An Italian nobleman and first husband of Lucrezia Borgia, known for his marriage and subsequent annulment that sparked a scandal in the powerful Borgia family. He played a significant role in Renaissance politics and intrigue.
Giovanni Sforza is best known as the first husband of Lucrezia Borgia, the illegitimate daughter of Pope Alexander VI, and his marriage to her was annulled on claims of his impotence in March 1497. As a member of the powerful House of Sforza, he was also the lord of Pesaro and Gradara from 1483 until his death in 1510.
Giovanni Sforza was born on July 5, 1466, as the illegitimate son of Costanzo I Sforza. Upon his father's death in 1483, Giovanni inherited the lordship of Pesaro and Gradara at the young age of 17. Due to his youth, the lordship was initially ruled by his father's widow, Camilla d'Aragona, as regent.
In 1489, Giovanni married Maddalena Gonzaga, the daughter of Federico I of Mantua. Unfortunately, she died the following year, leaving Giovanni a widower at a young age.
In 1492, Giovanni's cousin, Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, helped finalize marriage negotiations between Giovanni and Lucrezia Borgia. The proxy marriage took place on June 12, 1492, with a lavish and decadent official ceremony in the Vatican in 1493. Lucrezia's dowry was a substantial 31,000 ducats.
The marriage was initially seen as a valuable link between the Sforza and Borgia families, particularly with the Milanese line holding the Duchy of Milan at the time. However, Giovanni's importance to the ambitious Borgia family dwindled over time, and he was eventually found out as a spy for Milan by Pope Alexander VI.
By Christmas 1495, both Giovanni and Lucrezia were back at the court in Rome, but their marriage was already on shaky ground. The annulment of their marriage on claims of Giovanni's impotence in March 1497 marked the end of their tumultuous relationship.
Despite his short-lived marriage to Lucrezia Borgia, Giovanni Sforza left a lasting legacy as a condottiero and lord of Pesaro and Gradara. His life and marriage may have been marked by controversy and scandal, but they remain an integral part of Italy's rich history.
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