Ascanio Sforza
A masterful Renaissance power broker who used his diplomatic genius to orchestrate a papal election, then reaped the rewards as the Borgia pope's right-hand man.
1455–1505 (age 50)·Italian cardinal of the Catholic church·Birthday: March 3
Biography
Ascanio Sforza was not merely a cardinal; he was a princely operator in the high-stakes game of Italian Renaissance politics. As a younger son of the mighty Sforza dynasty of Milan, he brought a secular noble's ambition into the heart of the Church. His moment of supreme influence came in the 1492 papal conclave, where he deftly marshaled votes for the formidable Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia. The reward was immense: Borgia, as Pope Alexander VI, made Ascanio Vice-Chancellor, the second-most powerful and lucrative office in the Roman Curia. For over a decade, Sforza served as the pope's chief administrator and a key political ally, navigating the treacherous waters of French invasions and family intrigues. His life epitomized the era when the College of Cardinals was a senate of worldly princes, and spiritual authority was inextricably woven with raw political power.
#1 When Ascanio Was Born
The biggest hits of 1455
Ascanio's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1455Born
1460Started school
1468Became a teenager
1471Could drive
1473Could vote
1476Turned 21
1485Turned 30
1495Turned 40
1505Turned 50
Key Achievements
- Played the decisive role in securing the papacy for Rodrigo Borgia, who became Pope Alexander VI.
- Held the powerful position of Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church from 1492 until his death.
- Was a major patron of the arts, employing the architect Bramante and supporting composer Josquin des Prez.
- Acted as a critical political link between the Papal States and his family's Duchy of Milan.
Did You Know?
He was made a cardinal at the age of 28 by his uncle, Pope Sixtus IV.
His rivalry with Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere (the future Pope Julius II) was a defining feature of the papal court.
He was briefly imprisoned in the Castel Sant'Angelo by Pope Innocent VIII before the 1492 conclave.
The composer Josquin des Prez wrote a mass, 'Missa Hercules Dux Ferrariae,' that may have been intended for him.
“My brother Ludovico and I will see our house raised above all others in Italy.”
