Italian family that ruled Milan (14501535).
The family began with the prosperous farmer and later condottiere leader Muzio Attendolo (13691424), who was given the nickname Sforza ("Force"). His illegitimate son Francesco Sforza became duke of Milan in 1450. Galeazzo Maria Sforza (144476) succeeded his father in 1466, and, though a despotic ruler, he introduced the cultivation of rice, built canals and encouraged commerce, and was a patron of the arts; he was assassinated by conspirators who vainly hoped to provoke a popular uprising. Gian Galeazzo Sforza (146994) succeeded his father in 1476 under the regency of his mother and uncle, Ludovico Sforza , who usurped the government in 1481 and established Milan's supremacy. After Ludovico was driven from power by Louis XII of France in 1499, his son Massimiliano Sforza (14931530) returned to rule briefly (151316) before yielding the duchy to France. Another son, Francesco Maria Sforza (14951535), returned after the French defeat to rule from 1522, until his death without heirs ended the ducal line in 1535. The duchy then passed to Charles V and the Habsburgs. Descendants of Sforza Secondo (an illegitimate son of Francesco Sforza) became the Counts Sforza and included the diplomat Carlo, Count Sforza .