Caterina bears Giovanni a son, the last…
October 1498 CE
Caterina bears Giovanni a son, the last of her children, in April 1498.
The child is baptized as Ludovico after his mother's uncle, the Duke of Milan, but later he will become known by the name Giovanni dalle Bande Nere.
Meanwhile, affairs between Florence and Venice are getting worse and Caterina, who occupies the main route between the two cities, prepares her defenses.
She sends a contingent of knights to the aid of Florence, led by Giovanni and her eldest son, Ottaviano Riario, accompanied by men she has trained herself.
Giovanni becomes seriously ill and is compelled to leave the battlefield and return to Forlì.
Here, despite treatment, his condition deteriorates and he is transferred to Santa Maria in Bagno, where he hopes for a miraculous recovery.
On September 14, 1498, Giovanni dies in the presence of Caterina, who had been summoned urgently to attend him.
Giovanni's death leaves Caterina alone to face the Borgias.
After having returned to Forlì in order to make preparations for the defense of her states, Caterina is occupied by military concerns, especially logistics.
Training the militia is executed by the Countess in person.
To find additional money and troops, she writes to her uncle Ludovico, the Republic of Florence and the neighboring states who are her allies.
Only the Dukes of Milan and Mantua send a small contingent of soldiers to aid her.
After an initial attack by the Venetians, which inflicts severe destruction, Caterina's army manages to outmaneuver them.
Afterwards, the war continues with minor skirmishes until the Venetians are able to circumvent Forlì to reach Florence by another route.
Because of this staunch defense, Caterina Sforza gains the nickname of "La Tigre" (The Tiger).
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