Born as the illegitimate daughter of Galeazzo Maria Sforza in 1462, Caterina Sforza became a unique woman for her time. Caterina left her home for Rome after her father's death. She began her life fulfilling her duties as wife and mother of eight, but then she began to fulfil roles usually reserved to men.

With her husband, Caterina seized control of Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome during the turmoils of 1484. In Forli it was Caterina who issued justice, especially after the revolt in 1487 in which her husband failed to do anything.

Caterina was also involved in a plot and tried to poison Pope Alexander VI. Caterina was then captured and imprisoned in Castle de St Angelo for one year.

During a siege of the Castle de St Angelo she strode around the battlements wearing armour over her satin dress. When the besiegers threatened to murder her children, she lifted up her skirts, and bluntly replied, "Look, I've got the mould to make more."

Catarina died in 1509 at the age of 46. Renaissance men referred to Caterina as "the Virago," or woman warrior, for all her accomplishments."

Caterina Sforza in popular culture

An episode from the third season of the Nickelodeon game show Legends of the Hidden Temple was entitled "The Jeweled Scabbard of Sforza." However, in the episode, she was portrayed as the queen of Forlì and extremely skilled with a sword, and the legend only focused on her battle with the Venetians.

A fictionalised version of Caterina Sforza appears in the 2006 film Los Borgia, played by Paz Vega.

A character by the name of Caterina Sforza appears in the manga and anime series Trinity Blood. She is most likely based on her real life historical namesake, as she holds the title of Duchess of Milan.

Sources: Let Them Eat Cake, (1994) Geoffrey Regan

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