The Military Brilliance and Artistic Vision of Alessandro Sforza
Alessandro Sforza (Gregorio Sforza) of Cotignola. Lord of Pesaro, Gradara, and Castelnuovo. Natural son of Muzio Attendolo Sforza; brother of Francesco Sforza, Giovanni Sforza, and Leone Sforza; half-brother of Bosio Sforza and Corrado da Fogliano; father of Costanzo Sforza; son-in-law of Guidantonio da Montefeltro; uncle of Federico da Montefeltro. Knight of the Order of the Ermine.
Born: 1410, October
Death: 1473, April
| Year, Month | State, Comp. ventura | Opponent | Command | Area of Activity | Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ……………. | Called Gregory, then Alexander (Alessandro) for his father’s affection to Antipope Alexander V; destined for ecclesiastical career. | ||||
| 1415 | |||||
| Mar. | Campania | Placed as hostage by his father with brothers and cousins to Pandolfo Alopo. | |||
| Aug. | Campania | Imprisoned with his brothers when the court of Naples was dominated by the party of Jacques de Bourbon, Count of La Marche, husband of Queen Joanna I of Naples (Giovanna d’Angiò). | |||
| 1420 | Emilia and Lazio | Forced to leave Ferrara, where he resided, to go to Rome as hostage at the papal court. | |||
| ………….. | Early military experiences under Micheletto Attendolo. | ||||
| 1430 | In Aug., given as hostage again to Lucchese conspirators, who deposed Paolo Guinigi from the lordship of Lucca; 12,000 florins paid to his brother to leave the city. | ||||
| 1433 | |||||
| Nov. | Sforza | Church | Romagna and Marche | Joined his brother Francesco Sforza in conquest of the March of Ancona; noted at Rimini and Jesi. | |
| Dec. | Marche | At Fermo; entrusted with the city fortress, the Girifalco. | |||
| 1434 | |||||
| Feb. | Umbria | Followed Francesco into Umbria; advanced to the gates of Rome. | |||
| May | Sforza | Camerino | Marche | Early month noted with Foschino Attendolo at Camporotondo di Fiastrone; gathered 2,000 men in Fermano, assaulted Servigliano castle; entered Amandola; later Penna San Giovanni surrendered; surprised and attacked by Cristoforo da Tolentino with 600 cavalry at Amandola, forced to flee; city sacked. | |
| Dec. | Church | Fortebraccio | Lazio | Wintered at Viterbo with 150 cavalry. | |
| 1435 | |||||
| Jan. | Lazio | Provided 80 cavalry to Giacomo di Vico to return to Vetralla; appointed lieutenant of the March in place of Foschino Attendolo. | |||
| Apr. | Lazio | Present at the siege of Montefiascone. | |||
| July | Marche | Stayed at Rocca Contrada (Arcevia). | |||
| Aug. | Marche | Appointed by his brother as lieutenant and governor of the March of Ancona after the capture of brother Leone by Niccolò Fortebraccio; joined Taliano Furlano and Manno Barile; stayed at Arcevia, marched to Serra dei Conti to defend Camerino; clashed with Fortebraccio at Fiordimonte, capturing enemy wagons and loot. | |||
| Sept. | Umbria and Marche | Advanced with Taliano Furlano to Assisi to free brother Leone (freed next month by city inhabitants); returned to San Giusto; compelled Recanati and Macerata inhabitants to reach agreement or face intervention. | |||
| Oct.–Dec. | Marche | Mid-Oct at San Ginesio; Nov at Monte San Pietrangeli; Dec at San Severino Marche. | |||
| 1436 | |||||
| Mar. | Marche | Appointed governor of Fermo in his brother’s absence. | |||
| Apr. | Marche | At Osimo, paying homage to Marquis Niccolò d’Este of Ferrara. | |||
| Aug. | Sforza Angiò | King of Aragon | Marche | Francesco Piccinino approaches Sforza possessions; Alessandro Sforza abandons Ascoli Piceno and returns to Fermo. | |
| Oct. | Church | Emilia | Garrisoned Bologna with Francesco Sforza and Lord Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta of Rimini. | ||
| Nov. | Marche | Stationed at Fabriano. | |||
| 1437 | |||||
| Feb.–Apr. | Marche | Stayed in Fermo two months; appointed Niccolò dei Malespini of Ascoli Piceno as podestà of Montecchio (Corridonia) instead of Gentile Chiavelli of Gualdo; in Apr., hosted Marquis Niccolò d’Este at Loreto pilgrimage. | |||
| May | Sforza | King of Aragon | Marche | Guarding of Osimo. | |
| June–Sept. | Marche and Abruzzi | Resisted exiles supporting Francesco Piccinino; they invaded Abruzzi and besieged Ascoli Piceno; Sforza entrenched there; learned rival roving in Fabriano, marched via Urbisaglia and Tolentino with calls for crossbowmen and pikemen; stationed at San Severino Marche, then returned to Fermo; left brother Giovanni and Niccolò da Pisa at Fabriano; raided Abruzzi capturing Civitella del Tronto; in Sept., with Giovanni and Niccolò, lifted siege of Ascoli Piceno, forcing Piccinino to retreat. | |||
| Dec. | Marche | Concluded 15-day truce at Appignano del Tronto with Giosia Acquaviva and Ardizzone da Carrara; received customary Christmas gifts as lieutenant and governor. | |||
