The Tigress of Forlì
Subtitle: Renaissance Italy's Most Courageous and Notorious Countess, Caterina Riario Sforza de' Medici
By: Elizabeth Lev
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Boston
Language: eng
Number of pages: 352
ISBN-13: 9780151012992
Subjects: Renaissance; Countesses; Exhibitions; Biography; History
Description: A strategist to match Machiavelli; a warrior who stood toe to toe with the Borgias; a wife whose three marriages would end in bloodshed and heartbreak; and a mother determined to maintain her family’s honor, Caterina Riario Sforza de’ Medici was a true Renaissance celebrity, beloved and vilified in equal measure. In this dazzling biography, Elizabeth Lev illuminates her extraordinary life and accomplishments.

Raised in the court of Milan and wed at age ten to the pope’s corrupt nephew, Caterina was ensnared in Italy’s political intrigues early in life. After turbulent years in Rome’s papal court, she moved to the Romagnol province of Forlì. Following her husband’s assassination, she ruled Italy’s crossroads with iron will, martial strength, political savvy, and an icon’s fashion sense. In finally losing her lands to the Borgia family, she put up a resistance that inspired all of Europe and set the stage for her progeny—including Cosimo de’ Medici—to follow her example to greatness.

A rich evocation of Renaissance life, The Tigress of Forlì reveals Caterina Riario Sforza as a brilliant and fearless ruler, and a tragic but unbowed figure.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Prologue: Christmas cannons; title: The education of an Amazon; title: Childhood's end; title: The countess-in-waiting; title: Triumphal parade to Rome; title: Courtiers and conspiracies; title: The Riario dynasty; title: The fairest in the realm; title: The birth of Athena; title: The lean years; title: Center stage; title: The retort at Ravaldino; title: The spoils of war; title: Fanning the flames; title: Blinded by love; title: Avenging fury; title: Intrigue and invasion; title: Italy's idol; title: The long night of Castel Sant' Angelo; title: Sleep after toil; title: Epilogue: Mantua 1526.