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The astonishing life of Caterina Sforza, one of the most prominent women of Renaissance Italy, who was a wife, mother, leader, and warrior with enough fierceness to make Machiavelli himself wince.
In this glittering biography, Elizabeth Lev reexamines Caterina's 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 the Renaissance, The Tigress of Forlì reveals Caterina Riario Sforza as a brilliant and fearless ruler and a tragic but unbowed figure.
List of contents
Author’s Note vii
Prologue: Christmas Cannons xi
Map: Kingdoms, Duchies, and Republics of Caterina’s Age xvi
THE EDUCATION OF AN AMAZON 1
CHILDHOOD’S END 11
THE COUNTESS-IN-WAITING 21
THE TRIUMPHAL PARADE TO ROME 30
COURTIERS AND CONSPIRACIES 40
THE GROWTH OF THE RIARIO DYNASTY 50
THE FAIREST IN THE REALM 61
THE BIRTH OF ATHENA 78
THE LEAN YEARS 95
TAKING CENTER STAGE 110
THE RETORT AT RAVALDINO 125
THE SPOILS OF WAR 140
FANNING THE FLAMES 154
BLINDED BY LOVE 170
AVENGING FURY 181
INTRIGUE AND INVASION 202
ITALY’S IDOL 216
THE LONG NIGHT OF CASTEL SANT’ANGELO 234
SLEEP AFTER TOIL 249
Epilogue: Mantua, 1526 266
Notes 274
Sources 284
Index 290
About the author
ELIZABETH LEV is a scholar of Renaissance art and culture and professor of Art History in Rome, where she lives with her family. This is her first book.
Summary
The astonishing life of Caterina Sforza, one of the most prominent women of Renaissance Italy, who was a wife, mother, leader, and warrior with enough fierceness to make Machiavelli himself wince.
In this glittering biography, Elizabeth Lev reexamines Caterina's 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 the Renaissance, The Tigress of Forlì reveals Caterina Riario Sforza as a brilliant and fearless ruler and a tragic but unbowed figure.
Additional text
"A rich account of a dramatic and tragic life: a tale of murder, childhood marriage, revenge, rape, accession to power by a Florentine woman, and a violent downfall. Lev offers a rich, nuanced portrait of a highly controversial beauty and military leader and her violent albeit glittering Italian Renaissance milieu." — Publishers Weekly "An engrossing biography of one of Renaissance Italy’s most accomplished powerbrokers. The author writes with a light touch and an eye for the pageantry and drama of the time—her subject was known as one of the best-dressed women in Italy—while colorfully recounting weighty affairs of state. An inspiring tale of the courage and fortitude of an enigmatic and indomitable woman."—Kirkus "Lev continues the recent biographical trend of unearthing extraordinary women from the historical dustpile. The Renaissance is hot right now, and this well-researched biography is a welcome addition to the reexamination of the era." —Booklist
