Bona SforzaBona SforzaQueen of PolandQueen of Poland

Bona Sforza (2 Bona Sforza (2 February 1494 or 2 February 1494 or 2 February 1493 – 19 February 1493 – 19

November 1557) was a November 1557) was a member of the member of the

powerful powerful Milanese Milanese House of Sforza. House of Sforza.

In 1518, she became the In 1518, she became the second wife of second wife of

Sigismund I the Old, Sigismund I the Old, the King of Poland and the King of Poland and

Grand Duke of Grand Duke of Lithuania, and became Lithuania, and became the Queen of Poland the Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess and Grand Duchess

of Lithuania.of Lithuania.

She was the third child She was the third child of Gian Galeazzo Sforza of Gian Galeazzo Sforza

andandhis wife Isabella of Naples. his wife Isabella of Naples.

Her older brother was Her older brother was Francesco Sforza andFrancesco Sforza and

her sisters were Ippolitaher sisters were IppolitaMaria and Bianca Maria. Maria and Bianca Maria.

All of Bona's siblings All of Bona's siblings died young.died young.

When her mother Isabella When her mother Isabella of Naples died in 1524, of Naples died in 1524,

BonaBonasucceeded to the titlessucceeded to the titles

Duchess of Bari andDuchess of Bari andPrincess of Rossano. Princess of Rossano.

She also became the holder She also became the holder of the Brienne claim to the of the Brienne claim to the title of King of Jerusalem.title of King of Jerusalem.

Biography Biography

Early yearsEarly yearsBona was born into the powerful and wealthy Italian Sforza Bona was born into the powerful and wealthy Italian Sforza

dynasty who had ruled Milan since 1447. Although her dynasty who had ruled Milan since 1447. Although her father belonged to the authority of the Duchy of Milan, he father belonged to the authority of the Duchy of Milan, he was ousted by his uncle Ludovico Sforza, known to history was ousted by his uncle Ludovico Sforza, known to history

as as "Il Moro". He exercised power on behalf of the young "Il Moro". He exercised power on behalf of the young prince, until his death in 1494 at the castle in Pavia. prince, until his death in 1494 at the castle in Pavia.

Shortly afterwards, the Princess Isabella, together with her Shortly afterwards, the Princess Isabella, together with her daughters, went to Bari. To regain political significance daughters, went to Bari. To regain political significance

and their former possessions, Isabella had to find a and their former possessions, Isabella had to find a husband for Bona (her surviving daughter). Her first husband for Bona (her surviving daughter). Her first attempts were unsuccessful due to the unfavourable attempts were unsuccessful due to the unfavourable

political situation at the time but due to the support of the political situation at the time but due to the support of the House of Habsburg she succeeded in marrying Bona to the House of Habsburg she succeeded in marrying Bona to the

widowed Polish King Sigismund I the Old. The marriage widowed Polish King Sigismund I the Old. The marriage ceremonies and Bona's coronation were held in Krakow on ceremonies and Bona's coronation were held in Krakow on

18 April 1518. 18 April 1518.

In her youth, Bona obtained a good education. Her teacher In her youth, Bona obtained a good education. Her teacher was Crisostomo Colonna, a member of the Academy of was Crisostomo Colonna, a member of the Academy of Pont, who supervised her education along with Antonio Pont, who supervised her education along with Antonio

Galateo. She received instruction in history, law, Galateo. She received instruction in history, law, administration administration

and theology. She was thrifty, economical, and she also had and theology. She was thrifty, economical, and she also had the ability to influence people. She demonstrated this skill the ability to influence people. She demonstrated this skill

in in all her activities. all her activities.

Queen of PolandQueen of PolandBona came out of the belief that one of the most important things Bona came out of the belief that one of the most important things needed for the effective implementation of policies and plans for needed for the effective implementation of policies and plans for

strengthening royal authority is access to appropriate high finance. strengthening royal authority is access to appropriate high finance. Therefore she set herself the objective of magnification and the Therefore she set herself the objective of magnification and the

assembly domain of dynastic wealth as much as possible, which would assembly domain of dynastic wealth as much as possible, which would give the Jagiello family financial independence. The family gained give the Jagiello family financial independence. The family gained

numerous estates in Lithuania, and finally in 1536-1546 they took over numerous estates in Lithuania, and finally in 1536-1546 they took over the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This generated huge profits.the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This generated huge profits.

In 1527, as a result of a fall from a horse, the queen gave birth In 1527, as a result of a fall from a horse, the queen gave birth prematurely to her second son Albert, who died at birth. After this prematurely to her second son Albert, who died at birth. After this

event, the Queen could not have any more children. Bona, wanting to event, the Queen could not have any more children. Bona, wanting to ensure the continuity of the Jagiellonian dynasty on the Polish throne, ensure the continuity of the Jagiellonian dynasty on the Polish throne, decided to make the nobles and magnates to recognise her only son, decided to make the nobles and magnates to recognise her only son,

the minor Sigismund Augustus as heir to the throne. First, the the minor Sigismund Augustus as heir to the throne. First, the Lithuanian nobles gave him the ducal throne (1527-1528). Lithuanian nobles gave him the ducal throne (1527-1528).

Then, in 1529 he was crowned Sigismund II Augustus. This led to huge Then, in 1529 he was crowned Sigismund II Augustus. This led to huge opposition from Polish lords, which led to the adoption of the bill that opposition from Polish lords, which led to the adoption of the bill that

the next coronation would take place after the death of Sigismund the next coronation would take place after the death of Sigismund Augustus, and that it would do so with the consent of all the Augustus, and that it would do so with the consent of all the

noble brothers.noble brothers.