| 1438 | |||||
| Jan. | Marche | Received letter from brother to capture Taliano Furlano; letter intercepted allowing Furlano to escape; left Fermo, went to San Severino Marche to monitor situation. | |||
| Feb.–Mar. | Marche | Francesco Piccinino and Taliano Furlano threatened Ascoli Piceno; Sforza rushed to Sarnano; peace between Francesco and the Duke of Milan ended hostilities; moved to Macerata, San Severino Marche, visited Tolentino with Francesco; blocked Furlano and Piccinino at Sarnano. | |||
| June | Church | Milan | Umbria | Left San Severino Marche; positioned between Fossato di Vico, Sigillo (Nocera Umbra), Gualdo Tadino; departed Fossato with brother Giovanni, passed Santa Maria degli Angeli, reached Branca in Eugubino. | |
| July | Umbria | Forced Norcia to surrender after brief siege. | |||
| 1439 | |||||
| ………… | Umbria | Governed Assisi. | |||
| Nov. | Venice | Milan | Veneto | Assisted Francesco in recovering Verona; with Gattamelata captured Porta Oriolo (defended by Gonzaga troops) and Porta Vescovo (surrendered by Veronese). | |
| Dec. | Marche | Sailed to the March of Ancona with 2,000 infantry; remained lieutenant and governor in place of Micheletto Attendolo. | |||
| 1440 | |||||
| Mar. | Romagna and Marche | At Rimini, then Macerata and Fermo; attended Sforza militia reviews. | |||
| Apr. | Florence | Milan | Umbria and Tuscany | Left Fermo; noted at Fabriano, Tolentino, San Severino Marche, Assisi; moved to Tuscany to face Niccolò Piccinino‘s militia. | |
| May | Marche | At Osimo, organized defense of the March; appointed Gozzone Gozzoni of Osimo as podestà of San Severino Marche. | |||
| June–July | Marche | Returned to Fabriano. | |||
| Aug.–Sept. | Sforza | King of Aragon | Abruzzi | Fought in Abruzzi against Giosia Acquaviva, Raimondo Caldora, Riccio da Montechiaro; camped at Forcella ready to assault Cellino Attanasio and Montesecco; requested funds from Maceratesi; gathered straw and hay for wintering heavy cavalry across several towns including Jesi, Filottrano, Cingoli, etc. | |
| 1441 | |||||
| Jan.–Feb. | Marche | Moved to San Severino Marche; received keys of city gates and fortress emblems; levied heavy taxes and requisitioned provisions. | |||
| July | Marche and Abruzzi | Left the March with 1,500 cavalry to raid Loreto Aprutino held by Antonio Caldora; entered Pescara by treaty; won at Ortona, routing Giosia Acquaviva and Riccio da Montechiaro; Raimondo Caldora captured with 500 cavalry; conducted to Fermo Girifalco; released for 8,000 scudi ransom; camped at Monte Corvino; faced Antonio Caldora at Città Sant’Angelo, forced retreat. | |||
| Nov. | Marche | Acted as peacemaker between Federico da Montefeltro and Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta. | |||
| Dec. | Marche | At Monterubbiano. | |||
| 1442 | |||||
| Jan.–May | Florence | Milan | Marche and Romagna | At Monterubbiano; alternated residence between Fermo and Monterubbiano, continued levying new taxes; late May moved with armed squads to defend Forlì. | |
| June | Marche | Hosted his brother Francesco and Bianca Maria Visconti in Fermo; leveled Piazza San Martino. | |||
| July | Sforza | Naples Church | Marche | Met brother at Monte San Martino. | |
| Aug. | Marche | Participated in the battle of Amandola. | |||
| Nov.–Dec. | Umbria and Marche | Defended Assisi from Niccolò Piccinino; retreated to fortress under attack; night escape to Macerata and San Severino Marche. | |||
| 1443 | |||||
| Feb. | Alfonso d’Aragona entered Naples; Alessandro Sforza returned to the Marches. | ||||
| Mar. | Marche | At Montecchio (Treia). | |||
| June | Marche | Camped at Moline di Macerata with brother; took part in siege of Esanatoglia, wounded in combat. | |||
| July | Marche | Besieged Tolentino, remained on guard after conquest. | |||
| Aug.–Sept. | Marche | Quartered in Valle del Chienti near Macerata; requisitioned supplies; arrived at Fermo with 3,000 troops; fortified city and erected his pavilion in the square; attacked by 10,000 Aragonesi; arrested nobles, imprisoned some in Girifalco and other fortresses; attacked enemy rear guard; returned to Fermo. | |||
| Oct. | Marche | Captured Montegranaro, burned gate and breached walls. | |||
| Nov. | Marche | Led 3,000 men and 2,000 militia from Fermo; left Conticino da Carpi and Cristoforo da Cremona to defend; coasted to Ancona, embarked to join brother; with Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta and brother defeated Niccolò Piccinino at Montelauro on the Foglia. | |||
| 1444 | |||||
| Jan. | Marche | Stationed at Santa Vittoria in Matenano. | |||
| Apr. | Marche | Discovered conspiracy at Montefortino aimed at surrendering the castle to papal forces; sacked the locality. | |||
| May | Marche | Swept Force; captured 80 men sent to Santa Vittoria. | |||
