The House of Trivulzio is the name of an old Italian noble family, most closely associated with Milan, whose members were prominent politicians, military men and various clergymen.
The House of Trivulzio is the name of an old Italian noble family, most closely associated with Milan, whose members were prominent politicians, military men and various clergymen.
The noble and ancient Trivulzio family was one of the great families of Milan and Lombardy, originally from the current Province of Pavia (in particular from the municipality of Trivolzio , from which they took the surname), holder of numerous fiefs ( Melzo, Borgomanero, Retegno, Casteldidone, Vigevano, Mesocco, Codogno, Omate, etc.), whose first members are recorded since the 10th century . The family reached its apogee in the second half of the fifteenth century, at the time of the Sforza, who favored its rise, only to be betrayed by the same Trivulzio, who passed to the service of the Kings of France.
Although some authors indicate the origins of the Trivulzio family between the 10th and 11th centuries, there is certain documentary evidence of its existence only starting from the 12th century. In 1277 the Archbishop Ottone Visconti mentioned the family among the 200 of the Milanese aristocracy whose members were authorized to be created canons of the Milan cathedral .
In any case, the family entered Milanese politics only starting from the 15th century with various prominent personalities both in the military and in the administrative sphere. They make their residence in the Porta Romana district.
Giovanni Trivulzio (d. 1423) was the first to join the council of the Decurions of Milan. His son, Antonio, embarked on a military career in the service of Duke Filippo Maria Visconti and took part as a leader in the war against the Republic of Venice, being appointed ducal commissioner in Crema from 1441 to 1442, passing to the stronghold of Ancona under the government of Francesco I Sforza, not before passing after the death of Duke Visconti among the promoters of the Golden Ambrosian Republic. In 1450 he was included in the ducal council by the will of Francesco Sforza.
The historic buildings attributable to the Trivulzio family are numerous, important and spread over a large territorial space. Among these is the Trivulzio palace located in Milan owned by the family since the end of the fifteenth century , home to the Library and the Trivulziana Collection which today are located in the Castello Sforzesco . Cristina Trivulzio , later Princess Barbiano of Belgiojoso d'Este , was born in this palace. [1]
It is also associated with the Trivulzio Madonna by Andrea Mantegna.
Francesco I Sforza was an Italian condottiero who founded the Sforza dynasty in the duchy of Milan, ruling as its (fourth) duke from 1450 until his death. In the 1420s, he participated in the War of L'Aquila and in the 1430s fought for the Papal States and Milan against Venice. Once war between Milan and Venice ended in 1441 under mediation by Sforza, he successfully invaded southern Italy alongside René of Anjou, pretender to the throne of Naples, and after that returned to Milan. He was instrumental in the Treaty of Lodi (1454) which ensured peace in the Italian realms for a time by ensuring a strategic balance of power. He died in 1466 and was succeeded as duke by his son, Galeazzo Maria Sforza. While Sforza was recognized as duke of Milan, his son Ludovico would be the first to have formal investiture under the Holy Roman Empire by Maximilian I in 1494.
The House of Sforza was a ruling family of Renaissance Italy, based in Milan. They acquired the Duchy of Milan following the extinction of the Visconti family in the mid-15th century, Sforza rule ending in Milan with the death of the last member of the family's main branch in 1535.
Vigevano is a town and comune in the province of Pavia, Lombardy in northern Italy. A historic art town, it is also renowned for shoemaking and is one of the main centres of Lomellina, a rice-growing agricultural district. Vigevano received the honorary title of city with a decree of Duke Francis II Sforza on 2 February 1532. It is famed for its beautiful Renaissance "Piazza Ducale" in the centre of the town.
Ludovico Maria Sforza, also known as Ludovico il Moro. "Arbiter of Italy", according to the expression used by Guicciardini, was an Italian Renaissance nobleman who ruled as Duke of Milan from 1494 to 1499.
