BONA SFORZA

Bona Sforza was born on February 2, 1494. Bona Sforza was the daughter of the Duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo, and Isabella of Aragon. She was the Queen of Poland and the Grand Duchess of Lithuania. In 1524, she succeeded her mother Isabella, and became Duchess of Bari and Princess of Rossano.

After having lost her father at an early age, Bona moved to Naples where she received an accurate and versatile education. In 1518, she married the King of Poland Sigismondo I, and moved to Poland. She had a very broad knowledge of different topics among which mathematics, literature, and nature, and she was characterized by a strong and independent personality.

Bona merged the Italian and Polish cultures by bringing several things to Poland, such as jewelry, Italian costumes, and (some say) even vegetables! During her throne, Bona maintained friendly relations with Lithuania and Spain and made Prussia a tributary.
In 1556 she returned to Bari, and she was poisoned and died in 1557.