| July | Marche | Raided Sant’Elpidio a Mare, captured 14 men and livestock; drove prizes to Fermo. | |||
| Aug. | Marche | Defeated papal army of Francesco Piccinino at Montolmo (Corridonia), capturing enemy captain and cardinal legate, many infantry, and >2,000 cavalry; wounded but achieved flank attack. | |||
| Sept. | Marche | Wounded again at siege of Serra San Quirico. | |||
| Oct. | Marche | Peace signed between Pope Eugene IV and his brother granting twelve days of free action; seized Porto Recanati. | |||
| Nov. | Accused Sarpellione of treason; strangled per brother’s order for intended defection to Filippo Maria Visconti. | ||||
| Dec. | Marche | Visited Jesi to monitor Malatesta’s moves; proxy marriage to Costanza da Varano, dowry half of Pesaro; festivities by Guglielmo Ebreo di Pesaro; wife died in childbirth three years later. | |||
| 1445 | |||||
| Jan. | Marche | Completed purchase of Pesaro with Galeazzo Malatesta for 20,000 ducati; exchanged Fossombrone to Federico da Montefeltro. | |||
| Mar. | Sforza | Naples Church | Marche | Entered Pesaro mid-month, received by Battista da Montefeltro; visited Loreto and Recanati; Malatesta forces raided Fano. | |
| June | Marche | Raided Fano contado to Arzilla bridge, blocked access. | |||
| July | Marche | With Montefeltro recovered castles around Foglia and Metauro: Candelara, Saltara, Cartoceto, Serrungarina, etc. | |||
| Aug. | Marche | Brother Francesco in Florence for funds; Alessandro led army with Montefeltro; tasked to retake Ascoli Piceno; region rebelled under Baldovino da Tolentino. | |||
| Oct. | Marche | Aragónese advanced under Giovanni Ventimiglia and Cardinal Ludovico Scarampo; attempted link with papal forces led by Furlano; allied with Montefeltro and brother at Pausola (Corridonia); camped on Chienti; freed Civitanova Marche; guarded Fermo and Monterubbiano with 1,500 cavalry and 500 infantry; exiled some citizens. | |||
| Nov. | Marche | Fermo rebelled at night; Sforza’s troops disarmed; he saved in Girifalco; sorties regained control via betrayal of Mario Grifante; siege by Furlano; he executed horses, expelled non-combatants; the rebellion day (St. Catherine) made city holiday. | |||
| 1446 | |||||
| Feb. | Marche | Forced to surrender; exited Fermo with garrison on two ships (first carried Francesco’s goods, mother and sister; second the remaining defenders); took refuge at Camerino with da Varano; Fermo paid 10,000 florins war contribution; began demolition of Girifalco same day. | |||
| May | Marche | Guarding Pesaro. | |||
| July | Milan Church | 500 cavalry | Marche | Surrendered to Cardinal Scarampo’s papal forces; signed separate agreement; pressured Montefeltro to follow; refused hostage of sister-in-law and nephews; granted combined contract of 500 cavalry; obtained vicariate of Pesaro from Eugene IV. | |
| Oct.–Nov. | Sforza | Church Naples | Marche | Brother’s situation improved; Alessandro resumed arms against papal and Aragonese; retook castles of Malatesta such as Pozzo di Piano, Tavullia, Tomba, Montelauro, Montelabbate; besieged Gradara for a month unsuccessfully. | |
| Dec. | Veneto | Went to Venice, well received; returned to Marche with no results due to Venetian distrust of Francesco. | |||
| 1447 | |||||
| Feb. | Milan | ||||
| Mar. | Lazio | Visited Rome to pay homage to Pope Nicholas V; met King Alfonso d’Aragona at Tivoli; audience with the pope. | |||
| June | Marche | At Pesaro; brother decided to sell Jesi to the Papal States. | |||
| July | Invested by the pope as apostolic vicar of Pesaro with 1,800 florins annual census due each June. | ||||
| Aug. | Marche | Stayed in Marche while brother returned to Lombardy to aid Duke ﹖filippo Maria Visconti. | |||
| Sept. | Marche | Defended against intrigues from Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta. | |||
| Nov.–Dec. | Milan | Venice | Emilia | Entered pay of the Ambrosian Republic; participated in siege, capture, and sack of Piacenza. | |
| 1448 | |||||
| Jan. | Pesaro | Malatesta | Marche | Attacked by Galeazzo Malatesta over disputed properties in Pesaro; incited Florence and Montefeltro to attack Malatesta’s states; married by proxy Sveva da Montefeltro, daughter of Guidantonio. | |
| ……….. | Milan | Venice | Lombardy | ||
| Sept. | Lombardy | Fought at Caravaggio with Manno Barile, Fiasco da Giraso; watched a bridge; repelled then rescued by Mariano di Calabria and Guido Turco’s cavalry; victory left him guard of Caravaggio; brother Francesco and Piccinino captured enemy camp; held prisoners with Guglielmo di Monferrato. | |||
| Oct.–Nov. | Sforza | Milan Naples | Lombardy | Treaty of Rivoltella between Francesco and Venice placed him in Brescia with 12 cavalry; convinced Carlo Gonzaga, Luigi dal Verme, Monferrato to defect from Milan. | |
