Caterina Sforza

In the Sforza Castle of Milan…
Caterina was educated by her fatherly grand-mother Lady Bianca Maria Visconti in the lively and refined court with major poets and writers of the Italian Renaissance, she was used to spend the summertime in the Sforza estates of Pavia.
She learned about her glorious family ancestors who were skilled strategists and captains… The Sforza founder was actually Muzio Attendolo a venture Captain from Cotignola of Ravenna (Romagna) who was thanks to his enterprises as fearless leader, nicknamed “Lo Sforza” (tr. – the tough man – Italian verb: sforzare – to struggle).
Bianca Maria and his son Galeazzo Maria Sforza actually conveyed her their passion for warfare and hunting and tought her the art of ruling.

Girolamo and Caterina achieved also the Lordship of Forlì, formerly ruled by the Ordelaffi family, it was reported to be a rebel to Church government.

Caterina was described by her contemporaries as a sophisticated, beautiful and witty woman, in particular Forlì citizens got well impressed and appreciated her. She gave birth to her first-born son Ottaviano.
During her journeys and stay in Rome, Girolamo wanted Caterina to be beautiful and bold, the nobles of Rome talked about her beauty, elegant manners as well as her tough and authoritative temper and self-confidence.

Caterina is now being described by her contemporaries as a sophisticated, beautiful and witty woman, in particular Forlì citizens got well impressed and soon appreciated her. She gave birth to her first-born son Ottaviano.
During her journeys and stay in Rome, Girolamo wanted Caterina to be beautiful and bold, the nobles of Rome talked about her beauty, elegant manners as well as her tough, authoritative temper and her self-confidence.

Pope Sistus IV died and his enemies took advantage of the situation. Riots erupted everywhere in Rome. The Riario Palace in Campo de’ Fiori was sacked and almost destroyed, so Caterina along with a small crew of trustworthy men found shelter in Castel Sant’Angelo, one of her husband’s estate, she locked the castle door and waited… she was determined to give the castle back only to the newly elected Pope.

The cardinals feared the fire weapons of Caterina’s crew, so they refused to join in the conclave and kept waiting, at the same time they took agreements with Riario who was waiting out of Rome. They promised him money and the domains that formerly belonged to him in Romagna, so he gave up. Caterina disappointed by the betrayal of the husband and exhausted for the advanced pregnancy had to give up too.
After 12 days she left Castel Sant’Angelo and reached her Romagna domains.

The Orsi Conspiracy

On the night of April 14. 1488 while Caterina was caring for the children with the nanny and the servants a man of the noble Orsi family, that was a rich and important family of Forlì, assaulted the Riario Palace that was in the main Forlì square. Girolamo was stabbed to death and thrown out of the window, his corpse was eventually dismembered by the wild crowd.

Caterina escaped and took shelter in the Ravaldino Fortress that was held by Tommaso Feo. She convinced the Orsi to let her in because she made them think that this was the only way to get the fortress for giving it to them. She entered and took the fortress for herself instead. She eventually organized her troops and arrested the traitors and their families.

The legend tells that the Orsi who had taken her children as hostages were trying to scare her in order to get her out of the fortress but she climbed up the walls and showed them her pubis screaming “…come on… don’t hesitate, get them killed I’ve got here the mold for many others…”. The Orsi were so much impressed by her bravery that they were forced to give up thus Caterina and her children gained control again of the fortress.

Caterina ruthlessly pursued the traitors and their families and many were killed. She eventually became the Signora of Imola and Forlì. She started ruling alone over the Romagna domains.
Her revenge was particularly cruel, not only the building of Senior Orsi was burned and destroyed but also all the houses and minor residences owned by his relatives that were located in the area nearby it. In the Forlì historical district the lane in which the main Orsi building was destroyed is still exhisting as Via Guasto degli Orsi. (tr. Orsis’ mischief lane).

Together with her loyal apothecary from Forlì Lodovico Albertini she studied and created remedies and beauty recipes by mixing herbs and essences and making alchemy combinations. In the Forlì fortress days went by slowly and Caterina was engaged in attending delegations, he administration of the state and looking after her children.