These Renaissance Women Were Unbelievably Powerful

These Renaissance Women Were Unbelievably Powerful

Shannon Quinn - April 25, 2023

These Renaissance Women Were Unbelievably Powerful
Bianca Maria Sforza was powerful because she was a female scholar. Credit: National Gallery

Bianca Maria Sforza

Bianca Maria Sforza was a powerful Italian noblewoman of the Renaissance period. Born in the mid-15th century, she was the daughter of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, the Duke of Milan. Bianca Maria was married twice. First to the Duke of Orleans, who was the brother of King Louis XI of France. And later to the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I. Through her marriages, she became a prominent figure in both French and Austrian courts. She wielded significant political power and influence. Bianca Maria was also known to have collected a vast library of books and manuscripts. She was also a patron of humanist scholars, and she was a major figure in the cultural life of her time.

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