Polissena Sforza

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Polissena Sforza
Lady of
Francesco Sforza
MotherGiovanna d'Acquapendente

Polissena Sforza (1428 – June 1, 1449) was an

Duke of Milan, and Giovanna d'Acquapendente, his mistress, with whom he had five children.[1]

She was named Polissena [it] after Francesco's first wife, Polissena Ruffo, who had died in 1420.[2]

Between 1441 and April 1442, at the age of thirteen, she married Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini.[3][4][5][6] She became Sigismondo's second wife, after Ginevra d'Este, who had died in 1440.[7]

During their marriage, Polissena participated in the social and ceremonial aspects of Rimini's

court.[8] She had two children with Sigismondo: Galeotto, born in January 1443 and Giovanna [it], born in 1444 or 1445.[8] Giovanna was married to Giulio Cesare da Varano [it], with a betrothal in 1451.[9][10][8] Galeotto died young, predeceasing Polissena.[11]

Pope Nicholas V issued a bull declaring Polissena of legitimate birth on November 1, 1448.[11]

On June 1, 1449,[12][11] Polissena died in Rimini at the Abbey of Scolca. Her death was likely due to plague, although there were rumors she was suffocated on Sigismondo's orders.[13][14] The rumors are not generally credited by modern historians.[15]

During his marriage to Polissena, Sigismondo also had a mistress, Isotta degli Atti. His interest in Isotta began in 1445, when she was twelve.[16] Their relationship began in 1446,[17] and she gave birth to their first child in 1447.[18][8] He married Isotta in 1453 or 1454.[19]

excommunicated and tried Sigismondo in 1460 and 1461, accusing him, along with many other charges, of having both Ginevra and Polissena killed.[20][17] When this failed to have the desired effect on Sigismondo's behavior, Pius conducted what he referred to as an "ironic canonization by a new and unusual mode of speech."[21] On April 27, 1462, he publicly proclaimed that Sigismondo, though still alive, was damned to Hell, the only time any pope has made such a declaration.[22][23]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-226-70316-9
    .
  2. ISBN 0-226-70316-9
    .
  3. ISBN 978-0-674-08851-1
    .
  4. ISBN 0-385-72019-X
    .
  5. ISBN 0-521-20042-3
    .
  6. ISBN 0-226-70316-9
    .
  7. ISBN 978-0-674-08851-1
    .
  8. ^
    ISBN 0-226-70316-9
    .
  9. ISBN 1-58839-142-6
    .
  10. ISBN 0-521-20042-3
    .
  11. ^
    ISBN 0-226-70316-9
    .
  12. ISBN 0-521-20042-3
    .
  13. ISBN 978-0-674-08851-1
    .
  14. ISBN 0-226-70316-9
    .
  15. ISBN 0-521-20042-3
    .
  16. ISBN 978-0-674-08851-1
    .
  17. ^
    ISBN 0-385-72019-X
    .
  18. ISBN 978-0-674-08851-1
    .
  19. ISBN 978-0-674-08851-1
    .
  20. ISBN 978-0-674-08851-1
    .
  21. ISBN 978-0-674-08851-1
    .
  22. ISBN 978-0-674-08851-1
    .
  23. ISBN 0-385-72019-X
    .
Preceded by Lady of Rimini
1442–1449 		Succeeded by
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