Sforza Maria Sforza

Their mother initially acted has an advisor to her son, but after barely a year, Galeazzo tired of her wanting to be involved in government and forced her to leave Milan.

Sforza Maria and his brothers were not happy with this and claimed that it had been the wish of their father that all of Francesco sons should share power over Milan.

Suspicions were strong enough that in November of that year, Galeazzo Maria sent his brothers to France with the explanation that "they wanted to see the world".

There they would be kept under the close watch of the king of France Louis XI, who was brother-in-law to Galeazzo's wife Bona, having married her sister, Charlotte of Savoy.

Some compromise was made when Ludovico Gonzaga and the Pope intervened; the Sforza Maria and his brothers were given annual pensions as well as a fortress and a palace for each of them.

This compromise only lasted so long: Sforza Maria, along with his brothers Ludovico, Ascanio and Ottaviano, tried to oust Cicco Simoetta and take the regency, but the coup was unsuccessful and they were driven out of Milan.

During their escape, Sforza Maria's younger brother Ottaviano attempted to flee by crossing the river Adda and drowned.

On 29 July 1479, Sforza Maria died near Varese Ligure, allegedly poisoned on the order of Cicco Simonetta.

Ferdinand I of Naples granted the duchy to Sforza Maria's brother Ludovico il Moro, in an order dated 14 August 1479.

[16] ... since our brother the most illustrious Duke of Bari has brought us a portrait drawn from life by a Sicilian painter established in the city [Venice]Galeazzo Maria Sforza, acting on the praise of his brother for the artist, wrote instructing his agent in Venice to secure the services of Antonello da Messina.