Caterina Sforza Riario Feo de Medici had many surnames, but she also had an incredibly interesting life - one that was quite unusual for a 15th century woman. Daughter of a duke, wife of a count and niece to a Pope, Caterina had impeccable connections and for several years was one of Romes key social players. She would prove to be more than a socialite however, physically taking up arms to fight her opponents on several occasions - and usually winning. Caterina met some of the most famous people in history - Leonardo da Vinci, Nicolo Machiavelli, Lorenzo de Medici - and is immortalised on the walls of the Sistine chapel. She would have three husbands and seven sons, but would prove to be the most capable military organiser of her family. She held the entire Catholic Church to ransom, faced down coups, avenged her two murdered husbands and stood strong against the feared Cesare Borgia when he invaded her territory. She was a true Renaissance woman
Sources/Further Reading:
Lev, Elizabeth: Tigress of Forli, The Fascinating Biography of The Ultimate Renaissance Woman
Jordan, Jonathan and Jordan, Emily Anne: The War Queens, Extraordinary Women who Ruled the Battlefield
Fraser, Antonia: Warrior Queens Boadicea’s Chariot
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterina_Sforza
Encyclopedia Britannica https://www.britannica.com/biography/Caterina-Sforza
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