Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. Of the warrior women whom Italy delights to honour, one stands forth supreme above all others: Caterina Sforza, known to fame as the great Madonna of Forli. She was the illegitimate daughter of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan; was born in 1462, and brought up with tender affection by his mother, Bianca Visconti, until she was eight years old, when, on the marriage of Galeazzo with Bona of Savoy, she, like a dutiful wife of those days, received the child of his mistress Lucrezia into her home as one of her own family.<br><br>During five years Caterina lived in luxury, and received the elaborate education of the eldest princess of her house, until the first tragedy of her eventful life took place: the murder of her father at the porch of San Stefano, as he was about to hear High Mass on Christmas day, while the anthem rang out: Sic transit gloria mundi.<br><br>Before his death, Galeazzo had arranged a marriage for his favourite daughter with Girolamo Riario. the nephew of Pope Sixtus IV.
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