Cesare Sforza was born in Florence in 1430 to a powerful family. He was taught skills like horse riding and combat from a young age. He became a skilled swordsman and eventually led a small group of men as a condottiero, protecting Florence. After 5 years as its protector, he sought new military adventures across Italy, gaining wealth and fame through tournaments. He had contacts across Europe and even met the Ottoman sultan Mehmed II. In 1464, an English baron invited Cesare to a jousting tournament for the chance to marry a princess, which excited Cesare and he saw as an opportunity to improve trade between Florence and England.

1. TobiasRymer
Cesare Sforza's Story
Cesare Sforzawasborn inFlorence in1430 onthe 21st
of September,due tohisfather'shigh
position of powerwithinthe familyestablishmentatthe time,all the townknew of hisbirthand a
special plaque of hisbirthdate issituatedatthe groundsof Giotto's Companile inFlorence.Inthe
earlyyearsof his life,Cesare wastaughtmanyskillsinthe wayof hisFather,butit wasn’tuntil his
earlyteenswhere he wastaughtthe meansof combat, andskill atarms. He had beenhorse riding
since he was 7, and at a youngage he was a courierfor hisfather;deliveringmessagesall around
Florence toimportantpeople onhorseback.Cesarewasagiftedyoungman,and itwasn’tonlyhis
horsemanshipthathe wassoonknownfor,he was becomingaverytalentedman.He waswell
knownforhisswordsmanshipandwastrainedandtutoredbyfreelance mercenaryMariode lucci,
whotaught himthe art of the Italianwayof the sword,beingbestfriendswithCesare'sfatherhe put
a lot of time and effortintotrainingyoungCesare.Atthe age of 21 Cesare wasbeginningtopractice
hisskillsinthe fieldof battle,he became aCondotierro,andledasmall groupof menwhopatrolled
the city andlater onthe surroundingareas.He wasa nobleman,beingthe seedof ahighstatus
familymember(hisfather) he wascontractedbymanypeople inpositonsof powerwhoneeded
service of protection.However,he became the dedicatedprotectorof Florence in1454, and swore
an oath to a minimumof 5 yearsservice to safeguardthe populationfromotherstatesandany
attackerstowardsFlorence.He was24, veryrich,and had a great undertakingof Militaatthe clickof
hisfingers;all personallytrainedbyhimandsowere deadly.Inhisspare time Cesare wrote many
piecesof literature,mainlytextsregardingthe artsof Italianwarfare andmilitarystrategybooks.He
was alsoverygood at managingfunds,he wrote manyscriptson accountingand investitures.Cesare
owneda local Florence Brothel,courtesansall overthe citybroughtindozensof Florinsperhour,he
alsoownedmanymerchantshipsthatsailedaroundthe Mediterranean.Atfirsthe wasfunded
manyflorinsbyhisfather,butseeinghisgrowthof moneyinhisinvestitureshe didnolongerhave
to at a time,andsoCesare was nowan independentmanwithall the moneyandmenat his
doorstep.
After5 years of service beingprotectorof Florence,he allowedthe generalarmyof the cityto take
hisplace,he wantedtomove on withhismilitarycareerandventure intosome Italianconflicts.
Once he hadmade it clearthat he wasfree to hire andto helpinthe ongoingconflictsof Family's
withinItaly,he hadmanyrequests.Cesare spentsome yearstravellingItaly,andfightingvarious
conflicts,alongside thishe wasable toentermanytournamentsinthe townsandcitieshe visited.
Thisis whenCesare beganhisfirstcareerinthe sportof Jousting,he wasa natural,and converted
hisfightingskillstothe tilt.He gainedmuchwealthamongthese tournaments,andthisonly
extendedhispowerandauthorityInthe landsof Italia,Cesare wasyoungandalreadyhad a name
for himself;wordwasgettingoutof hisname throughsome parts of Europe.Cesare wasnow up in
line withthe Nobles.Time passedeversoslowly,andCesare hadhisfirstexpeditiontothe cityof
Constantinople,where he metMehmedthe Conqueroranddiscussedwaysof life andpoliticsinthe
modernworld.Afterthe confrontationof one of hisItalianvesselsandthe canonsof the
Cappadociancoast,Cesare wasintriguedandangrydue to the fact that hisvesselswere clearly
markedas Florentine,andnotthe Venetians thattheywere attensionwith.Theyspoke formerelya
fewhours,discussingthe seaways,andthe statusof the Venetians –whomMehmedwas
contemplatingconflictwith.Cesarereturnedsomefollowingmonthsfromhisexpedition,withsome
intermediate knowledge andasense of diversityamongmen,Cesare wasgrowinganddevelopingas
a intelligentmanwithinthese lands;he wasnow considered"well travelled".Uponarrivinghome in
Florence,Cesare receivedaparticularlypeculiarmessage fromEngland,now itintriguedCesare as

2. he had not muchcontact from the Island.Itwas titled"Cesare,fairandnoble Italiansman".The
letterdetailedamere greetingfromaBaron withinEngland,anadmirerof hisaccolades,andit
explainedhowhe hadheardof hisname and wantedto meetthe true Italianlegendasitwas.They
exchangedaseriesof letterwitheachotherinthe followingyears,once every3-4months,they
were regardingdifferentpolitical dramawithinEurope andwhatcanbe done tosolve them;an
intelligentandacademic interchange betweenthe twonobles.Cesare continuedwithhiswayof life,
thistime at home forthe 3 years,he hadongoingliterature andcarriedonwiththe trainingof local
militias.
In 1464, Baron WilliamPeverel once againcontactedCesare,thistimeregardingsomethingvery
inviting,anditexcitedCesare.He wasinvitedtovisitEnglandandcompete inaJoustingcompetition
at the BaronsBridgecrossCastle,fora chance to winthe hand of Isabella;RichardsIII'sdaughter.
Williambelievedfromwhathe hadspokentoCesare about,andtheyway he wasknownthat he was
the perfectsuitorforthe Lady, daughterto the King.He alsobelievedthatitwouldimprove relations
withItalyspecificallythe merchantcityof Florence.Cesare kindlyacceptedthe invitation,and
chuckledoverthe thoughtof beinginline tobe the Kingof Englandif he was successful inthe
tournament,he hadneverbeentothe Islandandso was lookingforwardtoseeingwhatitwaslike
also.He alsowantedto start a trade shipbetweenFlorence andEngland,he believedthatthiswas
hischance to accomplishthisalso,he saw the manybenefitsandwasquicktoplanhis journey.He
preparedforit,gathered50 menat arms fromhisfinestmilitiacompany,andleft atdawnbarelya
weekafterhe hadreceivedthe letterfromthe Baron.
TobiasRymer