Andy Whitfield: In Memoriam

We watched him as he brought to life Spartacus. The Thracian who was sold to become a gladiator and who rose in the ranks as champion. Spartacus was a fighter, and so was the man who played him in the Starz TV series Spartacus: Blood and Sand...Andy Whitfield.

The Welsh-Australian actor was relatively an unknown until he was casted as Spartacus. He played the role with such intensity earning him and the show millions of fans worldwide. With his career going well and preparing for season 2 of Spartacus, it seemed Andy was unstoppable until he was diagnosed with non-hodgkin lymphoma in March 2010. He went through treatment and was declared cancer-free two months later.

However, in September 2010 Starz announced that Andy will leave the show to resume treatment. Another Australian actor Liam McIntyre was chosen to replace him. In the facebook page of the show, fans posted their well wishes to Andy and for his speedy recovery. 

Yesterday, September 11, 2011 Andy Whitfield passed away at the age of 39 in Sydney, Australia. His wife Vashti issued a statement that Andy, "a beautiful young warrior," died on a "sunny Sydney morning" in the "arms of his loving wife."

I would like to share with everyone a beautiful statement made by his Spartacus co-star Lucy Lawless, she described him as "a gentle man who never said a bad word about anyone, a gifted photographer, engineer (no really!) and a brilliant actor. Andy’s incandescent film presence made men want to be him and women want to marry him. Andy’s two babies will always know that their Daddy cherished them and their mother, Vashti, above all things. How lucky we were to have him grace all our lives. Godspeed, Andy!"

To a brilliant and amazing actor...Andy Whitfield, you will surely be missed. 

Caterina Sforza - Il Tigre (Part 2)

"More is always said than the real truth."

In 1488, two months after the death of her first husband Girolamo, news that the Countess was about to marry Antonio Maria Ordellafi spread. The latter had started courting her and he felt confident that she will say yes to his proposal. He wrote to the duke of Ferrara saying that Caterina made promises to marry him. The possible nuptials will eventually end the claims of the Ordellafi family on the city of Forli. Upon hearing the news of her supposed marriage, Caterina imprisoned all those responsible for spreading the rumors. Antonio Maria was also summoned to the Senate in Venice to address the "promises" made. He remained there for 10 years.

The truth was, Caterina fell in love with a young courtier named Giacomo Feo, the brother of Tommaseo Feo who was the castellan of the Ravaldino who remained faithful to her after her husband's assassination. We can say that Caterina is like one hot momma of the renaissance (25 years old, gave birth to 6 kids and still looking good for the men!) as she was known to take younger men as her lovers.  Being head over heels in love with the young dashing Giacomo, she married him in secret in 1488 to avoid losing custody of her children and the regency of her states.

She made her new husband the new castellan of Ravaldino and her uncle Ludovico Il Moro, de facto Duke of Milan awarded Giacomo with an order of chivalry. She bore him a son whom they called Bernardino in April 1489, later named Carlos after Charles VIII who granted Giacomo the title Baron of France.

According to the chronicles of that day, Caterina was very much in love with Giacomo. She gave him important posts in the ruling of her states. Over time, people started to worry that she might remove her son Ottaviano the true Lord of Forli from the government and give all the important appointments to her new husband. Conspiracies were hatched by those loyal to Ottaviano which involved assassinating Giacomo and Caterina. However, she found out about it and imprisoned or executed all those involved. Immediately after that failed attempt, Antonio Maria Ordellafi organized a plot but that too failed.


With Giacomo's power and influence increasing, his ruthlessness and impertinence earned him the hatred of the people and Caterina's children. On one occasion he slapped Ottaviano in full view of the public. Sadly, no one came to defend the true Lord of Forli. The situation in Forli became unbearable after that which prompted Ottaviano's supporters to try once again to get rid of Giacomo.

The conspirators chance came on the evening of August 27, 1495. Caterina along with her daughter Bianca Riario and her ladies-in-waiting returned from a hunt  riding on a carriage. Her sons Ottaviano and Cesare along with Giacomo were following on horseback. Giacomo was suddenly attacked and was fatally wounded.  On the same day the main conspirator Gian Antonio Ghetti went to Caterina. She wasn't aware that her children were involved with the plot and was convinced that Gian Antonio ordered the death of Giacomo. When her first husband was assassinated, she acted according to the criteria of justice at that time. This time she acted with vindictive fury. She wasn't contented with the just the executions of the conspirators, she also hunted down the wives, mistresses and offspring of those involved, including infants. All were tortured and executed.

