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SFORZA, Francesco (1401 - 1466, Duke of Milan from 1450). Unpublished letter, written and signed in his name ('Franciscus Fortia vicecomes, comes Marchie Anchonensis, marchio etc') to Cosimo de' Medici, Montagnana (near Padua), 24 June 1439, saying that he has learned from Angelo [Simonetta] that Bernardo de' Medici [the Florentine ambassador to the League] is to be replaced, writing warmly of his good relations with him, 'com Bernardo ho bona intelligentia et praticha, et l'uno com l'altro se intendemo ad unguem in tuto quello che sia bene et stato de la magnifica et excellente comunità de Fiorenza', and expressing his wish that he should not be removed as no one else will be satisfactory to him, 13 lines on one page, 155 x 200 mm, address panel on verso (small hole at seal, seal strip detached, strengthened with tape in upper margin and on verso).
Francesco Sforza, in 1439 the leading condottiere, writes from camp near Montagnana, as Captain General of the League formed by Florence, Venice, Pope Eugenius IV, Genoa and the Marquis of Este against Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan. Bernardo de' Medici, a distant relative of Cosimo, was still with Francesco Sforza in 1442, so although Cosimo's reply to this request is unknown, he appears to have acceded. Angelo Simonetta, from whom Francesco learned of Cosimo's intention to recall Bernardo, was the uncle of Cicco Simonetta, famous as the secretary to three Sforza dukes.
The friendship of Francesco Sforza and Cosimo 'il Vecchio' de' Medici began with the visit of the former to Florence in 1435, leading to Cosimo's support for Francesco's successful campaign to capture power in the Duchy of Milan, and from 1450 to a new pattern of alliances in which Florence and Milan were ranged against Venice and Naples.
Francesco Sforza, in 1439 the leading condottiere, writes from camp near Montagnana, as Captain General of the League formed by Florence, Venice, Pope Eugenius IV, Genoa and the Marquis of Este against Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan. Bernardo de' Medici, a distant relative of Cosimo, was still with Francesco Sforza in 1442, so although Cosimo's reply to this request is unknown, he appears to have acceded. Angelo Simonetta, from whom Francesco learned of Cosimo's intention to recall Bernardo, was the uncle of Cicco Simonetta, famous as the secretary to three Sforza dukes.
The friendship of Francesco Sforza and Cosimo 'il Vecchio' de' Medici began with the visit of the former to Florence in 1435, leading to Cosimo's support for Francesco's successful campaign to capture power in the Duchy of Milan, and from 1450 to a new pattern of alliances in which Florence and Milan were ranged against Venice and Naples.