The Tree of Europe · Person

Francesco I Sforza

A condottiere who became Duke of Milan after marrying Bianca Maria Visconti. He founded the Sforza dynasty and stabilised the duchy within the Italian balance of power of the mid-fifteenth century.

1401 – 1466DukeSforza

Explore this family · Spanish Atlas Back to people

Contemporary portraitFrancesco SforzaLombard school · Fifteenth centuryWikimedia CommonsPublic domain · PDM 1.0 · Source

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 23 July 1401 Documented

Death: 8 March 1466 Documented

Role: Duke

Dynasty: Sforza

Territories: Milan (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns

Duke · Milan · Duchy Pending review1450–1466Effective rule

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

Muzio Attendolo SforzaDocumentedLucia Terzani · ESPending review

Partners

Bianca Maria ViscontiDocumented

Children

Ippolita Maria Sforza · ESGaleazzo Maria Sforza · ESLudovico Sforza

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

6 recorded claims · 2 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
23 July 1401
The authority record gives the birth as 1401-07-23.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Francesco I., Mailand, Herzog · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
8 March 1466
The authority record gives the death as 1466-03-08.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Francesco I., Mailand, Herzog · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (2/3 with a precise source)

FatherDocumented
Muzio Attendolo Sforza
The authority record identifies Muzio Attendolo Sforza (GND 118828630) as father.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Francesco I., Mailand, Herzog · Relationships: father → GND 118828630
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
MotherPending review
Lucia Terzani
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Bianca Maria Visconti
The authority record identifies Bianca Maria Visconti (GND 118805460) as spouse.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Francesco I., Mailand, Herzog · Relationships: spouse → GND 118805460
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Governments (0/1 with a precise source)

GovernmentPending review
Duke · Milan · 1450–1466
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Biographical and contextual references (4)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.