| Dec. | Emilia | Attempted to seize Parma with Pietro Maria dei Rossi; conspirators discovered via intercepted letters of Giacomo Antonio Marcello. | |||
| 1449 | |||||
| Jan. | Emilia | Ravaged around Felino; attacked Campobasso’s troops; planned assault on Taro with 1,500 cavalry and 3,000 infantry; victory captured 500 cavalry and many infantry. | |||
| Feb. | Emilia | Returned to Parma; treaty with Antonio dal Verme, Freddo di Val di Sambro, Ludovico Berni; opened Porta San Barnaba with 4,000 men; death of leader Gaino delayed assault; left 100 cavalry lost, many Rossi partisans executed; Bartolomeo Colleoni brought 2,000 cavalry, 500 infantry; entered Parma aided by Piccinino desertion. | |||
| Spring | Emilia | Faced rebellion of Niccolò Terzi against Francesco Sforza; confronted Astorre Manfredi at Guardasone; persuaded him to return to Romagna with promises of thousands of ducati. | |||
| May–July | Lombardy Switzerland | Returned north after Piccinino return to Milan side; occupied Varese and Lugano valley. | |||
| Aug. | Lombardy | Operated near Lodi; captured Pizzighettone with Antonio Crivelli; seized garrison of 500 cavalry and 300 infantry; obtained Cassano d’Adda. | |||
| Sept.–Oct. | Emilia | Besieged Fiorenzuola d’Arda defended by Angelo di San Vitale; devastated countryside; defenders surrendered after 40 days; soldiers freed on oath; properties transferred; also conquered Castell’Arquato, Pellegrino Parmense. | |||
| Nov. | Emilia | Besieged Colorno; defeated Raimondo Anichino; night assault, city and Castelnuovo dei Terzi surrendered; moved to Fornovo. | |||
| Dec. | Sforza | Milan Venice | Veneto and Emilia | Peace between Venice and Ambrosian Republic; sent with Simonetta, Birago to Venice to ratify capitulations but secretly delay; Venetians threatened arrest; ratified and fled to Ferrara; reprimanded by Francesco. | |
| 1450 | |||||
| Mar. | Lombardy | Francesco Sforza entered Milan victoriously; Alessandro was at his side. | |||
| July | Tuscany and Marche | Stayed at Anghiari, directed to Pesaro. | |||
| Nov. | Milan | Malaspina | Tuscany | Went to Lunigiana with 600 cavalry to mediate peace among Malaspina family branches. | |
| 1451 | |||||
| Sept. | Lombardy | Received 3,000 ducati from brother payable over three years from Parma revenues; noted at Lodi. | |||
| 1452 | |||||
| Jan. | Emilia and Lombardy | Left Torricella with nephew Galeazzo Maria; visited Borgoforte and Ferrara to pay homage to Emperor Frederick III of Austria. | |||
| May | Emilia | Hosted Florentine ambassadors Neri Capponi, Luca Pitti, Diotisalvi Neroni, Piero de’ Medici in Reggio Emilia en route to Milan to greet new Duke Francesco. | |||
| July | Milan | Venice | Lombardy | Invaded Brescia; defeated at Cavenago losing 150 cavalry; ordered to move with 2,000 cavalry, link with Rossi and Landriano, destroy Adda bridge and bastion; reached lodigiano but troops looted instead of following orders; caught by Venetians and lost 800 cavalry; fled to Lodi. | |
| Aug. | Lombardy | In Lodi assisting brother Bosio quell Guelph faction riots. | |||
| Sept. | Lombardy | Ambushed by Jacopo Piccinino between Rivolta d’Adda and Pandino; mount wounded, nearly captured by Giovanni Pollone; rescued by Bosio with four cavalry companies from Pizzighettone. | |||
| Oct. | Lombardy | Surprised Carlo di Montone at Abbadia Cerreto; devastated his camp. | |||
| Dec. | Lombardy | Seized bridge and fortified bastion of Abbadia Cerreto. | |||
| 1453 | |||||
| Jan. | Lombardy | Lost Castiglione delle Stiviere to Jacopo Piccinino. | |||
| June | Florence | Naples | 1000 cavalry and 500 infantry | Tuscany | Negotiated with Aragonese to switch sides against Malatesta; entered pay of Florence against Aragonese; moved in Lunigiana, through Piombino territory, captured Rencine. |
| Aug.–Sept. | Tuscany | Joined Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta (also in Florentine pay); retook Foiano della Chiana; soldiers plundered 30,000 florins; disputes led Malatesta to burn city except church and neighboring house; consuls Manetti and Medici split forces; Sforza directed to Vada, supported by Attendolo’s sons and Maremma infantry; Malatesta assigned to Gavorrano assault; eventually joined Sforza forces. | |||
| Oct. | Milan | Venice | Tuscany and Lombardy | End of his term with republic; went to Florence for payments; returned to Lombardy with 2,000 cavalry and 400 infantry to fight Venetians. | |
| Nov. | Lombardy | Governor of Orzinuovi. | |||
| Dec. | Lombardy | Reported in Brescia area. | |||
| 1454 | |||||
| Jan. | Lombardy | At Soncino. | |||
| Aug. | Milan | Duke of Savoy | Piedmont | ||
| Sept.–Oct. | Emilia and Piedmont | Post-conflict, 100 cavalry quartered in Parma, 370 in Tortona, 350 in Alessandria. | |||
| 1455 | |||||
