once upon a time renaissance italywhen he rode among the 15th and 16th centuries. Back then, there was a change of era. The Middle Ages were reborn in the form of the Modern Age. And there, straddling the Middle Ages and Modernity, a woman revolutionized half of Italy. In a world designed by and for men, Catalina Sforza roared like a true tigress. He marked his territory relentlessly, with a steady step and never looking back. Without a doubt, if it is about bravery and courage, she takes the palme d’or. If the intrigues and conflicts they put youand yes Game of Thrones It has left a bad taste in your mouth, come and read! As often happens, reality is always stranger than fiction. And besides, history almost never disappoints.
But before I introduce you to Catalina (or Caterina) Sforza and see her biography, I will put you in the act. What did that mean about the Renaissance for women? Was it easy for a woman to stick out her chest at that time? Why is Catalina Sforza such a fascinating character? I refer you, first of all, to this article, so that you understand the context that the Renaissance woman faced.
Who was Catherine Sforza? A real tigress…
In the midst of a terrible scenario for any lady, a woman broke all the molds. Catherine Sforzaour brave protagonist, without a doubt did justice to his last name: «strong» (1). Yes his exploits they are already worthy of admiration, as I will show you, we must add the value added that gives you have carried them out at this time. Time that placed us women at the feet of horses. A time that reduced us to mere doormats. (Understand by “time” the image and the rules that they imposed on us Sirs males) (two).
In fact, Catalina already a few patriarchal labels were hung on him in life, as we will see. what if she was one butchthat if she was sexually insatiable, that if she was a ruthless mother… And conventional history has treated it no better. I will try to knock down this macho image on her.
The bastard Sforza, the little Milanese
Katherine, born in Milan, in the mid-15th century (3), was bastard daughter of the Duke of Milan (4). But do not think that her father disowned her, quite the contrary. Catherine Sforza was raised in the Court, like one more Sforza, wrapped in the warmth of her father and her stepmother. Because, contrary to what fairy tales teach us, stepmoms aren’t always bad. Actually, the fact of raising illegitimate children in the parental home was something that used to happen in wealthy families of the time (5). So she got a excellent education (6). Furthermore, he acquired great dexterity in the use of weapons and on the hunt. And also, he learned from scams and political strategies (7). A mix between Arya Stark and Cersei Lannister (8) was growing!
The Countess of Imola and Forlí
Despite everything, Catalina Sforza was a child of her time, and ten years old I was already engaged and getting married (9). Possibly, this was the last decision they made for her. her husband was pope’s nephew on duty, and he gave them as a gift the fiefdom of Imola (10). The following years, the couple lived in Romewhere Catalina fit in perfectly with the jet set (eleven). Although she was a teenager, the Sforza already showed enough interest in politics (12). Seven years after they were married, they also acquired the fiefdom of Forlì (13). She was not even eighteen years old and she was already duchess of two fiefs (14)! The lands of our tigress are located to the north of Italyon the Emilia-Romagna region. Its capital, Bologna, will ring a bell. To situate yourself, what better than a map.
But Tito of her husband, the pope died four years later (15), and disaster hung over the couple. Until that moment, they had been protected, under his protection. But with his death Rome entered in chaos mode and with Rome, the Sforza couple (16). Faced with the imminent need to name a new pope, the most powerful families in Italy they sharpened their fangs. they were all desiring to place one of their own in the great throne (17). Y Catherine Sforzawatching the knives fly, I was not willing to lose what was his…
Not even God enters the Vatican! And a lot little eye with touching my lands!
Thus began the first great feat of the Forlì tigress. In the absence of her husband and extremely pregnant of his fourth son, in the third trimester (18), he mounted his horse and rode to Castel Sant’Angelothe Vatican fortress (19), to get in front of the soldiers who defended him from the assailants (20). She was hell-bent on maintaining the defense, tooth and nail, until a new pope was chosen. Y it lasted a couple of months the jabata! Until her husband reached a deal: she agreed to leave Rome in exchange for keep their lordships of Imola and Forlì. In addition, they received a large sum of money (21). The play, a priori, did not go wrong at all.
Thus, the couple put heading to their landsthough the tranquility lasted very little. People are very envious, you know, and in an Italy with so many wealthy families enervated by reigning in power, it was a matter of time before their anger spread. The husband of Catherine Sforza was murdered Y she and her children were taken prisoner (22). You don’t think that our lady from Forlì was content and sobbing, do you? It will be not! He managed to escape his captors, although she had to leave her children behind. Yes indeed, swore revenge and he got it! (23).
