Bianca Maria Visconti

Bianca Maria Visconti (born March 31, 1425 - October 28, 1468[1]) was Duchess of Milan from 1450 to 1468. Born near Settimo Pavese, Bianca Visconti was the illegitimate daughter of Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan and last of the Visconti rulers, and Agnese del Maino, the only person the shy, secluded Filippo ever loved. The couple had a second daughter, called Caterina Maria or Lucia Maria, also born in Settimo in 1426, but she died shortly after her birth [1]. When she was six months old, Bianca and her mother were sent to a castle in Abbiate, where a rich residence had been established for the two of them. The Duke spent much of his time in Abbiategrasso, where he was impressed by Bianca's strong character. Bianca spent her childhood and adolescence in Abbiategrasso, where she received a humanist education. The Ducal library contained a wide variety of works: Latin classics, narrative texts in Provençal and French, scientific and didactical works, as well as texts in Italian and volgare, mainly by Tuscan authors. Both Bianca and her father were passionate hunters and lovers of horses.In 1430, at the age of six, Bianca was betrothed to the condottiero Francesco I Sforza of the House of Sforza, a man twenty-four years older than her. In that year the condotta (contract) between Milan and Sforza came to an end, and the betrothal was a move to keep the powerful general tied with Milan. It has also been suggested that Visconti enticed Sforza with the promise of appointing him as legitimate heir to the Dukedom. The date of the entrance of the new duke and duchess in Milan is disputed: March 25 or March 22. Francesco and Bianca refused the triumphal wagon (they called it superstizione da re, "kings' superstition"), instead reaching the Duomo riding on a couple of horses. It was the first time that a duke's title had been awarded by the citizens of the city. During the first years of their reign, Bianca collaborated with her husband in recovering her father's assets and restoring the Ducal Palace. Francesco was again entangled in a war against Venice. Remaining alone in Milan, Bianca devoted herself to the administration of the Duchy, as attested by the correspondence with her husband, which gives precious insights on the education of their Children, state affairs, the financial difficulties, and details of her daily life. The letters also show the assertive character of Bianca, who did not hesitate to express her opinions even when they differed from her husband's. The letters include also accusations of his extramarital adventures. In 1453 in Pavia, Bianca hosted René I of Naples, who was asked to go to Cremona with his army to fight alongside Sforza. She later showed him the construction site of the large new Castello Sforzesco in Milan.The main problems for Bianca in this period came from their eldest son, Galeazzo Maria, whose unstable and treacherous character created numerous troubles for her. On December 13, 1465, her mother, Agnese del Maino, died. Not much later, on March 8, 1466, Duke Francesco Sforza died also. Bianca quickly took the reins of the duchy and called back Galeazzo Maria, who was fighting alongside the king of France, to succeed as duke. The latter's behavior was initially one of gratitude and deference towards his mother, but soon greed and ruthlessness led him to act independently against Bianca's advice. As time passed, the Duke relegated his mother to an increasingly secondary role and in the end forced her to leave Milan. She then moved to Cremona, her dowry city. According to some sources, she was thinking of giving the control of the city to Venice, and she had frequent contacts with Ferdinand I of Naples, who was aiming to overthrow Galeazzo. Against the advice of all her counsellors, Bianca decided to take part in Galeazzo's marriage on (May 9, 1468). At the end of the feasts she accompanied her daughter Ippolita to Serravalle, whence she set off to Cremona. However, when midway, in Melegnano, she fell ill. A high fever obliged her to stay in bed until August, but she kept up an intense correspondence. At the beginning of October, her condition worsened further. She died on October 28 of that year, after having recommended her younger children, Elisabetta and Ottaviano, to their brother Galeazzo. She was buried in the Duomo of Milan, next to her husband. The funeral oration, commissioned by Galeazzo, was written by the humanist Francesco Filelfo. Her death raised suspicions; Galeazzo Maria Visconti was accused by various men, including Bartolomeo Colleoni, of having poisoned her. It is certain that during her illness, there were in Melegnano certain men close to Galeazzo, some of whom were later involved in other cases of poisoning.[5]. According to Bernardino Corio, Bianca "died of natural ungratefulness more than poison". Bianca bore Francesco Sforza eight children, six sons and two daughters: Galeazzo, Duke of Milan from 1466 to 1476 (when he was assassinated);Ippolita, wife of King Alphonse II of Naples and mother of Isabella of Aragon, who was to marry Galeazzo's heir;Filippo Maria, Count of Corsica;Sforza Maria, Duke of Bari from 1464 to 1479;Lodovico, Duke of Bari from 1479 to 1494 and Duke of Milan from 1494 to 1499;Ascanio, Abbot of Chiaraville, Bishop of Pavia, Cremona, Pesaro, and Novara and Cardinal;Elisabetta, wife of Guglielmo VIII Paleologo, Margrave of Montferrat; andOttaviano, Count of Lugano, who drowned while escaping arrest.



















Bianca Maria Visconti with her first-born son Galeazzo Maria as Saint Mary with the child Jesus Christ - she is the grandmother of Isabella of Aragon (from her mother´s side)