FAMILY AFFAIRS Lucretia's marriage with Giovanni Sforza confirmed the political alliance which Alexander VI had made with Ludovico il Moro.

The Regent of Milan wanted to invite Charles VIII of France into Italy to make war upon King Ferdinand of Naples, so that he himself might ultimately gain possession of the duchy, for he was consumed with ambition and impatience to drive his sickly nephew, Giangaleazzo, from the throne.
The latter, however, was the consort of Isabella of Aragon, a daughter of Alfonso of Calabria and the grandson of Ferdinand himself.
The alliance of Venice, Ludovico, the Pope, and some of the other Italian nobles had become known in Rome as early as April 25th.

This league, clearly, was opposed to Naples; and its court, therefore, was thrown into the greatest consternation.
Nevertheless, King Ferdinand congratulated the Lord of Pesaro upon his marriage.

He looked upon him as a kinsman, and Sforza had likewise been accepted by the house of Aragon.

June 15, 1493, the king wrote to him from Capua as follows: ILLUSTRIOUS COUSIN AND OUR DEAREST FRIEND: We have received your letter of the twenty-second of last month, in which you inform us of your marriage with the illustrious Donna Lucretia, the niece of his Holiness our Master.