I have the instrument to have many more! a rumor machiavellian
According to the legend (meaning by “legend” the golden pick of Nicholas Machiavelli), Catalina Sforza entrenched herself in the Ravaldino Fortress. During the siege, the conspirators threatened to murder his childrenif he didn’t give up. But the tigress was not scared. She is neither short nor lazy, she responded by pulling up her skirt and pointing to her crotch:
Kill them if you want, I have the instrument to have many more! You will never get me to give up (24).
Whether or not she raised her skirts, what is clear is that the Sforza claimed political power after the death of her husband. And he kept it! (25). But most likely, as ruse to intimidate the conspirators, Catalina Sforza what say it is that she was pregnant. come on, what pretend to be, as a strategy. So, I would get your children are worthless as hostagesimplying that in her womb she had an heir of the lands. Why would they bother killing their kids? (26). smart girl It was still a brilliant strategistand not a heartless mother…
In the end, the tigress received reinforcements from Milan Y expired to his enemies. His firstborn became lord of his land, but since he was only a nine-year-old boy, Catherine Sforza assumed the regency (27). And how could it be otherwise, he took his revenge. imprisoned to everyone who had participated in the murder of her husband, destroyed their houses and gave their belongings to the poor of Forlì (28). And the sea was wide!
A regent with great political skills
Despite the settling of accounts carried out by the lady, she managed to govern her fiefdoms liking from their neighbors. proved to be more than skilled in politicsgoverning their lands with intelligence and involvement. She adopted two star measures, which elevated her to glory. On the one hand, lowered taxes; detail that, already at that time, was more than popular (29). And for another, arranged several marriages of their childrenvery profitablewith the people of the neighboring lands. With that, got the friendship of the surrounding territories (30). And like Catalina Sforza what he put it was a good fight she took it upon herself to train her soldiers (31). But, although her subjects were delighted with her, her family was that was smoking…
The second vendetta by Catherine Sforza
A few months after the murder of her husband, Catherine Sforza had remarried, secretly. Not because a widow couldn’t marry again, but because he feared losing the lordships of Imola and Forlì. And, as you can see, the tigress for her lands did whatever was necessary (32). However, her new romance was a secret with voices. And of course, his relatives began to get angry… “Hey, won’t this one be able to remove her own son from the lordship of the lands and place her new maromo?”, they asked themselves over and over again (33). For this reason, the conspiracies against Catalina Sforza and her new churri they began to weave. They managed to imprison and assassinate several involved who dared to challenge them. until the plan against them took effect: they got load to the new hubby (3. 4).
So, nothing, once again it was Catalina Sforza’s turn to take revenge! These people did not find out that attacking their interests and decisions was not going to go unpunished. The tigress of Imola and Forlí did not think twice, and tortured and murdered everyone who was involved in the murder of her second husband. And she didn’t stop there, but also took away their families. Even her lovers (35)! There was no end to the unleashed anger of the Sforza. The famous “list” of Arya Stark, with her killing at close range Of all the Freys (36), he doesn’t get to the top! vendetta of Catalina nor to the sole of the shoes!
I also have wax for the Venetians! Or how to become a tigress…
Two years later, Catherine Sforza remarried. This time, with a Medici (37). With him, she had another son, which the tigress renamed in honor of her husband… dead (38). Yes, dear readers, again, Catalina Sforza widowed. On this occasion, because of of pneumonia. But she did not have much time to mourn the death of her beloved. In the absence of a human enemy to take revenge on, could get even fighting another battle. he got at the head of his army Y He managed to defeat the Venetians, who were battling against the Florentines (39). From this victory, the Sforza she earned the nickname “the tigress” (40). Do not think that I have chosen the nickname feline because if. Nothing is left to chance here.
But the Sforza tigress did not have time to enjoy her victory properly either. another enemymore than powerful, lurked just around the corner. Since the Holy See itself they were touching her ovaries a lot… (41).
The lands of Catalina Sforza, they belong to Catalina! Say what the Pope says!
A new pope, Alexander VIhad reached the Iron ThroneI mean the Church, sorry. And with him, one of the most famous families of the Renaissance was filled with power. Indeed, I am talking about the well-known Borgia. Who else! and to Pope Borgia it got between his eyebrows and eyebrows that the cities of Romagna were to be incorporated into the Papal States. Including, of course, Imola and Forli. And all this, because she pretended that his son, César Borgia, governed the entire region (42). You can imagine the face that Catalina Sforza had to have… That must have been a real poem.
But our tigress, as we have been verifying, was not one of those who stay stillto see them come. He put all his effort into reinforce his army Y prepared for any…