Ludovico Sforza
Young Galeazzo together with his brothers was a courtier of Francesco's son and successor (and thus his first cousin once removed), Ludovico Sforza. He was taught by master-at-arms and scholar Pietro del Monte (1457-1509) and befriended Leonardo da Vinci, who lived in his house in Milan. He was first married in 1489 to Bianca, illegitimate daughter of Ludovico Sforza. Bianca died six years later, in 1496, from an "affliction of the stomach", while Galeazzo was away campaigning; leading the forces of Ludovico Sforza, he succeeded in tying up the duke of Orléans following the Battle of Fornoue. He was made a knight of the Order of Saint Michael in 1494 on a visit to Lyon.