzini in Florence to the Balia of Siena, 13 June 1483, ASS, Balia, 511, 61. Appointed to teach at Pisa for five years: 15 July 1483, ASS, Balia, 29, 43. S and the Florentine commissioner believe the border dispute cannot be settled at present: B Sozzini to the Balia of Siena, 16 July 1483, ASS, Balia, 512, 62. Is to stay in Florence while waiting for a reply from the Dieci about boundaries: Balia of Siena to B Sozzini, 17 July 1483, ASS, Balia, 404, 144. Is going to return to Siena: B Sozzini and Gianbattista di Marco at Sinalonga to the Balia of Siena, 21 July 1483, ASS, Balia, 512, 72. Is given leave to go to Pisa for four days; then his commission to settle the boundary dispute will be renewed: 26 July 1483, ASS, Balia, 29, 50. Sent to Florence to discuss a league with Sixtus and the threat to Siena from papal troops: 5 Aug 1483, ASS, Balia, 30, 6. While S is absent, a commission is looking after affairs in Siena: 6 Aug 1483, ASS, Balia, 30, 7. Arrived in Florence and spoke to the Dieci: Sienese ambs in Rome …, 6 Aug 1483, ASS, Balia, ------. Appointed commissioner for the border dispute with Florence: 3 Sept 1483, ASS, Balia, 30, 29. For his services, granted the property of some exiles: 19 Sept 1483, ASS, Balia, 30, 44-5. For his services to the stato, he will receive more exiles’ property: 29-30 Dec 1483, ASS, Balia, ------. Member of the new Balia: 23 July 1484, ASS, Conc, 707, 13-14. Refuses the post of Sienese ambassador to Rome; is to return to Siena to lecture: 15 Sept 1484, MAP, 39, 328. The Sienese Balia ask the Florentine Dieci to release S from the Pisan Studio so that he can come and lecture in that of Siena: 20 Oct 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 326.

 

Spagnolo, Alfonso di Giovanni (Spagnuolo) d. 1499

Career: Condottiere of Portuguese origin who served the papacy for a long time, before transferring to Florentine service. Was at the defence of Ficarolo against Venice in 1482.

Refs: Arrested Cola Montano: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 14 Feb 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 2. A Sienese exile is said to be trying to hire a son of S with 200 infantry at Pisa: T Luti and G A Neri to the Balia of Siena, 11 Feb 1483, ------. A Florentine constable at Pisa: mandate for Bernardo del Nero as commissary to Pisa, 6 May 1483, Dieci, del Cond Sanz, 24, 20-1. Infantry commander for Florence in the Lunigiana war: 14 Sept 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 158.

 

Spazza

Ref: One of Lorenzo’s jockeys: Lettere, V, 36.

 

Sperandio, Antonio

Refs: Neapolitan ambassador in Florence replacing Marino Tomacelli: Otto to B Buongirolami, 16 Mar 1484, Otto, LC, 3, 33-4. Neapolitan ambassador in Florence: 20 Aug 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 55. Is to be told that Florence is worried about receiving Alfonso d’Aragona’s troops if they carry plague: 22 Sept 1484, MAP, 48, 51. S as Alfonso’s emissary to Florence to request war materiel: 7 July 1486, Otto, Miss, 5, 19.

 

Sperandio, Girolamo

Refs: Sent by Alfonso d’Aragona to Ludovico Sforza to explain the former’s delay in going to the camp and to ask for money: Z Saggi to F Gonzaga, 18 May 1484, ASMa, AG, 1628. Sent by Alfonso to Lorenzo: Alfonso d’Aragona to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 13 July 1484, MAP, 45, 236. Passed through Florence on his way to Urbino: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 21 July 1484, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. Came to Florence to talk about Alfonso’s proposal that Camilla Sforza should marry Gian Giacomo Trivulzio: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 23 July 1484, ASMo, cit.

 

Spes, Gaspar de

Ref: Catalan viceroy in Sicily, c 1484: Lettere, VII, 374.

 

Spina, Francesco

Career: With Leonardo Spina, Medici agent in Pisa c 1484, at a time when there was no branch of the Medici bank in the city. In 1487 provveditore dei fossi for the contado of Pisa; having difficulty with contadini over work.

Ref: Concerning horses and property: F Spina to P Dovizi, 2 May 1485, MAP, 40, 312.

