[VISCONTI-SFORZA] - Albero genealogico dei Visconti/Sforza. Milan: 1470-1483. An important genealogical tree of the Dukes of Milan focused on the dynastic transmission of the title. In the manuscript there are no wives and daughters with the exception of Bianca Maria Visconti, the only legitimate heir of her father, Filippo Maria Visconti and wife of Francesco Sforza with whom the homonymous dynasty was born. It is also interesting to note that illegitimate children are not mentioned; this is confirmed by looking at the progeny of Galeazzo Maria Sforza where there are only the two legitimate heirs by Bona di Savoia, Gian Galeazzo (1469) and Ermes Maria (1470), but not the illegitimate ones by Lucrezia Landriani, Carlo Sforza (1461 ) and Alessandro Sforza (1465). From the point of view of dating, the genealogy does not report Ercole Massimiliano, the son Ludovico il Moro had in 1493, which allows us to date the parchment to the period between 1470 and 1493. The document therefore dates back to the years of the struggle for the control of the Duchy of Milan (1476-1479) between Ludovico il Moro and Cicco Simonetta allied with Bona di Savoia. After the final victory, Ludovico began to seek marriage alliances through his nephews, sons of Galeazzo Maria, in order to strengthen his family's position on the duchy. It is therefore conceivable that the present genealogical tree could serve as an instrument to demonstrate the legitimacy of the power of Ludovico and the Sforza family by linking it directly to the Visconti through Bianca Maria whose "circle" is not surprisingly highlighted. This is an important testimony, an instrument of Ludovico il Moro's policy aimed at the internal and external legitimation of his power. (580 x 460mm). Manuscript on vellum in Lombard Gothic (some restoration on the left margin, light cracks on the surface).

Estimate € 5,000 - 8,000