Bianca Riario

Bianca Riario
Lady of Faenza Marchioness of San Secondo Countess of San Secondo Regent of San Secondo
Bronze medallion of Bianca Riario made by goldsmith Niccolò Fiorentino
Born	March 1478 Rome, Italy
Died	1522 Florence, Italy
Noble family	Riario Sforza
Spouse(s)	Astorre III Manfredi, Lord of Faenza Troilo I de' Rossi, 1st Marquis of San Secondo, 6th Count of San Secondo
Issue Costanza de' Rossi Pier Maria III de' Rossi, 2nd Marquis of San Secondo, 7th Count of San Secondo Giovan Girolamo de' Rossi, Bishop of Pavia Angela de' Rossi Bertrando de' Rossi Alessandro de' Rossi Ettore de' Rossi, Provost of San Secondo Camilla de' Rossi Giulio Cesare de' Rossi, Count of Cajazzo
Father	Girolamo Riario
Mother	Caterina Sforza, Lady of Imola, Countess of Forli

Bianca Riario (March 1478 – 1522) was an Italian noblewoman, and the eldest child and only daughter of Caterina Sforza, Lady of Imola, Countess of Forlì, by the latter's first husband, Girolamo Riario, a nephew of Pope Sixtus IV.

Bianca was initially promised to marry at Astorre III Manfredi, Lord of Faenza, but marriage was canceled. Then she married Troilo I de' Rossi, 1st Marquis of San Secondo, 6th Count of San Secondo, by whom she had nine recorded children:

At the time, the de' Rossi was one of the most prestigious noble families in Parma.

Bianca was the half-sister of the celebrated condottiero Giovanni delle Bande Nere, to whom she acted as a substitute mother while their own mother, Caterina was held prisoner by Cesare Borgia.

Bianca was born at the Palazzo Corsini in Rome, the eldest child and only daughter of Caterina Sforza and her first husband, Girolamo Riario. Her birth occurred some time in March 1478, although the exact date is unknown. Her paternal grandparents were Paolo Riario and Bianca della Rovere, sister of Pope Sixtus IV; however, it was rumoured that Girolamo's actual father was his uncle, Pope Sixtus. Her maternal grandparents were Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan, and his mistress Lucrezia Landriani.

Bianca had five younger brothers from her mother's marriage to her father, a half-brother, Bernardino from her mother's second marriage to Giacomo Feo, and another half-brother from her mother's third and final marriage to Giovanni de' Medici il Popolano. This brother became known as the condottiero Giovanni delle Bande Nere.