Bibliog: De Roover, Rise and decline, 358

 

Spina, Leonardo

Career: Medici agent in Pisa, at a time when there was no branch of the Medici bank in the city.

Refs: Bernardo Rucellai writes S and Francesco Spina in Pisa but as cover for letters to Lorenzo: -- Dec 1484, MAP, 48, 267. Letters from Francesco del Vigna to ‘lo Spina’ regarding disposition of the captains of the armata: 17 Jan 1485, MAP, 39, 65.

 

Spinelli, Cristoforo di Bartolomeo

Career: Matriculated in the Calimala guild. Camerlengo generale of Pisa, Apr-Oct 1467. Ufficiale del canale, Mar 1474-. Member of the second half of the Council of 70, Oct 1479-Apr 1480. Podestà of Pisa, 1480. Captain of Pisa, Mar-Sept 1489. Member of the Otto di Custodia, Mar-June 1483. Member of the 12 Procuratori, Oct 1483-Apr 1484. Master of the Zecca, Mar-Sept 1484.

 

Spinelli, Guaspare di Nicodemo b. c. 1444

Career: 1480 Catasto: sostanze 1,969 fl.

Refs: Asked Antonio da Montecatini if he should forward to Sixtus money previously received from Ercole d’Este to pay the census: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 2 May 1482, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. Has received a letter from a friend in Rome, a man close to Sixtus, who says peace was concluded on 6 Dec: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 10 Dec 1482, ASMo, cit. Has been to see the Venetian ambassador who is returning from Siena and is now in Florence: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 12 Dec 1482, ASMo, cit.

 

Spinelli, Lorenzo

Refs: Brought a letter from Lorenzo to Lionetto de’ Rossi at the Lyon branch of the Medici bank and explained Lorenzo’s intentions regarding this mission to investigate Lionetto’s false accounting; asks Lorenzo to give the commission to someone else as Lionetto suspects him: L Spinelli to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 11 Feb 1485, MAP, 39, 83. Recommended by Agostino Biliotti to be manager of the Lyon branch: 5 Sept 1485, MAP, 26, 425. Refuses a request to return to Florence for a year to look after Lorenzo’s interests there: L Spinelli in Lyon to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 4 Dec 1485, MAP, 26, 491. Is visiting Milan on his way to Lyon: Lorenzo de’ Medici to J Guicciardini in Milan, 11 Apr 1486, Lettere, IX, 236. His agreement with Antonio Pescioli regarding the sale of Lorenzo’s house in Milan and 4,000 ducats: 21 Apr 1486, MAP, 39, 469. Arrived in Lyon yesterday: 28 Apr 1486, MAP, 39, 472. His poor relations with Cosimo and Francesco Sassetti: 4 Aug 1486, MAP, 39, 539.

Bibliog: De Roover, Rise and decline, 305-11

 

Spinelli, Niccolò

Ref: With Lucio Bellanti, Aldello Piccolomini and other Noveschi exiled from Siena, took over the castle at Monteriggioni and appealed to Florence for support: Balia of Siena to the Otto, 1 Feb 1483, ASS, Balia, 404, 3; Lettere, VII, 202.

 

Spini, Antonio di Giovanni

Career: General member of the Balia for S Maria Novella, 1471. Prior, May/June 1469.

Refs: Guidantonio Vespucci has given Girolamo Riario the S’s supplication and he has passed it on to a secretary to take to Salerno; Vespucci thinks it will prove a more difficult affair than Lorenzo imagined: G A Vespucci in Rome to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 6 May 1481, MAP, 38, 168. Lorenzo sent Vespucci some papers concerning S’s causa; Vespucci had already written to Lorenzo that the supplication ‘era segnata’ and now sends to the registry for it, only to find that the datary had kept it instead of sending it to the registry; Vespuci wll try ti find out why this happened; Vespucci points out he cannot ‘sollicitare’ or ‘pensare le cause’ ‘ne la dignià che io lo tengo lo richiede a commettere questa cosa a altri’; since he does not know the other side’s case, he cannot tell where justivce lies; also, the Spini have sent only 25 fl, whereas the affair will cost 100; they should send someone to look after it: G A Vespucci to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 10 May 1481, MAP, 38, 170. Slow progree on the Spini supplication: G A Vespucci to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 12 May 1481, MAP, 38, 176.

