Il Castello di Milano
The sforzas
This period is considered the golden age of the Castle of Milan. We shall, for this reason, include in this brief historical
survey even details of lesser importance when they can help us without undue prolixity to underline the grandeur and the glories of the Sforzas rule.
| 1450 |
Francesco Sforza, son of Attendolo and
like his father one of the greatest mercenary leaders, sometime captain
for the Visconti and later for the Repubblica Milanese, now proclaims
his rights to the Duchy of Milan as husband of Bianca Maria Visconti.
Not findng himself favourably recognized he besieges the’ town
with Venitian troops and is proclaimed its signore through the help
of Gaspare Vimercati and the populace. In this same year Sforza orders the Castle to be rebuilt, and it is probably that his first architects were Giovanni da Milano, and perhaps Marcoleone da Nogarolo. The work is also directed by others, among whom we shall mention Averulino, better known as Filarete, and Bartolomeo Gadio of Cremona who in 1554 is entrusted with general supervision. |
| 1457 | The painter Bonifacio Bembo of Cremona begins to decorate and paint some of the rooms. |
| 1466 | Francesco Sforza dies leaving his soli Caleazzo Maria
heir to the Duchy. Filippo Eustachi is appointed warder of the Castle. |
| 1467 | The new Duke orders other buildings to be erected in the Castle not wishing to live, as his father had, in the ducal palace near the Duomo. |
| 1468 | Galeazzo Maria takes up his abode in the Castle and marries Bona di Savoia. |
| 1469 | The Duke prepares minutely detailed programmes and
sketches of the painting to be undertaken in the Castle, entrusting
them to various artists, among whom Bembo and Foppa. In 1474 Don Federigo son of King Ferdinand of Aragon is entertained in the Castle, in 1475 Monsignor Filippo Bastard of Bourgogne and monsignor Cominges, and in 1476 Marcantonio Morosino ambassador of the Serenissima, Mohamed ben Mapho ambassador of the Sultan of Egypt and Monsignor Martiglione ambassador of the King of France. |
| 1476 | On the day of St. Stephen Galeazzo Maria while entering the saint’s Basilica is murdered by the nobles Olgiati Lampugnani and Visconti. Cicco Simonetta, his secretary, loyal friend of Francesco Sforza and faithful to the ducal family succeeds in getting the heir Giovanni Galeazzo, who is not yet of age, proclaimed Duke under the regency of the mother, Bona di Savoia. |