Gian Galeazzo Sforza

Born in Abbiategrasso, he was only seven years old when in 1476 his father, Galeazzo Maria Sforza, was assassinated and he became the Duke of Milan. His uncle, Ludovico Sforza, acted as regent to the young duke, but quickly wrested all power from him and became the de facto ruler of Milan. Ludovico imprisoned Gian Galeazzo and later became the duke after Gian Galeazzo's death, which was widely viewed as suspicious.[1]

In February 1489, Gian Galeazzo married his cousin Princess Isabella of Naples.[2] Together they had:

• Francesco Sforza (1491–1512)
• Ippolita Maria Sforza (1493–1501)
• Bona Sforza (1494–1557); married Sigismund I of Poland
• Bianca Maria Sforza (posthumously 1495–1496)

Charles VIII visiting the deathbed of Gian Galazzo Sforza at the Palazzo Ducale.

In 1491 Ludovico Sforza had Gian Galeazzo Sforza and his wife Isabella of Aragon transferred to the Visconti Castle of Pavia where they created a brilliant court.[3] Gian Galeazzo died in 1494 in the Visconti Castle, the summer home of the Visconti and Sforza families. During that time, he received a visit from Charles VIII of France. According to the Italian historian Francesco Guicciardini in his History of Italy (Italian: La Historia di Italia), he was poisoned by his uncle, Ludovico il Moro.[4]

The rumor was widespread that Giovan Galeazzo's death had been provoked by immoderate coitus; nevertheless, it was widely believed throughout Italy that he had died not through natural illness nor as a result of incontinence, but had been poisoned … one of the royal physicians … asserted that he had seen manifest signs of it. Nor was there anyone who doubted that if it had been poison, it had been administered through his uncle Ludovico Sforza's machinations …

• Palos, Joan-Lluis (2016). "Eleonora Alvarez de Toledo (1522-62)". In Palos, Joan-Lluis; Sanchez, Magdalena S. (eds.). Early Modern Dynastic Marriages and Cultural Transfer. Routledge. pp. 165–188.