Condottieri were Italian captains in command of mercenary companies during the Middle Ages and of multinational armies during the early modern period. They notably served popes and other European monarchs during the Italian Wars of the Renaissance and the European Wars of Religion. Notable condottieri include Prospero Colonna, Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, Cesare Borgia, the Marquis of Pescara, Andrea Doria, and the Duke of Parma.
The Visconti of Milan are a noble Italian family. They rose to power in Milan during the Middle Ages where they ruled from 1277 to 1447, initially as Lords then as Dukes, and several collateral branches still exist. The effective founder of the Visconti Lordship of Milan was the Archbishop Ottone, who wrested control of the city from the rival Della Torre family in 1277.
The Golden Ambrosian Republic was a short-lived republic founded in Milan by members of the University of Pavia with popular support, during the first phase of the Milanese War of Succession. With the aid of Francesco Sforza they held out against the forces of the Republic of Venice, but after a betrayal Sforza defected and captured Milan to become Duke himself, abolishing the Republic.
Gian Giacomo Trivulzio was an Italian aristocrat and condottiero who held several military commands during the Italian Wars.
Bianca Maria Visconti was Duchess of Milan from 1450 to 1468 by marriage to Francesco I Sforza. She was regent of Marche during the absence of her spouse in 1448. She served as Regent of the Duchy of Milan during the illness of her spouse in 1462, as well as in 1466, between the death of her spouse and until her son, the new Duke, who was absent, was able to return to Milan to assume power.
Castell'Arquato is an Italian town located on the first hills of Val D’Arda in the province of Piacenza, in Emilia-Romagna, approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Piacenza and 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Parma. Places nearby include Bacedasco, Vigolo Marchese, Fiorenzuola d'Arda, Lugagnano Val d'Arda, and Vernasca.
The Certosa di Pavia is a monastery and complex in Lombardy, Northern Italy, situated near a small town of the same name in the Province of Pavia, 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Pavia. Built in 1396–1495, it was once located on the border of a large hunting park belonging to the Visconti family of Milan, of which today only scattered parts remain. It is one of the largest monasteries in Italy.
The aristocratic House of Borromeo were merchants in San Miniato around 1300 and became bankers in Milan after 1370. Vitaliano de' Vitaliani, who acquired the name of Borromeo from his uncle Giovanni, became the count of Arona in 1445. His descendants played important roles in the politics of the Duchy of Milan and as cardinals in the Catholic Reformation. In 1916, the head of the family was granted the title Prince of Angera by the King of Italy.
Agnese del Maino was a Milanese noblewoman and the mistress of Filippo Maria Visconti, the last legitimate duke of Milan of the Visconti dynasty. Agnese was the mother of Duchess Bianca Maria Visconti.
Antonio Trivulzio the Elder (1457–1508) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal.
Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli was an Italian count who gathered art from Italian Renaissance. Italys' first private museum which bears his name, the Museo Poldi Pezzoli.
Pier Maria Rossi or Pier Maria II de' Rossi was an Italian condottiere and count of San Secondo, whose properties included the castle of Rocca dei Rossi. He was known as "the Magnificent".
The Visconti-Sforza Castle is a mediaeval castle located in the centre of the city of Vigevano, Lombardy, Northern Italy. In the 14th and 15th centuries, members of the Visconti and Sforza houses, lords and dukes of Milan, transformed a previous fortification into a vast family resort. The castle was part of a wider plan of urban development for Vigevano, which included the erection of other buildings and the construction of the central Piazza Ducale.
The Arese are a prominent family of the Milanese nobility.
Bergonzio Botta was a Milanese functionary. He served as the master of ceremonies of Ludovico Sforza from at least 1489 and, after Ludovico became Duke of Milan, as his treasurer from 1494 to 1499. During the Italian Wars after 1499, he was aligned with the French. He is most famous today for one his earliest recorded public acts. In 1489, he organized what is regarded as one of the earliest ballet performances.