 

Spini, Cristoforo

Ref: Reprisals granted to him against the Sterlini: 15 Mar 1485, MAP, 39, 106.

 

Spini, Leonardo di Silvestro

Career: Patron of an eastern galley, July 1471. Patron of a Catalonia galley due to sail in Mar 1474.

Ref: Reports to Lorenzo on falcons and the movements of Scatolino: 20 May 1486, MAP, 39, 509.

 

Spinola, Baldo

Ref: Comes to Serravalle to favour the impresa against Genoa: -- Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 288.

 

Spinola, Battista

Refs: Protests about the seizure of silk bought in Naples and Calabria; it was seized by the Florentines despite the safeconduct S had obtained: 29 Oct 1484, MAP, 39, 345. A feudatory of the duke of Milan, some of whose proporty has been seized by Florence on Faenzan territory: 4 Nov 2484, ASMi, Miss Duc, 155, 254. He and his family are ‘feudatarii et adirenti’ of Milan: 29 Oct 1484, MAP, 39, 345. An undated letter by S says that the Adorni are reported have an agreement with Battista Fregoso: MAP, 51, 294.

 

Spinola, Cassiano

Ref: Commander of fifty infantry at Sarzana whose chancellor, messer Luchino, pays the chancellor of Jacopo Ambrogio: 25 Aug 1485, Otto, Miss, 3, 158-9.

 

Spinola, Francesco

Refs: Guido Mannelli is sent to join S and other disaffectred Genoese: 16 Dec 1484, Dieci, Delib, 24, 83-4. His mission to Florence and negotiations with Lorenzo: 10 Jan 1485, Dieci, Miss, 23, 3. Wants Giovanni della Vecchia instead of Pier Andrea Corso: 14 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 146. Asks for a large bombard: 17 Jan 1485, MAP, 39, 65. Gian Galeazzo Sforza sends soldiers to S, his vassal, to repress a rebellion by the men in his fief of Campi: 9 Sept 1485, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 98.

 

Spinola, Giannotto

Ref: Is coming to Milan to testify that the silks are Genoese and do not belong to Giovanni Biolchi: 7 Sept 1485, Otto, Miss, 3, 166.

 

Spinola, Giovan Francesco

Refs: Involved in negotiations in Florence: -- Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 286. He and others of his house are keen for Florence to prosecute the Genoese impresa: 19 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 198.

 

Spinola, Giovanni

Refs: Branda Castiglioni is ordered to help S’s brother, Giannotto, to recover money owed to him by Ferrante, because S has always been loyal to Milan: G G Sforza to B Castiglioni, 2 Sept 1482, ASMi, SPE, Napoli, 240. Francesco Baroni’s commission from the Dieci to meet S and other Genoese dissidents to sign a contract with them for the overthrow of the Genoese regime: Dieci, Delib, 24, 56, 27 Sept 1484. With Agostino and Giovanni Adorno, S signed an accord for the Genoese impresa with Francesco Baroni: 6 Oct 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 265. His contract with Florence for the overthrow of the Genoese regime: 6 Oct 1484, Not Antecos, 1597, 46-8. The Dieci order Niccolò Martelli to overthrow the Genoese regime with S’s aid and that of other Genoese dissidents: 22 Nov 1484, Dieci, Delib, 24, 67. Appeals for the restitution of silk belonging to his brother Giannotto: G Spinola to Lorenzo de’ Medici, MAP, 39, 408, 21 Dec 1484. Captured by troops of the Genoese regime: 21 Dec 1484, ASMi, SPE, Roma, 96. His chancellor Jacopo/Jacomino visits Ludovico Sforza: 31 Dec 1484, Dieci, Resp, 33, 127. Ludovico told him not to make any decision regarding the Genoese impresa without informing him: 1 Jan 1485, Otto, Miss, 3, 110. Ludovico forbids S to proceed with the Genoese impresa without letting him know: 2 Jan 1485, Dieci, Delib, 24, 86. His Milanese licence to attack Genoa: 7 Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 126. Pallavicino Pallavicini, Gian Giacomo Trivulzio and Giovanni Angelo Talenti all give help to Florence in getting him: 7 Jan 1485, MAP, 48, 280. The Otto learn of the permission he has from Milan: 12 Jan 1485, Otto, Miss, 3, 115-16. Doge Paolo Fregoso puts a price on his head: 25 Feb 1485, MAP, 48, 294. His father is in the hands of the regime in Genoa: 4 Mar 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 388. Ludovico Sforza concedes him to Florence for the Genoa enterprise: 22 Apr 1485, MAP, 51, 299. The needs of the enterprise, galleys, infantry etc; if the attack on Genoa does not come off, they need to attack places like Portofino or Albenga: G Spinola to G Adorno, 4 Feb [1485], C Strozz, III, 247, 219.

