The Francisca Vda, otherwise known as the Virgin of Vitra was born in Italy and died in 11th century. She was one of the greatest Italian women of the Renaissance period, known for her beauty, intelligence, and achievements. As a personification of chastity and motherhood, she was not only respected by her husband but by the whole Italian society. Born as Donatisma Donati to an Italian aristocrat, she was raised in a royal family, which was a prominent trait among Italian noble families of the period.
In the year 1186, she married a man named Matteo Luca, Duke of Milan, with whom she had six children. She continued to be adored by her husband, whom she also served as a consultant, tutor, and doctor. However, in the year 1080 she was given an order of visitation by her younger brother Scaliger, Duke of Sicily. Her request to be relieved from the observatory post was denied by her husband, who deemed her to be unfit to continue seeing her children due to her high rank and position in the society. This caused Francisca Vda to shun her role as a consultant, thus relieving herself from the family’s demands.
One of the most well-known works about Francisca Vda is the song “Prodigal God” (also known as “The Return of the Prodigal God”), written by the Italian poet and playwright Carla Graziella. The poem describes the life of the famous Roman Catholic Queen, who was divorced from her husband, her lovers, and her several children. After her marriage to Matteo Luca, who was a close associate of Pope Boniface VIII, she decided to return to her native land, Sicily, to live with her husband. On this return journey, she gave birth to her youngest son, Fibbertino Vinciano, whom she named after her former lover.