stepmother, Bona, to whom she owed "all the honors paid her from land to land." On the same day, Caterina also wrote to Bona directly, using more formal tones as befitting her new rank but expressing the same message: the thirteen-year-old girl was holding up well but was already homesick.
Anyone who witnessed the lavish parade winding its way through Lombardy would never have guessed that the elegant young countess with the extravagant escort was feeling such lonely nostalgia. Count Girolamo had added his own retainers to Caterina's Milanese entourage of 40 relatives and servants, swelling their numbers to 150 or more. The glamorous retinue included the archbishop of Cesena and his escort of 13, the governor of Imola with 12 men, plus local nobles, musicians, and ladies in waiting. Caterina's procession coursed like a bright ribbon through the low-lying green plains of Lombardy. The scarlet and white flags emblazoned with the Sforza viper were followed by the silver and black livery of Cesena and the reds and blues of Imola; the vermilion rose of the Riario family blossomed among them. Before the era of mass media, such processions reinforced a family's status, announced political events, and provided entertainment. Village women gawked at the latest fashions, men discussed the suits of armor, and children scampered to find some souvenir of the passage of a contemporary celebrity. In the spring of 1477, the sound of trumpets echoing through the countryside announced the arrival of the new countess of Imola, bride of the pope's favorite nephew and sister to Gian Galeazzo Sforza, the new duke of Milan.
A day later, another member joined the party: Gian Luigi Bossi, counselor to the duke of Milan. Bossi, carrying specific instructions from Bona of Savoy, was to accompany the party all the way to Rome. His special task was to watch over Caterina, ensuring that the young countess "conduct herself well and honorably and that she not become ill either from riding or the heat." 2 Bona's dual concerns reflected her twin roles: a head of state dealing with a delicate political situation and a loving stepmother whose daughter was traveling far from home for the first time.
Bona had done everything she could to prepare the way for Caterina, writing ahead to each town, alerting its people to offer a proper welcome to their noble guest. Only in the little town of Reggio was there no one to greet the cavalcade, but that was only because the group had arrived earlier than expected. On that evening, the aristocratic retinue stayed in relatively humble accommodations, which Caterina, unruffled, described as "a pleasant inn." In Modena and Piacenza, however, local nobles opened their homes and hearts to Caterina. Not only was she "affectionately and enthusiastically" received in Bologna, but she also stayed as a guest in the palace of the ruling family, the Bentivoglios. Caterina politely expressed much delight in being so honored, but in letters to her sister, she modestly acknowledged that the pomp and glory could not be ascribed to her own merits, but to "the grace of Her Ladyship, my mother." Like many an adolescent, Caterina was more energized than fatigued by her busy social calendar of visits, feasts, and parties, enabling Bossi to write to the duchess that he had found Caterina "healthy, beautiful, and well-mannered." 3 Her childhood amid the elaborate rituals of her father's court had prepared her well for long hours of banquets, speeches, and spectacles: not once did anyone catch the young countess looking impatient or weary.
The homage she received in towns along the route paled by comparison with Caterina's reception in her new dominion. On May 1, she left Bologna to travel the twenty miles to Imola. She arrived in the late afternoon to find the entire city turned out to greet her. As Caterina gushed in her letter to Chiara, "The people of Imola don't usually celebrate much, but it seemed that even the very stones were delighted
Anyone who witnessed the lavish parade winding its way through Lombardy would never have guessed that the elegant young countess with the extravagant escort was feeling such lonely nostalgia. Count Girolamo had added his own retainers to Caterina's Milanese entourage of 40 relatives and servants, swelling their numbers to 150 or more. The glamorous retinue included the archbishop of Cesena and his escort of 13, the governor of Imola with 12 men, plus local nobles, musicians, and ladies in waiting. Caterina's procession coursed like a bright ribbon through the low-lying green plains of Lombardy. The scarlet and white flags emblazoned with the Sforza viper were followed by the silver and black livery of Cesena and the reds and blues of Imola; the vermilion rose of the Riario family blossomed among them. Before the era of mass media, such processions reinforced a family's status, announced political events, and provided entertainment. Village women gawked at the latest fashions, men discussed the suits of armor, and children scampered to find some souvenir of the passage of a contemporary celebrity. In the spring of 1477, the sound of trumpets echoing through the countryside announced the arrival of the new countess of Imola, bride of the pope's favorite nephew and sister to Gian Galeazzo Sforza, the new duke of Milan.
A day later, another member joined the party: Gian Luigi Bossi, counselor to the duke of Milan. Bossi, carrying specific instructions from Bona of Savoy, was to accompany the party all the way to Rome. His special task was to watch over Caterina, ensuring that the young countess "conduct herself well and honorably and that she not become ill either from riding or the heat." 2 Bona's dual concerns reflected her twin roles: a head of state dealing with a delicate political situation and a loving stepmother whose daughter was traveling far from home for the first time.
Bona had done everything she could to prepare the way for Caterina, writing ahead to each town, alerting its people to offer a proper welcome to their noble guest. Only in the little town of Reggio was there no one to greet the cavalcade, but that was only because the group had arrived earlier than expected. On that evening, the aristocratic retinue stayed in relatively humble accommodations, which Caterina, unruffled, described as "a pleasant inn." In Modena and Piacenza, however, local nobles opened their homes and hearts to Caterina. Not only was she "affectionately and enthusiastically" received in Bologna, but she also stayed as a guest in the palace of the ruling family, the Bentivoglios. Caterina politely expressed much delight in being so honored, but in letters to her sister, she modestly acknowledged that the pomp and glory could not be ascribed to her own merits, but to "the grace of Her Ladyship, my mother." Like many an adolescent, Caterina was more energized than fatigued by her busy social calendar of visits, feasts, and parties, enabling Bossi to write to the duchess that he had found Caterina "healthy, beautiful, and well-mannered." 3 Her childhood amid the elaborate rituals of her father's court had prepared her well for long hours of banquets, speeches, and spectacles: not once did anyone catch the young countess looking impatient or weary.
The homage she received in towns along the route paled by comparison with Caterina's reception in her new dominion. On May 1, she left Bologna to travel the twenty miles to Imola. She arrived in the late afternoon to find the entire city turned out to greet her. As Caterina gushed in her letter to Chiara, "The people of Imola don't usually celebrate much, but it seemed that even the very stones were delighted
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