Originally a mercenary leader of low birth he was most famous for being able to bend metal bars at will (hence the name Sforza, or strong). He later proved himself to be an expert tactician and very skilled field commander. He saved the Visconti? rulers of Milan from ruin a number of occassions, but he eventually turned against them overthrowing Fillipo-Maria? and seizing control of Milan and its possessions.
His rule over the Duchy was moderate and skillful. His court became a centre of Renaissance learning and culture, and he himself became much loved by the popualous.
During Sforza's time rulling Milan Florence was under the command of [Cosimo de'Medici]? and the two enlightened rulers became close friends. This friendship was eventually manifested in the [Peace of Lodi]?, an alliance between Florence and Milan that succeeded in stabilising almost all of Italy for its duration.
Regretably Francesco successors were not nearly as competent, a number of them being dangerously unbalanced individuals.
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