| Mar. | Milan | Comp. ventura | Emilia | Sent to Bologna with 4 cavalry squads to monitor Jacopo Piccinino moving from Brescia to Romagna. | |
| Oct. | Tuscany | Went to Florence to demand 22,000 ducati; refused due to Foiano sack; acknowledged credit of 5,000 florins. | |||
| Nov. | Marche | Returned to Pesaro; complained to Francesco of Florentine mistreatment; blocked Florentine merchants convoy and robbed traders heading to Pesaro fair (silks and goods worth 30,000 ducati); brother removed control of Borgo San Donnino and Torricella castles and threatened force; Family arms: 55 veteran knights with 270 mounts. | |||
| 1457 | France | France and Belgium | Served King Charles VII; incited French against Francesco; traveled in Burgundy and Flanders; visited Bruges; returned after 8 months; away from Pesaro, believed wife Sveva Feltria da Montefeltro conspired to deliver city to Malatesta; other sources cite affair with concubine prompting attempted poisoning of wife. | ||
| 1458 | |||||
| May | Veneto and Marche | Met Roberto da San Severino in Venice; returned to Pesaro. | |||
| Dec. | Lombardy | In Milan. | |||
| 1459 | |||||
| Jan. | Lombardy | In Milan; hosted San Severino returning from pilgrimage to Holy Land. | |||
| Nov. | Naples | Angiò | Marche | Entered pay of King of Naples to fight John of Anjou and allies; met with Montefeltro to plan joint war. | |
| 1460 | |||||
| Mar. | Marche | United forces with Federico da Montefeltro at Sassoferrato to block Jacopo Piccinino from linking with Anjou in Abruzzi; followed him through Senigallia, Montemarciano; moved to Serra San Quirico, Jesi, Macerata, Mogliano; then pursued him along the coast to Tronto; suspected by Pope Pius II of allowing rival passage deliberately. | |||
| Apr. | Abruzzi | Occupied San Flaviano (Giulianova) at expense of Giosia Acquaviva. | |||
| June | Abruzzi | Captured Sant’Omero, defended by Piccinino lieutenants. | |||
| July | Abruzzi | Defeated by Piccinino at San Fabiano/San Flaviano (5,000 vs 8, volume; cavalry and infantry actions; night withdrawal to Controguerra). | |||
| Sept. | Marche and Lazio | At Grottammare, received 25,000 ducati from Francesco; reequipped companies; defended Sabina; sent 500 cavalry to Viterbo for papal aid. | |||
| Oct. | Lazio | Pope Pius II remitted 3/4 of his papal dues for four years; noted near Rieti with Donato del Conte, Federico da Montefeltro, Marcantonio Torelli. | |||
| Nov. | Lazio | Recaptured Monteleone Sabino, returned to Orsini; besieged Poggio Nativo, castellan Jacopo Savelli; sack after surrender; subordinates of Pope Pius II mistreated civilians; captured Tarano and Cantalupo; with Montefeltro lost 20 men due to disputes. | |||
| Dec. | Lazio | Quartered troops at Nepi; requested permission for Milan, stayed in Rome for Christmas. | |||
| 1461 | |||||
| Jan. | Lazio | Entered Rome with Montefeltro leading 600 cavalry; met Pope Pius II. | |||
| Mar.–May | Marche, Umbria and Lazio | Left Pesaro, touched Gubbio, Nepi; returned to Sabina with Montefeltro; devastated Savelli territories; attacked Palombara Sabina, received Cretone after siege and burned village. | |||
| June | Lazio and Abruzzi | In Albe contado; took Castell’Arcione; moved to Abruzzi forcing Popoli count to obedience to King Ferrante d’Aragona; allied with Countess of Celano; late month besieged Magliano de’ Marsi. | |||
| July | Abruzzi and Campania | Attacked Loreto Aprutino, looted castles, transferred some to Matteo da Capua and Torelli; fought Raimondo Anichino; obtained Bucchianico by terms; entered Acquaviva lands; Acquaviva allied with Naples; Piccinino moved against San Severino; wages delayed, negotiated with John of Anjou; brother sent 5,000 ducati. | |||
| Aug.–Nov. | Abruzzi and Campania | At Città Sant’Angelo, treaty with Francesco Riccardi; left city; new two-month truce with Acquaviva; some castles pledged to papal legate; tasked to seize Ischia flanked by Anjou galleys; failed; returned to Campania; raided Monforte lands; visited King Ferrante; at San Giorgio La Molara; joined royal army at Paduli. | |||
| Oct. | Campania | Joined Aragonese at Guardia Lombardi; faced Piccinino; moved in Terra di Lavoro with 20 cavalry squads. | |||
| Nov. | Abruzzi | Operated between Tocco da Casauria and San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore. | |||
| Dec. | Campania | At Chianchetelle near Ceppaloni winter camp; troops quartered in Valle del Sabato; on Christmas dined with King Ferrante and Cardinal Bartolomeo Roverella at Benevento. | |||
| 1462 | |||||
| Jan. | Campania | Noted near Salerno. | |||
| Feb. | Puglia | Stationed near Biccari. | |||
| Mar. | Campania | Attended war council in Naples. | |||
| May | Campania | In Naples to organize his companies. | |||
| June | Puglia | Checked Piccinino’s advance in Puglia; raided Campobasso territories. | |||
