Giovanni Sforza

(1420-1508)

Giovanni Sforza, age 88, died in Florence on October 3rd, 1508. He was assassinated on the side of the Arno River, by Lorenzo Paolini. Giovanni lived a very long life, and was very popular until about 5 years before his death.

Giovanni was born January 13th, 1420. He was born in the beautiful city of Florence to his mother and father: Giorgio and Francesca Sforza. His father was a textile merchant and his mother helped keep their modest home and take care of the children; Giovanni, Donatello, and Maria. Giovanni had always been very bright, and excelled under his mother’s teachings. Giovanni had finished reading the illiad at age 4 and had his own share in his family business at age 10. Giovanni was a miser as a child. He was very stingy with his money; he was saving his money for a sword.  Giovanni accidently killed his brother while playing one day, foreshadowing his future murder. His parents were very wary of him after that, and sent him off on many apprenticeships to other textile merchants in faraway places. He was the youngest and most successful apprentice in Venice and Milan. Giovanni did not have many friends at a young age, because he was obsessed with gaining knowledge and money. Many were surprised when he found a wife at age 23. He married Ippolita Visconti of Milan, and their two families became allies.

Giovanni had many great achievements during his long life starting at a young age. Although he didn’t have many friends as a child, he grew to be very popular as an adult. He was an excellent swordsman, and had a brilliant mind for numbers. After his father and mother passed, he let his father’s textile business go and started the most successful bank in Europe today, the Sforza bank. Giovanni was the most powerful man in government as well. He made one of the most important decisions in Florence of the time, which was to exile the Medici. He also patronized many up-and-coming artists in the renaissance that brought great knowledge and architecture into Florence. Giovanni Sforza’s personal church also attracted many for its beautiful music and sermons. Giovanni’s sons and daughters also became very wealthy and prominent in society, before the Giovanni’s murders were uncovered.

No one realized Giovanni Sforza’s evil nature until 5 years before his death. At this time, even in his old age, Giovanni was as spry as ever. He was still an excellent fencer and very sharp. At this time, the Signoria was planning on eliminating Giovanni Sforza and everyone from the Sforza family from being part of the Signoria because it seemed like Giovanni was overpowering the decisionmaking. Mario Gonzaga was the leader of this movement. The night before the decision, Giovanni Sforza slit the throat of Mario Gonzaga. The witness, Lorenzo Paolini, reported the shocking news to the Signoria. Giovanni was banished from Florence. Giovanni went into hiding for the next 5 years, only communicating with his close family members and allies. Lorenzo Paolini, once a close friend of Giovanni, was also the one who uncovered the evidence of Giovanni’s other murder. Giovanni had murdered Lorenzo’s uncle, who was once Giovanni’s mentor, to steal his plans for a bank. Giovanni was only 20 at this time. Once this information was revealed, it was only a matter of time before Giovanni would be killed.

Giovanni is survived by his wife, Ippolita Visconti, and his 6 children: Francesa, Piero, Fiorentino, Nicolosa, Giulio, and Giorgio. Currently they are in hiding somewhere in Europe, and their residence and family information is unknown.

“You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel, but I got wise. You're the devil in disguise.” Elvis Presley

Good Riddance Giovanni Sforza, you had it coming. Your legacy will last forever.

Good morrow my readers! I hath been reading book after book lately to make myself a better man. I durst say one of the most interesting reads I hath cometh across yet is The Prince, by some fellow named Machiavelli. He has some very interesting views on leadership and human nature that I would like to share with thee readers. Have any of you read the book yet? Comment below what you think of it!

Although The Prince contains guidelines for a monarch, many strategies in this tale apply to a powerful and influencial family in a republic. Overall, I agreed with most of Machiavelli’s points about the behavior of humans and the qualities in a great leader. But in general, I thought Machiavelli’s view of the perfect leader was too harsh. Maybe because I have never lived in a monarchy before; or because I do not have to manipulate the uneducated and ignorant public often. But I still believe although a leader should be feared; a leader should not use fear and cruelty as Plan A. Plan A should be the opposite-trying to please your people. Plan B-being cruel- should be used extremely rarely. But alas! Readers-you may be thinking- “Giovanni Sforza! How will a leader make his people obey if he is trying to please them?” Well, I can show you through my own story.

