Cicco Simonetta

Born in Calabria around 1410, Cicco Simonetta—also known as Francesco Simonetta—rose from southern Italian roots to become one of the most important officials at the court of the Sforza dukes in Milan. He served as a close adviser and chancellor, earning a reputation for sharp political judgment and exceptional administrative skill.

He worked under Francesco Sforza and later remained influential during the rule of Galeazzo Maria Sforza and the regency that followed. Simonetta is also remembered for his connection to early cryptography: surviving writings linked to him discuss methods for encoding and decoding secret messages, showing how seriously Renaissance courts treated diplomacy and intelligence.

His career ended violently in the struggles that followed shifts in power at Milanese court. Arrested after losing political protection, he was executed in 1480. That mixture of intellect, ambition, and danger makes him a striking figure in the history of Renaissance Italy.