| July | Puglia | Moved with 40 cavalry squads and 1,500 infantry; camped at Accadia; captured and sacked city; took Orsara di Puglia; Anjou forces moved to Candela and Rocchetta Sant’Antonio. | |||
| Aug. | Puglia | Fought at Battle of Troia; Orsini, Piccolomini and Conti vanguard; Sforza rear guard counterattacked flank; Piccinino recovered much booty; captured the Crescent Jewel; Troia opened gates, joined Aragonese; city returned to Sforza rule. | |||
| Sept. | Puglia | Tried to aid castle defenders at Trani; occupied Ascoli Satriano. | |||
| Oct. | Puglia and Campania | At Serracapriola; attacked Monforte lands; moved to Fragneto Monforte to oppose Marino di Marzano’s forces. | |||
| Nov. | Campania | In Terra di Lavoro with 149 lances (7 companies). | |||
| 1463 | |||||
| Jan. | Campania | Entered Naples by King Ferrante d’Aragona; tasked to prevent feudal disputes. | |||
| Mar.–Apr. | Lazio and Tuscany | Sent to Rome by King Ferrante; in Apr. left Lazio for Baths of Petriolo to recover. | |||
| May–June | Milan | Angiò | 322 cavalry, 200 provisioned | Lazio, Campania and Puglia | At Gaeta with Antonio Piccolomini; San Severo revolt plundered his two cavalry squads delaying army mustering; Baordo Carafa captured with 5,000 ducati; invaded Puglia burning wheat fields; returned to Campania then moved to Benevento and pointed to Abruzzi. |
| July–Sept. | Abruzzi, Molise and Lazio | At Colonnella and Agnone; with 18 cavalry squads descended on Caldora lands at Archi; allied with Matteo da Capua, Orsini, d’Avalos, Piccinino; night talks led to Piccinino’s defection; Sforza went to Pope at Tivoli to ratify; returned near L’Aquila forcing inhabitants to royal obedience. | |||
| Oct. | Puglia | Acquired Gradara and Castelnuovo after Malatesta’s surrender; campaigned in Puglia, occupied San Severo, sacked Manfredonia. | |||
| Nov. | Grand Constable | Abruzzi and Campania | At Teramo; upon the death of Giovanni Antonio Orsini del Balzo named grand constable and lieutenant general of Naples; displeased at not receiving Taranto principality; secured only 3,000 ducati; wintered in Teramo. | ||
| Dec. | Puglia | At Taranto. | |||
| 1464 | |||||
| Jan. | Puglia | At Altamura with King Ferrante; intended to go to Rome with pope matters about Pesaro. | |||
| Feb. | Marche | Reached Pesaro end of month. | |||
| Mar.–Apr. | Abruzzi | After winter at Pesaro, returned to Abruzzi; with Capua and San Severino forced L’Aquila to surrender to Aragonese. | |||
| May | Campania and Abruzzi | At Capua with King; with San Severino supported final operations against feudal rebels Cola di Monforte and Giacomo Montagano; moved to Abruzzi, besieged Ortona, forced surrender. | |||
| June | Naples | 400 lances | Abruzzi | Offered by King Ferrante a condotta of 400 lances with 30,000 ducati fee; stationed in Abruzzi. | |
| July | Campania and Abruzzi | Persuaded Duke of Sessa Marino di Marzano to surrender; moved near Moscufo with 16 cavalry squads; captured Pianella and other territories; advanced to river Pescara; supplied Tocco di Casauria; flanked Caldora forces with Aragonese squads. | |||
| Aug.–Nov. | Abruzzi | Besieged L’Aquila; had two bombards from Pesaro; besieged Vasto on Sinello river; commanded by Attendolo clan and Torelli; after conquest named viceroy of Abruzzi. | |||
| 1465 | |||||
| July | Marche | After Jacopo Piccinino’s execution by Naples and Francesco, protected his widow Drusiana, daughter of Duke of Milan. | |||
| 1466 | |||||
| Mar. | Emilia and Lombardy | First at Bologna hosted by son-in-law Giovanni Bentivoglio, then Milan for funeral of brother Francesco at the Cathedral. | |||
| June | Lombardy | In Milan; met new Duke Galeazzo Maria (grandson). | |||
| July–Aug. | Marche and Tuscany | His companies moved to winter quarters under Antonio da Pisa and Giovanni Palomar; prevented from staying in Emilia by pope and legate; fell ill, returned to Pesaro; then to Baths of Petriolo to recover. | |||
| Dec. | Campania, Lombardy, Marche | In Naples to collect debts; Aragonese paid half, requested three-year extension on remaining 13,000 ducati; left Neapolitan army with 700 cavalry. | |||
| 1467 | |||||
| Jan. | Marche | Angered with nephew cutting advisors, accepted Venetian pay; mid-month requested passage from Marquis of Mantua for 600 sacks of wheat and 1,000 of oats for his company’s horses. | |||
| Feb. | Venice | Veneto | In Venice; granted condotta of 1,800 cavalry for two years plus one year’s notice; 25,000 florins annual fee if serving beyond Po; arrived with 150 attendants; hosted in Palace of Marquis of Ferrara. | ||
| Apr. | Venice | Florence Milan | Supported Bartolomeo Colleoni against Florentines and Ducal forces. | ||
| June | Romagna | Besieged Imola against Taddeo Manfredi. | |||
