A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Catharine Sforza
CATHARINE SFORZA,
Natural daughter of Galeas Sforza, Duke of Milan, in 1466 acquired celebrity for her courage and presence of mind. She married Jerome Riario, Prince of Forli, who was some time after assassinated by Francis Del Orsa, who had revolted against him. Catharine, with her children, fell into the hands of Orsa, but contrived to escape to Rimini, which still continued faithful to her, and which she defended with such determined bravery against her enemies, who threatened to put her children to death if she did not surrender, that she was at length restored to sovereign power. She then married John de Medicis, a man of noble family, but not particularly distinguished for talents or courage. Catharine still had to sustain herself; and, in 1500, ably defended Forli against Cæsar Borgia, Duke Valentino, the illegitimate son of Pope Alexander the Sixth. Being obliged to surrender, she was confined in the castle of San Angelo, but soon set at liberty, though never restored to her dominions. She died soon after. She is praised by a French historian for her talents, courage, military powers, and her beauty.
Sforza, Isabella, of the same family as the preceding, was distinguished in the sixteenth century for her learning. Her letters possessed great merit. One of them was a letter of consolation, written to Bonna Sforza, widow of the King of Poland; and one was in vindication of poetry.