Dictionary of Phrase and Fable—S

Sforza

The founder of the illustrious house which was so conspicuous in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, was the son of a day-labourer. His name was Giacomuzzo Attendolo, changed to Sforza from the following incident:—Being desirous of going to the wars, he consulted his hatchet thus: he flung it against a tree, saying, “If it sticks fast, I will go.” It did stick fast, and he enlisted. It was because he threw it with such amazing force that he was called Sforza, the Italian for force.

Sforza
(in Jerusalem Delivered) of Lombardy. He, with his two brothers, Achilies and Palamedes, were in the squadron of adventurers in the allied Christian army.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
Shack
Seyd
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

More on Sforza from Fact Monster:

  • Sforza - Sforza Sforza , Italian family that ruled the duchy of Milan from 1450 to 1535. Rising from peasant ...
  • Ludovico Sforza - Sforza, Ludovico or Lodovico Sforza, Ludovico or Lodovico , b. 1451 or 1452, d. 1508, duke of Milan ...
  • Sforza, Carlo, Conte - Sforza, Carlo, Conte Sforza, Carlo, Conte , 1872–1952, Italian foreign minister. He held high ...
  • Francesco I Sforza - Sforza, Francesco I Sforza, Francesco I , 1401–66, duke of Milan (1450–66); ...
  • Ambrogio De Predis - De Predis, Ambrogio De Predis, Ambrogio c.1455–c.1506, Milanese painter. He worked under ...

Related Content