Regent of Milan
When their father Francesco died in 1466 (the Last Supper was painted next to his burial place in Santa Maria delle Grazie), he was succeeded by the dissolute Galeazzo Maria, Ludovico's older brother. Galeazzo Maria ruled until his assassination in 1476, leaving his throne to his seven-year-old son, Gian Galeazzo Sforza, Ludovico's nephew. A bitter struggle for the regency with the boy's mother, Bona of Savoy, followed; Ludovico emerged as victor in 1481 and seized control of the government of Milan, despite attempts to keep him out of power. For the next 13 years he controlled Milan as regent.
Read more about this topic: Ludovico Sforza