                Currently, as a powerful man with influence in the government of Florence, I generally spend my time trying to subtly assert my dominance over other men in government, or cunningly getting around them in other ways. The way I made my way to power before this was getting other people to love me, as I stated in my previous blog post about my rise to power. Before I was wealthy and influential and popular, I spent most of my time getting people to like me and think I was pious, intelligent, generous, loyal, nice, and all those other qualities you want in an ally.

I agree with Machiavelli’s point that men judge solely on appearance. Trust me, although you have to appear completely virtuous, you don’t have to be completely virtuous. Don’t waste your time! People don’t see everything. Let them see what you want them to see. For example, No one knows I murdered the man who gave me everything, but everyone knows I threw him a beautiful funeral and I own a bank to his name. Normally, I don’t spend money on such frivolities as a lavish funeral. But sometimes, you have to make the public think you are generous. Usually, I save most of my money for bribes, patronizing artists, and trading.

                So you see, I did not become wealthy and powerful by being cruel and making others fearful of me, a trademark of Machiavelli’s advice. I made others think I was a good man, and once I had made it to the top, I asserted my dominance with some necessary unethicality- I murdered my mentor. Machiavelli would be proud of that bloody deed, eh?

I hope you enjoyed this comparison of Machiavelli’s beliefs with my own life. Thank you for reading, loyal followers!

Giovanni Sforza

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Good morrow my loyal followers,

I hath decided to write the story of mine success, and mayhap the poorer folk reading this can use some of my ideas to build thou fortune as well. Although, if thoust would like to overtake me, I hath ways of exterminating thee.

My source of wealth is the Sforza bank, with 3 locations in Europe. Florence, Venice, and Berlin. As a young child, I watched my father as a successful merchant. As thou economists might know, textiles are an emerging commodity where I come from. My father’s discovery of this helped him in his great success. He hath a way with people. He also created political connections and influenced the vote for my position in the Signoria, our government. Although in Florence, we have a republic, some families have great control over the decisions the guilds in our city make. Although my foe, Cosimo Medici, is the most powerful man in the city, I am still one with influence. He also created connections for me in Germany and in Venice, which is how I expanded the Sforza bank. We travel by boat, because most of the trade routes are fraught with thieves, and there are not many trade routes by land from Florence. My father also used his profits to support artists in Florence. Although taxes at times were high, we were always very comfortable.

    Citizens, you ought to understand the key to business is people. You doth not want to make enemies. Always be courteous to strangers, because you never know when you might need something from them later in life. For example, I was in Venice with my father as a youth, and he was trading silk. A gentleman was looking the other way and ran into my father. My father, being the humble man he is, apologized and wished the man a nice day. It turned out that that was the man my father was trading silk with. The man ended up being very wealthy and my father was the only silk supplier for his family from then on. People always said he knew how to run a business very shrewdly. My father accumulated a large sum of money from silk trade, which was left in my name.
    
I know all of the citizens reading this may not be wealthy, but certainly if you learn to charm people, they will remember that. So by charming my way through Europe, I have offered to bank for people in exchange for protection, silks, and safe ships to transport money from my three branches. But how did I become the richest banker in Florence, you ask? I thought thine father was a merchant-thou are probably thinking. Well, I started out as a boy left with his father’s money and advice. I was a little lost in the world. I let my fathers’ silk business go to the dogs. I hath no one to turn to, and my money was running out. After this, I was sitting in a bar, and I ran into one of my father’s rich friends, Paolini, in the Signoria. He realized I hath acquired my father’s brains and decided to mentor me. I came with him to guild meetings, and governmental meetings. I became very close with him, but there was one thing he wasn’t telling me. I decided to figure it out.