From the outset, Bona was wary of From the outset, Bona was wary of the growing power of the Radziwill the growing power of the Radziwill

family and was later accused of family and was later accused of poisoning her daughter-in-law Barbara poisoning her daughter-in-law Barbara

Radziwill. Radziwill.

In foreign policy, she was a fierce In foreign policy, she was a fierce opponent of the Habsburgs and opponent of the Habsburgs and

a supporter of a closer alliance with a supporter of a closer alliance with France. In Hungary during the wars France. In Hungary during the wars

that took place after the Battle that took place after the Battle of Mohacs in 1526, supported by of Mohacs in 1526, supported by

János Szapolyai against the János Szapolyai against the Habsburgs. Bona also sought to Habsburgs. Bona also sought to

maintain good relations with Sublime maintain good relations with Sublime Porte and contacts with Roxelana, the Porte and contacts with Roxelana, the

most important wife most important wife of Suleyman the Magnificent. of Suleyman the Magnificent.

Bona was also a spokesperson for Bona was also a spokesperson for connecting Silesia to the Crown connecting Silesia to the Crown

in return for her hereditary principality in return for her hereditary principality Bari and Rosano, but Sigismund the Bari and Rosano, but Sigismund the Old did not support the idea and the Old did not support the idea and the

whole project collapsed. Bona whole project collapsed. Bona managed to also carry out tax reforms managed to also carry out tax reforms in Lithuania and agricultural products in Lithuania and agricultural products

(including uniform duties of the (including uniform duties of the peasants and a unit of area peasants and a unit of area

measurements). measurements).

Queen Bona's gardens at the Wawel Castle.Queen Bona's gardens at the Wawel Castle.

Later life and widowhoodLater life and widowhoodIn 1539 Bona Sforza had presided, In 1539 Bona Sforza had presided,

reluctantly, over the burning of 80-year reluctantly, over the burning of 80-year old Katarzyna Weiglowa for heresy, but old Katarzyna Weiglowa for heresy, but

this event ushered in an era of tolerance, this event ushered in an era of tolerance, and her confessor Francesco Lismanino and her confessor Francesco Lismanino

assisted in the establishment of a assisted in the establishment of a Calvinist Academy in Pinczów.Calvinist Academy in Pinczów.

In 1544, Sigismund II Augustus was given In 1544, Sigismund II Augustus was given independent authority in Lithuania, independent authority in Lithuania,

and he moved there. It was the cause and he moved there. It was the cause of a significant weakening of power in the of a significant weakening of power in the queen, who did not want his departure. queen, who did not want his departure.

The pair had originally entered into The pair had originally entered into a conflict over her son's marriage a conflict over her son's marriage

to Barbara Radziwill.to Barbara Radziwill.

On the 1 April 1548, Sigismund I the Old On the 1 April 1548, Sigismund I the Old died, leaving Bona a widow. Their son died, leaving Bona a widow. Their son

succeeded him.succeeded him.

After the death of the King, Bona moved After the death of the King, Bona moved to Masovia and stayed there for eight to Masovia and stayed there for eight years. Then she moved back to her years. Then she moved back to her

native Bari.native Bari.

Bona’s childrenBona’s childrenBona and Sigismund I the Old had six children:Bona and Sigismund I the Old had six children:

• Isabella (18 January 1519 – 15 September 1559), was a Queen Isabella (18 January 1519 – 15 September 1559), was a Queen of Hungary, wife of John Zápolyaof Hungary, wife of John Zápolya

• Sigismund II Augustus (1 August 1520 – 7 July 1572), was a King Sigismund II Augustus (1 August 1520 – 7 July 1572), was a King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania

• Sophia (13 July 1522 – 28 May 1575), was a Duchess of Brunswick-Sophia (13 July 1522 – 28 May 1575), was a Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg, wife of Henry V, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Lüneburg, wife of Henry V, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

• Anna (18 October 1523 – 9 September 1596), elected Queen Anna (18 October 1523 – 9 September 1596), elected Queen of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, wife of Stefan Batory of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, wife of Stefan Batory

• Catherine (1 November 1526 – 16 September 1583), was a Queen Catherine (1 November 1526 – 16 September 1583), was a Queen of Sweden and Grand Duchess of Finland, wife of John III of Swedenof Sweden and Grand Duchess of Finland, wife of John III of Sweden

• Wojciech Olbracht, born and died 20 September 1527Wojciech Olbracht, born and died 20 September 1527

MurderMurderA year after returning to the A year after returning to the

Duchy of Bari Bona Sforza was Duchy of Bari Bona Sforza was poisoned by her trusted poisoned by her trusted

officer, Gian Lorenzo officer, Gian Lorenzo Pappacoda. Pappacoda was Pappacoda. Pappacoda was

acting on behalf of King acting on behalf of King Philip II Philip II

of Spain,who wished to avoid of Spain,who wished to avoid repaying his sizable debts to repaying his sizable debts to the Polish queen. She was the Polish queen. She was

buried buried in St. Nicholas' Basilica in Bari, in St. Nicholas' Basilica in Bari, where her daughter Anna had where her daughter Anna had a tomb made in the current a tomb made in the current Renaissance style for her Renaissance style for her

remains.remains.

Contribution Contribution • sshe was a patron of Polish he was a patron of Polish

youth cultureyouth culture

• on Polish tables hit many on Polish tables hit many previously unknown previously unknown

vegetables: tomatoes, vegetables: tomatoes, cauliflower, artichokes, green cauliflower, artichokes, green beans, broccoli, cabbage and beans, broccoli, cabbage and spinachspinach and and Italian pasta and Italian pasta and

spicesspices

• consumption of wineconsumption of wine was was increasedincreased

• she she built bridges, mills, built bridges, mills, sawmillssawmills and fortified and fortified

fortressesfortresses