 

Spinola, Girolamo

Ref: Affine of Jacopo d’Appiano and in his service; owns a quantity of vena: 5 July 1485, MAP, 39, 429.

 

Spinola, Girolamo d. 1484

Ref: His death: 12 Sept 1484, MAP, 39, 324.

 

Spinola, Luca

Refs: Sends an emissary, Jacopo da Gambarano, to Lorenzo: 12 Sept 1484, MAP, 39, 324. The Dieci give Francesco Baroni a commission to meet S and other dissident Genoese to sign deal regarding the overthrow of the current regime in Genoa: 27 Sept 1484, Dieci, Delib, 24, 56. Agostino and Giovanni Adorno as his procurators oblige him to observe the terms of the accord with Florence for the Genoese impresa: 6 Oct 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 265. His agreement with Florence for the overthrow of Genoese regime: 6 Oct 1484, Not Antecos, 1597, 46-8; Lettere, VIII, 357. His enthusiasm for the Genoese impresa: 2 Jan 1485, Dieci, Miss, I, 22, 83.

 

Spinoso

Ref: Genoese infantry commander who has lost his job: 15 Mar 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 483.

 

Spiritis, Andrea de’

Ref: A protonotary from Viterbo who has been appointed by Sixtus to go to Genoa: G G Sforza to B Castiglioni, 14 Jan 1483, 14 Jan 1483.

Bibliog: Cerioni, I, 236

 

Squarcialupi, Antonio

Ref: Organist of the Florentine Duomo who accompanied Lorenzo on his visit to the baths in 1485: Lettere, IX, 279.

 

Stagie, Simone

Ref: Florentine commissioner dealing with Gabriele Malaspina over a boundary question: 18 Feb 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 112.

 

Stampi, Achille de’

Ref: Captain of the citadel of Alessandria: Lettere, V, 116.

 

Stefano d’Arezzo

Ref: A doctor of canon law recommended for a job in Siena: Lorenzo de’ Medici to the Balia of Siena, 27 June 1485, Lettere, VIII, 227.

 

Stefano da Castrocaro

Ref: Bernardo Rucellai’s new secretary; previously employed by Malatesta Sacramoro: 20 Apr 1485, MAP, 51, 300.

 

Stefano di Salvestro

Ref: A Pratese notable: Lettere, V, 19

 

Stella, Giovan Pietro

Ref: Venetian secretary sent to Milan to persuade the Sforza not to ask for a licenza for Roberto di Sanseverino to embark on the Siena enterprise: 11 May 1485, ASV Dieci, Miss, 22, 166.

 

Stiavo, lo

Ref: Roberto Ruffaldo wants to have him as capo di provvigionati; is lodged with Giovan Francesco di sanseverino in Milan: -- Jan 1485, Dieci, Resp, 30, 288.

 

Strada, Gian Francesco

Ref: Cameriere segreto of Cardinal Gonzaga, sent to Ercole d’E ste to inform him that peace between Sixtus and the League has been made to encourage him to defend himself well: G Bentivoglio to E d’E ste, 20/21 Nov 1482, Dallari, 295.

 

Strada, Piero

Ref: Piero Capponi entrusts letters to him: 21 July 1486, Dieci, Miss, 7, 74-5.

 

Strinati, Strinato di Francesco

Ref: Cassiere of the Florentine Camera and camerlengo of the Dieci: 25 Oct 1485, Dieci, Delib, 30, 163.

 

Strozzi, Alfonso di Filippo 1467-1534

Career: Born in Naples, where he founded his own mercantile company. m Costanza di Giovanni Strozzi. Freed from the family’s sentence of exile in 1489. A friend of Piero Soderini and a vigorous partisan of the popular government. Prominent as a republican agitator during the last Florentine republic. Exiled in 1530.