One upon a time, he left me alone in his office, and I hath figured out where the key to his scrolls were. I opened it and figured out he and another man were making their way in the banking business. At this time, many merchants were trading Florins, as well as other products. Money hath becometh the most popular commodity. Along with finding out about the budding bank, I also found he hath no sons. I decided to murder him and take his money and start the bank. Over the next few weeks I snuck into his safe everyday to look at the list of his new clients, and then subtly befriended them at meetings. One night I paid a young boy to call Paulini’s doctor and say that Paulini was having a heart attack. Then I went upstairs while he was sleeping and broke his neck. I made sure the doctor never found out what hath really happened. Then I threw a lavish funeral for Paulini and invited all my connections. I also opened the bank on the same day. It worked out perfectly. So you see my friends, sometimes bloodshed is necessary.

Remember my loyal followers, keep mum about this while you are in Florence. I cannot let Paulini’s family get word of this bloody deed. Also, I am not an expert in murder and intrigue, or economy. This is just the way I became bloody rich, and it may work for you.

Anon,

Giovanni Sforza

Good Afternoon citizens of Florence and Yonder, 
Henceforth, I shalt be posting blog entries twice a fortnight. I will post about business, the artists I patronize, and an overmany of other topics. 


     First, let me tell you about mineself, as it is my first entry on this system. I am a descendent of the great Julius Caesar.  I am 30 as of yet; born January 13th, 1420. I was betrothed to mine mistress Ippolita Visconti in March, 7 years ago. She hath born 6 children; Francesca, Piero, Fiorentino, Nicolosa, Giulio, and Giorgio. Giulio and Giorgio hath been May 7th, 1447. But alas, Giulio and Giorgio died that very day. I am the one in charge of the family bank, and direct many probies in the ways of business. Soon mine own sons willst learn the many techniques of a noble and businessman in Florence. Palazzo Sforza, mine own residence, is very far east of the Fiumearno. Very far away from the pudh Medicis. It hath an upper story, and a façade on every side of our cross shaped sala. We hath 40 servants, two wet nurses, and a governess and tutor for our
oldest children. Our children are very well educated in humanism, rhetoric, and catholicism. They are also excellent riders. Our family also attends church in our own chaplain off the north side of the palace, led by our Chaplain Jacobo Crivelli. Because of our immense wealth and beautiful villa, mine cousin’s wedding took place at our palace. My cousin married into the Visconti family, as did I, and
now our families are very much allies. The Viscontis of Milan are in the hats and fabrics business, and they are very well dressed as a result. 
 
    My cousin Lorenza Sforza is 17 years old, and she hath married Filippo Visconti,
age 19. Both my sister and her husband are very well educated. They will both
live in our palace for the time being, and I shall introduce Filippo to my
social contacts, so he may conduct business. I shall not introduce him to any
guild members, as they will be competition for Filippo. This may be a task,
  because much of my social circle art guild members of the textile business, or
  bankers. Though no other bankers I have the acquaintance of are as successful
  as my family hath been. Since age 7 I hath been waxing up to be a very
  knowledgable banker. My father, god bless his soul, hath taught be everything I
  wit. As a young fellow, I thought I ought to become an elected council member,
  but alas, the Medici’s had Florence in the palm of their hand. I would hath an
  influence on nary a matter.


     The Visconti family trow they might like a republic form of government, but I durst say Florence is not a Republic as it once was, it is ruled by Cosimo Medici. For thou faraway readers, thou must wit the Medicis, or else thou must hath been living under a rock for overmany years. After Cosimo Medici returned from his exile, he hath now complete control of our government. He runs our elected committees by bribe, and by instilling fear into their hearts. But alas, although they are making themselves rich, they are patronizing architects and artists and musicians, which in turn, is enlivening Florence. Although the Medici’s own the largest bank of Europe, Cosimo doth hath no time to pay attention to the bank; because he devotes it to the arts. Soon, god willing, our bank will rise and the Medici’s will fall.

    Alas, I apologize for tarrying on the subject of Florence, when I promised my
  readers I would write of the wedding. It was a very good time. Although the
  marriage was arranged for our two families to become allies of course, I could
  see Lorenza and Filippo had a connection. As they grasped hands they looked
  very happy to be together. The dancing and music was very festive and grand,
  and of course it was a very large affair. The food was delicious; the chicken
  was done to a turn. The ceremony lasted so very long that I became drowsy and
  almost fell asleep. Lorenza, if thou art reading this, I doth apologize! But
  alas, it was the best wedding I hath ever attended.