| July | Romagna, Emilia and Veneto | Mid-month on the Senio with Colleoni and Silvestro da Lucino; opposing Milanese, Montefeltro, and Angelo della Stufa; series of duels; fought at Battle of Molinella commanding second squadron; repulsed; afterward reconciled with Montefeltro; visited Ferrara wounded in battle; returned to Venice. | |||
| Aug. | Veneto | Commanded Venetian militia during Colleoni’s illness. | |||
| Sept. | Ill in foot. | ||||
| 1468 | |||||
| Aug. | Marche | Captured Carlo di Lantilla for conspiracy; hanged him; feud with Montefeltro ensued. | |||
| 1469 | |||||
| June | Church | Rimini | Captain General | Romagna | With Napoleone Orsini (2,500 cavalry and infantry) confronted Roberto Malatesta who seized Rimini against Pope Paul II. |
| July | Romagna | Attacked Rimini, entered borgo of San Giuliano with Archbishop of Split; negotiations for surrender stalled. | |||
| Aug. | Romagna and Marche | Montefeltro approached; burned San Giuliano; camped at nearby abbey; mid-month returned to Pesaro with five cavalry squads and 300 infantry; rejoined field, reinforced by Venetians; defeated Montefeltro and Malatesta at Mulazzano; wounded in throat; heavy pontifical losses; war cost pope half-million ducati. | |||
| Sept. | Marche and Veneto | Retreated to Pesaro; went to Venice to explain defeat; dismissed for failing to fulfill condotta terms. | |||
| 1470 | |||||
| Jan. | Romagna | At San Martino near Forlì. | |||
| Feb. | Marche | Hosted Braccio Baglioni, Lord of Perugia, ill at papal camp. | |||
| June | Umbria | Hosted at Perugia by Braccio and Guido Baglioni. | |||
| July | Emilia | At Bologna to seek condotta from nephew Galeazzo Maria Sforza; lodged at Giovanni Bentivoglio‘s palace; annual fee raised from 10,000 to 12,000 ducati; advanced 6,000. | |||
| Sept. | Emilia | At Parma with Ludovico Gonzaga and Duke of Milan to meet Borso d’Este regarding Correggio dispute; appointed governor of Parma. | |||
| 1471 | |||||
| Jan. | Lombardy | In Milan for Bentivoglio’s ferma with ducal forces; gifted gondola worth 100 ducati to Bentivoglio. | |||
| 1472 | |||||
| Dec. | Milan | 600 cavalry | |||
| 1473 | |||||
| Jan.–Mar. | Marche | Fell gravely ill; discovered conspiracy in Pesaro possibly by Girolamo Riario led by Bishop Barnaba Mersoni; son Costanzo thwarted plot; conspirators not punished per Montefeltro’s moderation advice; intended to go to Venice. | |||
| Apr. | Emilia | Died of apoplexy mid-month in Ferrara at Torre della Fossa inn; buried in Pesaro; depicted with sons Costanzo and Battista in Rogier van der Weyden’s Triptych of the Crucifixion (Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Brussels); also in Andrea Mantegna’s Camera Picta at Ducal Palace, Mantua; portrait in Fermo’s Palazzo dei Priori (Pinacoteca Comunale); admirer of Francesco Filelfo; medallion by Gianfranco Enzola at Louvre, Paris; remembered by Luigi Pulci in La giostra and other poets; authored sonnets for Pacifica Samperoli; built Villa Imperiale on Monte Accio and Renaissance wing of Palazzo Ducale in Pesaro by architect Luciano Laurana; heraldic crest combining Visconti arms with dragon and bat wings holding diamond rings; married Costanza da Varano and Sveva Feltria da Montefeltro; after death second wife entered Corpus Domini monastery as Serafina, beatified by Pope Benedict XIV in 1754; tomb in Pesaro Cathedral. |
Sources
-“Egregio nell’arte militare.” CORIO
-“Uno de’ più magnifici e prodi Capitani del tempo suo.” MURATORI
-“Saggio amministratore e giusto ed affabile regnante, costui, dopo una lunga carriera guerresca, ebbe un regno tranquillo, durante il quale raccolse una splendida biblioteca e passò il tempo in pie ed erudite conversazioni.” BURCKHARDT
-“Fu peritissimo nella disciplina militare, nella quale fece assai experienza delle sue virtù in più luoghi d’Italia e in Lombardia e in Toscana; e nell’acquisto del Reame al soldo del re Ferdinando, trovossi alla expugnazione di più terre. Aggiunse alla disciplina militare le lettere, ché fu litteratissimo, e amatore de’ litterati, e sempre aveva appresso di sé maestri in teologia, e maxime di quella ispeculativa di sancto Tomaso d’Aquino.” V. DA BISTICCI
-“L’é capitanio valoroso, pratico e molto reputato.” MALIPIERO
-“Homo excellente in arme.” CAGNOLA
-“Aveva dati moltissimi e segnalati argomenti di sua prodezza in assai guerre gravissime.” BRUTO
-“Qui fuit capitaneus magnus et magnanimus inter primos italicos, relinquens de eius magnanimitate non mediocrem gloriam et famam.” ANNALES FOROLIVIENSES
-“Vir armis inclytus.” DECEMBRIO
-“Eccellente capitano.” ALBERTI
-“Qui prudentia, consilio, celeritate et virtute singulari omnia providit atque conferit.(Con Roberto da San Severino) “In essa guerra (contro Giovanni d’Angiò) fu notabile la virtù excellente de Alexandro et de Roberto, quali non solo se dimostrarono ne la impresa prestantissimi capitanei, ma ancora, dove bisognoe, fecero effecti et opere de gagliardissimi et fortissimi soldati.” SIMONETTA
