Ippolita (1446–1484)

views updated

Ippolita (1446–1484)

Queen of Naples. Name variations: Hippolyta Sforza; Ippolita Sforza. Born in 1446; died on August 20, 1484; daughter of Bianca Maria Visconti (1423–1470) and Francesco Sforza (1401–1466), 4th duke of Milan (r. 1450–1466); married Alfonso of Aragon (1448–1495), duke of Calabria, later known as Alphonso II, king of Naples (r. 1494–1495), on October 10, 1465; children: Isabella of Naples (1470–1524, who married Gian Galeazzo Sforza, duke of Milan); Ferdinand also known as Ferrante II (1469–1496), king of Naples (r. 1495–1496); Piero, prince of Rossano (b. 1472). Alphonso II had a mistress Trogia Gazzela with whom he had two children: Alfonso, prince of Salerno (b. 1481) and Sancha of Aragon (1478–1506).

Ippolita was born in 1446, the daughter of Bianca Maria Visconti and Francesco Sforza, the 4th duke of Milan. One of the accomplished women of Renaissance Italy, Ippolita once astonished Pope Pius II while he was visiting her father's court by reciting a Latin oration she had composed. She was 12 at the time.