The Tigress of Forlì

Renaissance Italy's Most Courageous and Notorious Countess, Caterina Riario Sforza de' Medici

Elizabeth Lev

• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Year: 2024
• Print ISBN: 9780547844169
• eBook ISBN: 9780547608044
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Historical Biographies
• Index: Social Sciences

The astonishing life of an Italian Renaissance noblewoman who was a wife, mother, leader, and warrior fierce enough to make Machiavelli wince.
A strategist to match Machiavelli; a warrior who stood toe to toe with the Borgias; a wife whose three marriages would end in bloodshed and heartbreak; and a mother determined to maintain her family's honor, Caterina Riario Sforza de' Medici was a true Renaissance celebrity, beloved and vilified in equal measure. In this dazzling biography, Elizabeth Lev illuminates her extraordinary life and accomplishments.
Raised in the court of Milan and wed at age ten to the pope's corrupt nephew, Caterina was ensnared in Italy's political intrigues early in life. After turbulent years in Rome's papal court, she moved to the Romagnol province of Forlì. Following her husband's assassination, she ruled Italy's crossroads with iron will, martial strength, political savvy, and an icon's fashion sense. In finally losing her lands to the Borgia family, she put up a resistance that inspired all of Europe and set the stage for her progeny—including Cosimo de' Medici—to follow her example to greatness.
A rich evocation of Renaissance life,  The Tigress of Forlì reveals Caterina Riario Sforza as a brilliant and fearless ruler, and a tragic but unbowed figure.
Praise for The Tigress of Forlì
"A rich, nuanced portrait of a highly controversial beauty and military leader, and her violent albeit glittering Italian Renaissance milieu." — Publishers Weekly
"[A] meticulous biography . . . Rejoice in a tale of feminism gone wild." — New York Times Book Review
"In this insightful, fascinating portrayal, Elizabeth Lev brings Caterina Sforza and her times very much to life." —Kathleen Turner, actress and author of Send Yourself Roses

Index

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

Acciajuoli, Donato, 51

Acqua Vergine, 58

Adrian, Messer, 239, 239–40

“Agnus Dei,” given to Caterina during pregnancy, 51–52

Agrippa, 58

Albanese, Pietro, 145

Alberto (caretaker of Caterina’s house in Florence), 252

Alexander VI Borgia (pope), xi, xii, xiii, 171, 173, 174, 175

in Cesare Borgia’s assurance to Caterina, 218, 219

Lucrezia Borgia as daughter of, 204

and Caterina as prisoner, 235

persuaded to free Caterina, 246

praise for Caterina when leaving, 248

and Caterina’s bloodthirstiness after Giacomo’s murder, 186

as Caterina’s enemy, 205

and attack on Forlì, 212

deposes Riario family and orders surrender of Forlì, 212

frustrated by Caterina’s resistance to siege, 224

death of, 253

and decoration of apartment walls, 241

Florence threatened for aid to Forlì, 213

Ottaviano and Cesare attempt negotiations with over Forlì and Imola, 238

Savonarola’s criticism of, 199

and triple alliance captures, 238

Alia, Guglielmo d’, 160

Alfonso of Aragon (duke of Calabria, later king Alfonso II of Naples), 22, 74, 75, 86, 99, 172, 173, 177

Alfonso (duke of Calabria, the younger), 205

Anna (Jewish friend in Rome), 261

Anne of Beaujeu, 171

Anne of Brittany, 171

Anterigoli, Giuliano degli, 262

Apollonia (founder of the Muratte), 252

Appiani, Antonio, 66, 69

Aretino, Pietro, 269–70, 272

Armor, by Missaglia family of Milan, 5–6

Arranged marriages, in Renaissance world, 17–18

Artillery, of Cesare Borgia’s army, 221–22

Artisan conspiracy, 72, 73

Attendolo, Muzio, 1, 4, 71

Augustus (Roman emperor), Sixtus’s attempt to emulate, 58

Auton, Jehan de, 231

Avignon, popes’ residence in, 57, 86

B

Babone, Matteo, 144–47

Bagnacavallo, Domenico da, 179, 181–82, 184–85

Bagno, thermal baths in, 200

Bande Nere, 269, 272

Barone (amateur executioner), 118, 145

Battle of Campo Mor...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Contents
• Copyright
• Author’s Note
• Prologue: Christmas Cannons
• Map
• The Education of an Amazon
• Childhood’s End
• The Countess-in-Waiting
• The Triumphal Parade to Rome
• Courtiers and Conspiracies
• The Growth of the Riario Dynasty
• The Fairest in the Realm
• The Birth of Athena
• The Lean Years
• Taking Center Stage
• Photos
• The Retort at Ravaldino
• The Spoils of War
• Fanning the Flames
• Blinded by Love
• Avenging Fury
• Intrigue and Invasion
• Italy’s Idol
• The Long Night of Castel Sant’Angelo
• Sleep After Toil
• Epilogue: Mantua, 1526
• Notes
• Sources
• Index
• About the Author
• Connect with HMH