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Ludovico Sforza

Also known as Ludovico il Moro (epithet)

Vigevano, 5 Aug 1452 – Loches, 6 Jun 1508

16 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born5 Aug 1452, Vigevanonot verified1 source
  • MarriedBeatrice d’Estenot verified1 source
  • TitleDuke of Milan, 1494–1500not verified1 source
  • EventItalian War of 1494–1495or Italian Wars · Italian Wars of 1499–1504 · Death of Beatrice d'Estenot verified1 source
  • EventItalian Warsor Italian War of 1494–1495 · Italian Wars of 1499–1504 · Death of Beatrice d'Estenot verified1 source
  • EventItalian Wars of 1499–1504or Italian Wars · Italian War of 1494–1495 · Death of Beatrice d'Estenot verified1 source
  • EventDeath of Beatrice d'Esteor Italian Wars · Italian War of 1494–1495 · Italian Wars of 1499–1504not verified1 source
  • Died6 Jun 1508, Lochesnot verified1 source
  • MotherBianca Maria Viscontinot verified1 source
  • FatherFrancesco I Sforzanot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 5 Aug 1452

    Born in Vigevano

  2. 1494–1500

    Duke of Milan

  3. 13 Feb 1495

    A son is born

  4. 6 Jun 1508

    Dies in Loches, aged 55

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 1

During his lifetime

He lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Vigevano.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1450s · Ludovico is born in Vigevano

What people wore

Around 1500–1524

Extreme fabric usage in winter garments

In April 1511, some winter garments were so voluminous that they required up to 35 braccia of fabric, making them so heavy that they were difficult to wear.

Daily life

Around 1500–1524

Dining arrangements in the home

Florentine homes lacked dedicated dining rooms; instead, tables were set up wherever convenient, such as in front of a fireplace during winter. Food was passed to diners who sat only on one side of the table.

Work

Around 1500–1524

The Rhythm of the Working Day

Workdays began at dawn and ended at sunset, regulated by church bells, with the number of effective work days per year estimated at only about 230 due to numerous holidays. Apprenticeships typically started between ages 10 and 11 and lasted at least 3 years, with families sometimes paying masters to host and train their children.

Music

Around 1500–1524

Domestic Instruments and Decorated Keyboards

By the mid-16th century, musical instruments like lutes, harpsichords, and spinets were found in households of various social levels, from noble families to barbers and merchants. Owners often decorated their keyboard instruments with mottoes such as There is dancing when I sing.

At the table

Around 1500–1524

Meat reserved for special celebrations

Meat was reserved for special occasions like holidays, and when a family slaughtered a pig, they typically offered blood sausage to neighbors as a gesture of friendship.

Getting around

Around 1500–1524

Transport via pack animals and ox carts

In the 16th century, mountain road transport was done entirely by pack animals, while carts pulled by oxen were only used on flat roads with rudimentary paving.

What it cost

Around 1500–1524

Unskilled worker daily wages

An unskilled worker in Florence could earn between 7 and 10 soldi per day, often totaling less than 20 florins annually.