Refs: Jacopo Acciaiuoli describes S to Filippo Strozzi as both his son and Filippo’s: J Acciaiuoli to F Strozzi, 24 Oct 1484, C Strozz, III, 247, 203. Reports on his journey to Rome, via Siena, with the Florentine embassy: A Strozzi to F Strozzi, 8 Dec 1484, C Strozz, III, 133, 125. Reports on the Florentine embassy: A Strozzi in Rome to F Strozzi, 18 Nov 1484, C Strozz, III, 133, 126.

 

Strozzi, Antonio

Ref: Soldier or commissioner for Florence in the Pietrasanta war: 18 Oct 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 311.

 

Strozzi, Antonio di Vanni di Francesco 1455-1523

Career: Doctor of civil and canon law; taught law at Pisa in the 1480s. Also had an active political acreer, including as ambassador to Ferrara in 1498/9.

Bibliog: Martines, Lawyers, 487

 

Strozzi, Battista di Francesco

Career: Resident in Bruges in 1456. m Camilla di Bertoldo Corsini, 1459. Head of the Ragione Strozzi di Francesco, which collapsed in 1464 with debts of 32,000 florins.

Refs: Received a commission to carry out works of improvement in the contado of Pisa: Nov 1483, Sig, Miss 2a Canc, II, 250. Bernardo Rucellai wants Lorenzo to learn from S [the same as above?] the truth regarding the fosse: 3 Sept 1484, MAP, 48, 262.

 

Strozzi, Carlo

Career: Florentine merchant in Naples in 1469.

Ref: His son acts as messenger from Piero Capponi to the Dieci: 21 July 1486, Otto, Miss, 5, 22-3.

 

Strozzi, Filippo di Matteo 1428-1491

Career: Son and correspondent of Alessandra Macinghi Strozzi; m (1) Fiammetta di Donato Adimari, (2) Selveggia di Bartolomeo Gianfigliazzi. In accordance with the ban on all adult male Strozzi, S left Florence in 1441 and was apprenticed to a firm in Palermo. By 1446 he was a member of the Strozzi firm in Barcelona, moving to Naples in 1447. By 1465 he was Florentine consul in Naples, where he was a heavy creditor of the court and therefore always in high favour with Ferrante. The ban of exile from Florence was finally lifted in 1466 and he returned permanently to Florence in 1470. Monte offical, 1477 (or 1478). Was successful in the scrutiny of 1484 even though the Strozzi are described in Francesco Guicciardini’s account as ‘ sospecti allo stato’. Member of the Signoria, 1485. Between 1471 and 1483 his wealth expanded fourfold to over 112,000 fl. Notable among in Florence for the very large amounts of cash he kept in hand, yet he was not inordinately ambitious and showed little interest in public office. Orator in Naples, 1478. Opened a branch of his bank in Rome in 1482. Prior, 1485. Commissioned Filippino Lippi to paint frescoes in his newly acquired chapel in S Maria Novella, 1487. Began construction of the Palazzo Strozzi in 1489. At a cost of 3,000 fl, his funeral in 1491 was the most elaborate seen in Florence for a long time.

Refs: Witness to the league between Sixtus, Naples, Milan and Florence, 13 Mar 1480: Lettere, V, 290. Has paid 10,000 ducats to be sent to Ferrara, in a letter of exchange from Rome: Antonio da Montecatini to E d’Este, 29 June 1484, ASMo, ASE, ambasciatori, Firenze, 3. Leonardo Strozzi informs him of the total forces deployed by Florence outside Pietrasanta: 13 Sept 1484, C Strozz, III, 247, 191. 84. No reference in his record of private expenditure of large loans to the commune or to Bernardo Rucellai in 1484: C Stozz, V, 41. If Rucellai is elected as a Monte official, he accepts S’s offer of a loan: 1 Oct 1484, C Strozz, III, 247, 250. If S is offered a post as a Monte official, he should accept; Lorenzo would be pleased if he did so: B Gianfigliazzi to F Strozzi, 19 Oct 1484, C Strozz, III, 247, 267. S and Pier Filippo Pandolfini had had a discussion about cash; between the needs of the camp and those of the galleys, the sum might be 20,000 fl, and perhaps more: B Gianfigliazzi to F Strozzi, 27 Oct 1484, C Strozz, III, 247, 215. His talks with Pandolfini regarding the amount of cash that S is to contribute to the commune’s needs: F Strozzi to Lorenzo de’ Medici, 27 Oct 1484, MAP, 39, 356. Lorenzo’ s instructions to Pandolfini regarding treatment of S: 29 Oct 1484, MAP, 39, 358. More from Bongianni Gianfigliazzi on the fiscal needs of the commune and S’s part in helping them: 1 Nov 1484, C Strozz, III, 247, 216. S’s loan to the city: Lorenzo de’ Medici to F Strozzi, 28 Oct 1484, Lettere, VIII, 32-5. Jacopo Acciaiuoli arranges with S to transfer to him in the camp the cash owed him by the Dieci: 19 Oct 1484, C Strozz, III, 247, 202-3. Piero Parenti keeps him in touch with developments in the camp, the arrival of Lorenzo, etc: 8 Nov 1484, C Strozz, III, 247, 214. Thanks for the letter of exchange: J Acciaiuoli to F Strozzi, 19 Nov 1484, C Strozz, III, 247, 208.