-Con Roberto da San Severino, Giovanni Sforza, Leone Sforza e Domenico Malatesta “Uomini eccellentissimi in fatti d’arme.” SABELLICO
-“Guerriero di pronto valore e avidissimo di gloria.” UGOLINI
-“Viro forti..vir acer.” FACIO
-“Nulla militari laude Francisco inferior habitus.” A.M. GRAZIANI
-“Dux quidem clarissimus, et Alexandro Philippi Macedonis filio magninimitate, et militari scientia non inferior..Duce ut magnanimo, ita rei militaris scientia peritissimo.” PORCELLIO
-“..Alexandro d’amor cinto/ e de virtù fin l’età stanca e lassa./ (Alla battaglia di Mulazzano)/ Et Alexandro Sforza, i suoi vedendo/ cacciarli adrieto in tanto disonore,/ confortali ivi, e, vechio, se affatigha/ per non perder sua gloria e chiar splendore.” SANTI
-“Celebre condottiero de’ suoi tempi.” LITTA
-“Di molti fratelli che erano i signori Sforzi, questo Alessandro è celebrato più d’ogn’altro delli scrittori di virtuoso e prudente.. Il sommo merito di questo principe fu negli ameni studi, de’ quali sommamente si dilettò, a fronte di continui viaggi ch’ebbe a fare e dell’orrore delle sanguinose battaglie.” COLUCCI
-“Per gloria di belle gesta chiarissimo.” VESI
-“Signore sagace e savio.” BROGLIO
-“Fu mecenate, protettore di artisti, spese parte del patrimonio nell’acquisto di libri e di quadri, nell’abbellimento delle città di Fermo e di Pesaro, nel mantenimento di Palazzo Schifanoia a Ferrara, che possedette fino al 1458.” SPADA
-“Un cenno a parte..(merita la figura di Alessandro Sforza) mecenate, letterato, governante consapevole dell’importanza della bellezza e della magnificenza per la creazione del consenso. Di questo aspetto Sforza si curò sin dalle prime fasi della sua attività: gli apparati effimeri per gli ingressi di Francesco Sforza nelle cittadine marchigiane assoggettate, i festeggiamenti per le nozze di Isotta Sforza con il duca d’Atri (1439) e la decorazione delle sale del Girifalco a Fermo per accogliere Francesco e Bianca Maria (1443). Fu anche proprietario del palazzo di Schifanoia a Ferrara fino al 1458. Ma è particolarmente significativa l’attività urbanistica a Fermo (sistemazione della piazza maggiore, 1438-42) e soprattutto a Pesaro (ristrutturazione e rafforzamento delle mura, 1450; ricostruzione del palazzo di città, del 1462, e della chiesa dei minori osservanti, 1465, poi sacrario degli Sforza di Pesaro; costruzione della villa extraurbana dell’Imperiale, 1469, dove la prima pietra fu posta dall’imperatore Federico III). Fu lui a ingaggiare per primo Luciano Laurana (1465), poi spostatosi a Urbino; chiamò il pittore squarcionesco Marco Zoppo per l’altare maggiore della chiesa francescana osservante (1471)… Alessandro guardava lontano. Durante il viaggio in Borgogna commissionò ritratti (di sé e dei figli) e un trittico alla bottega di Rogier Van der Weyden; cercò di procurarsi un Mantegna, adocchiò i giovani Antoniazzo Romano e Melozzo da Forlì. Fu poi un grande bibliofilo, come ricorda Vespasiano da Bisticci .., si procurò libri a Firenze, Milano, Venezia, Bologna e creò uno “scriptorium” a Pesaro. Ebbe a modello la biblioteca viscontea-sforzesca di Pavia, e mise insieme alla fine 457 volumi. .. La biblioteca non fu completamente distrutta nel 1514, ma fu verosimilmente dispersa a partire dalla fuga di Giovanni Sforza da Pesaro nel 1501; alcune decine di volumi si trovano a Bologna, Cambridge, Princeton, Firenze, Londra, Parigi, Roma. Infine, fu poeta egli stesso, come attesta un canzoniere conservato alla Bibliothèque Nationale de France.” ROSSETTI (Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani)
-“Impiegò parecchi anni della sua vita a combattere e a diventare celebre come condottiero, poi riuscì a farsi una signoria personale, con il contributo di due matrimoni fortunati .. Si dice che a Pesaro nessuno si meravigliasse che Alessandro frequentasse e portasse a corte diverse amanti. Infatti, costui tenne una relazione amorosa con la bella Mattea Samperoli, dama di famiglia agiata, da cui ebbe due figlie, Ginevra e Antonia, e due figli maschi, Ercole e Carlo. Pochi anni dopo, Alessandro rimandò Mattea dal marito, percdhé nel frattempo si era invaghito della cugina di lei, la bellissima e giovane Pacifica Samperoli, di Belvedere Fogliense, anch’ella sposata.” CIAFFONCINI
-Sulla sua tomba compare il seguente epitaffio “Sfortia me genuit: nota est mea dextera bello/ Peridum cultor, iustitiaeque fui./ Nomen Alexander./ Dedit hac Constantius urnam/ Successor merito filius ipse pater.”
Image: http://www.regione.marche.it/Regione-Utile/Cultura/Catalogo-beni-culturali/RicercaCatalogoBeni/ids/16308/Ritratto-di-Alessandro-Sforza
Featured image: Beni culturali
