For the past 500+ years in Bolognese historiography, Ginevra had been known as a terrible woman who destroyed her family and the city of Bologna--but after academic research was conducted about her life in 15th c. materials that had been dispersed among dozens of Italian archives and libraries, an entirely different and positive story results.

Elizabeth Louise Bernhardt conducted this research into Genevra's life and published a book about her with Amsterdam University Press (released February 2023).

https://www.aup.nl/en/book/9789463726849/genevra-sforza-and-the-bentivoglio Because Ginevra signed her name in her own hand as "Genevra," Bernhardt uses the "Genevra" form of the spelling of her name in the manuscript, and this divergent spelling helps distinguish the historical 'Genevra' from the fictitious 'Ginevra' character that had been created from legends told about her posthumously.

Genevra Sforza and Bentivoglio Family Strategies: Creating and Extending Kinship on a Massive Scale; 4.

Although many stories about an allegedly intimate relationship between Genevra and Giovanni II have been told for over 500 years (that supposedly took place while Sante was still alive) within the strong anti-Genevra tradition of Bolognese historiography, there is absolutely no 15th c. evidence that they were in love or ever had any sort of inappropriate or intimate relationship.

The idea that the two had been in love has been the only explanation given to explain why Genevra was married Giovanni II, Sante's cousin who lived under their roof.

73-108) explains the situation in detail behind this alliance, and the information and analysis is based on hundreds of 15th c. letters and other various archival materials.

Giovanni II and Genevra had so many children as a result of the near annihilation of the Bentivoglio family in the early 15th c. And because Giovanni II had also been humiliated on a peninsular scale when he was forced into Milanese submission by being forcibly married to Genevra (who had been Sante's wife and considered 'used property,' a woman 'used' by a lower level family member, and his own sexually-experienced older aunt), that he wanted to show that he was a powerful man who could create a huge family and dominate Bologna.

1454 lead portrait medal created by Antonio Marescotti are both held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Genevra befriended Gentile Budrioli (wife of the notary Alessandro Cimieri) who was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake in 1498.

Giovanni II and the Bentivoglio males and many partisans fled Bologna in the dark on the night of 1 November 1506 to avoid being killed by papal troops; they headed through Mantuan territory and then to Milan.

Genevra and many Bentivoglio females also voluntarily exiled themselves from Bologna a few days later, heading to Mantua to stay with Isabella d'Este.

Citations Sources For many more details and analyses, see: Genevra Sforza and the Bentivoglio: Family, Politics, Gender and Reputation in (and beyond) Renaissance Bologna by Elizabeth Louise Bernhardt (Amsterdam University Press, 2023).