Empress Bianca Maria Sforza, daughter of the Duke of Milan, was born on 5 April 1472. The little girl was first married off by her relatives at the age of two and widowed at ten. The kings of Hungary and Scotland were later considered as her potential suitors before, in 1494, Maximilian — then King of the Romans — was deemed the best match. Bianca’s dowry amounted to nearly half a million ducats, an almost unimaginable sum at the time. In return, her uncle was granted the title of duke by Maximilian.
From the very beginning, the couple’s relationship proved distant and cold. To Maximilian, Bianca could never compare to his much-admired first wife, Mary of Burgundy. He complained about Bianca’s immature and childish nature and soon lost all interest in her. Their correspondence was rare, and personal contact even rarer.
Over the years of neglect, Bianca Maria lived in Tyrol. Once the richest bride in Europe, she had no control over her finances, which made her lifestyle swing between luxury and debt. Tormented by her isolation and childlessness, she became emaciated, depressed, and apathetic. She likely suffered from a chronic illness such as cancer, heart failure, or tuberculosis. Needless to say, she received no support or consolation from her husband.
Bianca Maria’s tenure as Holy Roman Empress was one of the shortest, lasting only 35 months. She died at the age of 38, on the last day of 1510.
Though she was overshadowed in every way by her predecessor, Mary of Burgundy, the two women shared one tragic legacy. While Mary’s marriage had drawn France and the Habsburgs into lasting conflict, Bianca’s union with Maximilian extended the tensions into Italy — ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the devastating Italian Wars (1494–1559).
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