All About Royal Families

Ludovico Sforza was born on July 27th. 1452 at Vigevano (now located in Lombardy). He was a younger son of Francesco I Sforza, Duke of Milan, and Bianca Maria Visconti. Due to his mother he received a proper education and he learned inter alia the classical languages, the instruction in the beauties of painting, sculpture and letters. He also was taught the methods of government and warfare. painting of Ludovico Sforza : Source picture: Wikipedia In 1466 his father Francesco died (the famous painting the last Supper was painted next to his burial place). Ludovico's older brother, Galeazzo Maria Sforza, became the new Duke of Milan. He ruled over the Duchy till his assassination in 1476. Then he left the throne to his son, who was at that moment 7 years old! Ludovico and the boy's mother, Bona of Savoy, moved into a bitter struggle for the regency and in 1481 Ludovico seized control of the government of Milan, despite attempts to keep h

July 24th. 1561 marks the birth of Maria of the Palatinate. This event took place in Heidelberg (Germany). Her parents had been Louis VI, Elector Palatine and Elisabeth of Hesse. Mary of the palatinate - Source picture: wikipedia In April 1578 Prince Charles of Sweden, who was Duke of Södermanland too,  visited her home and proposed Maria. In this marriage proposal, religion played a huge role. Maria was Lutheran and Charles was sternly Protestant. On May 11th. 1579 the wedding took place and Maria followed Charles to Sweden. There they lived in his Duchy. Although there were no portraits of Mary, she was described as beautiful, gentle and diplomatic and her marriage to Charles IX of Sweden was happy.  She accompanied him around the Duchy as long as her pregnancies made it possible. The Royal Couple would have 6 children. Mary died on July 29 -th. 1589 in Eskilstuna. She was buried in the Strängnäs Cathedral. It was said that then Duke Charles mourn