Maximilian Sforza

Who was Maximilian Sforza?

Maximilian Sforza was a Duke of Milan from the Sforza family, the son of Lodovico Sforza. He ruled 1512–1515, between the occupations of Louis XII of France, and Francis I of France in 1515. After the French victory at the Battle of Marignano, Massimiliano was imprisoned by the returning French troops. He waived his rights to Milan for the sum of 30,000 ducats and continued to live in France.

When he was three his father tried to arrange a marriage between him and Mary Tudor, the younger daughter of King Henry VII of England. However, Henry VII rejected the proposal as Massimiliano's father was hoping that Henry would help him against the French, which was not in Henry's interest.