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Battista Sforza
(1446–72)

Biographical

 Regent of Urbino

Battista was sent to live with her uncle, Duke Francesco Sforza, at his court in Milan from 1450 until around 1458. Her mother had died when she was only a year and a half old, and she was placed under the care of Bianca Maria Visconti. Upon returning to her father’s court in Pesaro, she devoted herself to the humanities, studying under Martino Filetico, among others, and her resolute and commanding nature was already being recognised. Her uncle arranged her marriage to Federico da Montefeltro. King Ferrante and Pope Pius II consented to the match, but Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta fiercely opposed it, to no avail. After they were married, Battista took up residence in Urbino, and Federico soon travelled to Siena and then to the Kingdom of Naples to secure a papal commission. During his absence, Battista acted as regent with the assistance of her brother-in-law Ottaviano Ubaldini della Carda. Taking advantage of her husband's absence, Malatesta began to threaten the Montefeltro domains. Despite support from the Duke of Milan and the papal legate Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, Malatesta regained control of a number of territories towards the end of the year, while Battista continued to defend raids in other lands and maintained pressure on her uncle for reinforcements until her husband's return. Her first child was born in December 1460 but died two months later. She then visited Gubbio and subsequently joined Federico at his military post in Magliano Sabina in March 1461. In October, she visited Rome, where Pope Pius II received her. The years following her husband’s return were dominated by the enduring hostilities between the Montefeltro and Malatesta families, a struggle shaped by papal influence and the unpredictable support of Milan. Battista played an active role in military affairs. In 1463, Fano was reconquered by Federico, and Battista joined her husband to enter the city triumphantly. She continued to act as regent whenever Federico was absent on military or political duties, but joined him wherever he was stationed whenever possible. She initiated charitable institutions such as the Monte di Pietà in 1468, mediated territorial disputes, and handled legal matters during campaigns. In 1469, she was in Rimini to celebrate her husband’s victory and to support Roberto Malatesta's succession as lord. In 1472, Federico was away in Volterra serving Florence. Acting as regent, Battista was inspecting the domain in Gubbio when she suddenly became unwell and died, likely succumbing to pneumonia.

Place of birth: Pesaro
Place of death: Gubbio
Place of burial: Santa Chiara in Urbino

Daughter of Alessandro Sforza and Costanza da Varano, she married Federico da Montefeltro in 1460 and had issue.