Giovanni Paolo I Sforza

He was a legitimized son of Ludovico il Moro, duke of Milan, and Lucrezia Crivelli.

In 1513, when his half-brother Massimiliano shortly restored the family seignory in Milan, he took part in the defence of Novara against the French.

In 1532, after the peace of Bologna between Francesco II and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, he received in reward the title of marquess of Caravaggio.

Three years later, after Francesco's death, he moved to the Kingdom of Naples (then under Spanish suzerainty) to reclaim the Duchy of Milan for himself, but died midway at Florence under mysterious circumstances.

He was married to Violante Bentivoglio (1505–1550) whose maternal great-grandfather was Galeazzo Maria Sforza (died 1476) Duke of Milan.

Coat of arms of Giovanni Paolo I Sforza, adapted from a rarely used coat of arms received by his father from Emperor Maximilian I [ 1 ]