Bibliog: G Bini and P Bigazzi (eds), Vita di Filippo Strozzi, il vecchio, Florence, 1851; H Gregory, The Strozzi in the fifteenth century, Berkeley, 1997

 

Strozzi, Giovanni di Marcello

Career: Representative of the Strozzi company in Puglia. Also worked on behalf of Tommaso Ginori regarding Pugliese grain. Prior, 1474. Orator in Tunis, 1481. m Lucrezia della Luna.

Refs: Sent to ask Jacopo d’Appiano for troops: 29 Sept 1484, Dieci, Delib, 24, 57. The Dieci send him to Piombino to raise troops: 1 Oct 1484, Dieci, Resp, 32, 239. Sent to pay more money to the provvigionati recruited by Bartolomeo Popoleschi in the Pistoiese and Pesciano, and bring them to camp: 8 Oct 1484, Dieci, Delib, 24, 62.

 

Strozzi, Leonardo

Refs: Informs Filippo Strozzi of the total number of troops Florence has outside Pietrasanta: L Strozzi to F Strozzi, 13 Sept 1484, C Strozz, III, 247, 191. The town of Pietrasanta was taken yesterday, and the citadel agreed to surrender by the end of 10 Nov: L Strozzi to F Strozzi, C Strozz, III, 247, 195, 9 Nov 1485.

 

Strozzi, Luigia

Ref: Daughter of Manno di Manno Donati and aunt of Lucrezia Donati, Lorenzo’s lover; widow of the leading Florentine exile Giovan Francesco di Palla Strozzi, who appealed to Lorenzo for help: Lorenzo de’ Medici to L Strozzi in Ferrara, 3 Jan 1483, Lettere, VII 169.

 

Strozzi, Strozzo di Marcello

Career: Patron of a Barbary galley, 1465. A merchant in Rome, 1469. Prior, May/June 1471.

 

Strozzi, Strozzo

Ref: Representative of Jérôme and Augustin d’Estouteville; he is coming to see Lorenzo regarding the silver they want back: 5 Mar 1485, MAP, 39, 97.

 

Strozzi, Tito Vespasiano 1424-1505

Career: Ferrarese poet and soldier, whose sister Lucia was the mother of the poet Matteo Maria Boiardo. Was sent to Argenta to command the fortress in 1482.

Ref: His house at Ostelleta was burned by the Venetians: B Beffa, Antonio Vinciguerra, 110, n 1.

 

Strozzi, Vanni di Francesco

Career: m Dora di Giannozzo Pandolfini. Patron of a Romania galley, 1462. Commissary of the Florentines at Monte S Sovino, 1478. Besieged by Alfonso d’Aragona and forced to surrender.

Refs: Commissioner to escort Marsilio Torelli to Pitigliano: 21 Jan 1486, Dieci, Delib, 24, 154. S can help Piero Capponi with mules, as he is with Torelli: Otto to P Capponi, 8 Mar 1486, Otto, Miss, 4, 131. Commissioner to escort Bentivoglio troops to Cortona and elsewhere: 27 Apr 1486, Dieci, Delib, 24, 169. Piero Capponi and Piero Vettori have sent him to Pitigliano: 26 May 1486, Dieci, Miss, 7, 41-5.