The massacre she orchestrated lost her the love and goodwill of her people.

Caterina Sforza - Il Tigre (Part 1)

"If I have to lose, although I am a woman, I want to lose in a manly way."

For my posts for the upcoming months I'm going to feature those incredible, strong women of the past. If you think the concept of Girl Power was first started by Lara Croft, the Spice Girls, Destiny's Child and all the other girl bands, think again! These women would definitely give them a run for their money.  This month I will be featuring Caterina Sforza, the Countess of Forli. 

Caterina was the bastard daughter of Galleazo Maria Sforza, the Duke of Milan and Lucrezia Landriani. As it happens, Lucrezia was a the wife of the duke's good friend Gian Piero Landriani, a courtier. Perhaps Gian Piero opted to step aside and turn a blind eye to the affair. The duke was known for his cruelty and violence, and this was what the young Caterina seemed to have inherited from him.

Even if she was a bastard, Caterina was given a noble's education. However, she found the lessons boring. She enjoyed the most rigorous activities like riding, hunting and dancing. Being a girl she was expected to advance her family's fortune and prestige by getting married to a rich and influential nobleman.

In 1473 at the age of 10 she got engaged to Girolamo Riario, Count of Imola and Forli. He was also Pope Sixtus IV's nephew. The couple married that same year but the marriage was consummated when Caterina reached the age of 14, which was the legal age at that time. She bore him six children. The marriage may not have been a love match, but Caterina and Girolamo shared a common passion...the advancement of their house.  She ruled in her husband's place while he was away to defend the papal states. She fortified defenses, recruited men for their army and oversaw everything herself.  When Pope Sixtus IV died, chaos erupted in Rome. Those who suffered from the regime of the dead pope looted and sacked the city including the couple's home, the Orsini palace in Campo de'Fiori. Caterina, seven months pregnant at that time rode on horseback to occupy the fortress of Castel Sant'Angelo on her husband's place. Disorder and chaos still pervaded in the city. Only the election of a new pope can instill order but the college of cardinals refused to enter conclave as they feared Caterina's artillery. The cardinals negotiated with Girolamo who was able to occupy a good strategic position. They reached an agreement that Girolamo will leave Rome for 8,000 ducats and the confirmation of his lordship of the lands of Imola and Forli. Caterina found out what her husband did and proceeded to make preparations to resist so the cardinals will be forced to parley. The cardinals approached Girolamo again and he opposed his wife. Caterina surrendered Castel Sant'Angelo to the Sacred  College and left Rome with her family. The cardinals were then able to elect a new pope, Pope Innocent VIII.

The new pope was a long-time opponent of the family. The new pontiff deprived Girolamo any influence in the military and refused to make payments for Girolamo to leave Rome. Upon arriving in Forli, law and order was maintained in Forli with the help of her uncle Ludovico Il Moro (an interesting figure, but I'll save him for another post :) ). Girolamo refused to reimplement taxes on his people despite his loss of income. However, he was persuaded by the Council of Elders to levy taxes. This act earned the hatred of the people of Forli as those who were affected greatly with the increase of taxes were the artisans and landowners. By this time many conspired to assassinate him.

After many failed attempts, Girolamo was killed on 14 April 1488 in a conspiracy led by members of a noble family in Forli, the Orsis. They also took Caterina and her children as prisoners. The fortress of Ravaldino refused to surrender to the Orsis, so Caterina offered to go and convince the castellan Tommaseo Feo to concede to the rule of the Orsis. Convinced that she was not going to double-cross them since she left her children as hostages,  the Orsis allowed her to leave. Of course she was bluffing. The minute she entered the fortress she released vulgar threats and promises of vengeance on her captors. According to legend, when her captors threatened to kill her children, it was said that she lifted her skirts and exposed her genitals saying "Ho con me lo stampo per farne degli altri! (I have the instrument to bear more!)." With the help of her uncle Ludovico Il Moro, she was able to rescue her children, defeat her enemies and regain her dominions. As was expected in society at that time, she avenged her husband's murder by ruthlessly torturing and executing all those involved.

 Stay tuned next week for the next post about Caterina Sforza...Il Tigre.