Italian family that ruled Milan (1450–1535).
The family began with the prosperous farmer and later condottiere leader Muzio Attendolo (1369–1424), who was given the nickname Sforza ("Force"). His illegitimate son Ludovico Sforza , who usurped the government in 1481 and established Milan's supremacy. After Ludovico was driven from power by {{link=Louis">Louis XII of France in 1499, his son Massimiliano Sforza (1493–1530) returned to rule briefly (1513–16) before yielding the duchy to France. Another son, Francesco Maria Sforza (1495–1535), 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 .