Giovanni Sforza - Annulment and Late Life

Annulment and Late Life

The Pope petitioned for an annulment on Lucrezia's behalf in 1497 (there was no such thing as divorce at this time.) Ascanio Sforza was again called in to mediate between his nephew and the Borgias, and tried to persuade Giovanni into accepting the annulment. However, Giovanni refused to do so on at least two grounds: first, he would have to return Lucrezia's sizable dowry, and second, doing so would require signing a paper that stated he was impotent. Some sources state that Giovanni had married and even fathered illegitimate children prior to his union with Lucrezia, which is not unreasonable given his age; therefore, genuine impotence on his part would be unlikely.

In response, Sforza accused Lucrezia of parental and fraternal incest. This claim, first made solely against the Pope and later extended to all of Lucrezia's brothers, still continues to shade the family's history. It became a popular example of the depravity later attributed to the family, despite its lack of verifiability.

The marriage was eventually annulled in 1497 on grounds of non-consummation. The Sforza family had by then threatened to withhold protection to Giovanni if he did not comply with the offer, which allowed him to keep the dowry but still required signing the confirmation of impotence. In March or December, Sforza agreed to the terms; six months later, he provided sworn testimony that Lucrezia was a virgin. Ironically, Lucrezia was then allegedly pregnant with the Roman Infante, whose parentage was cited by some as proof of incest between her and Cesare. It is certain that Sforza did not parent the child, but details beyond that are uncertain.

In 1500 Giovanni was excommunicated, and the citizens of one of his cities attempted to kill him. He was also attacked by Cesare Borgia, who aimed to gain Sforza's lands, and was forced to abandon Pesaro. He sued for help to all the major powers of the time --including France and Holy Roman Empire -- but in vain. Giovanni Sforza could return to Pesaro only after the death of Alexander VI and the illness of Cesare Borgia (1503). The following year the new Pope, Julius II, confirmed him as vicariate in Pesaro.

He remarried to Ginevra Tiepolo, who gave him an heir, Costanzo II (Giovanni Maria), who succeeded him in Pesaro and Gradara.

He died in Pesaro in 1510.