Sforza
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Sfor·za
(sfôrt′sə, sfôr′tsä) Family of Milanese political leaders, including Francesco (1401-1466), a captain of mercenaries who ruled as duke of Milan (1450-1466). His son Ludovico (1452?-1508) was regent (1480-1494) and duke (1494-1499) of Milan and a patron of Leonardo da Vinci.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Sforza
(Italian ˈsfɔrtsa)n
1. (Biography) Count Carlo (ˈkarlo). 1873–1952, Italian statesman; leader of the anti-Fascist opposition
2. (Biography) Francesco (franˈtʃesko). 1401–66, duke of Milan (1450–66)
3. (Biography) his father Giacomuzzo (dʒakoˈmuttso) or Muzio (ˈmuttsjo), original name Attendolo. 1369–1424, Italian condottiere and founder of the dynasty that ruled Milan (1450–1535)
4. (Biography) Lodovico (lodoˈviːko), called the Moor. 1451– 1508, duke of Milan (1494–1500), but effective ruler from 1480; patron of Leonardo da Vinci
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014