Despite producing offspring, the marriage turned out to be decidedly stormy. Lorenzo aspired to take control of his late father-in-law's Marquisate in his own name or in the name of his first-born son who came into the world in 1525, but Ricciarda was determined to keep it in her hands. In 1529 she succeeded in having herself invested suo jure by the Emperor Charles V, but the following year Lorenzo in turn managed to have himself named co-owner ("co-padrone") of the fief. In 1538 he even made an attempt to force his wife out, but in vain, and in 1541 she finally obtained a new imperial decree revoking her husband's investiture for good.[2]
Their first-born son Giulio, after having ousted Ricciarda by force from 1546 to 1547 with his father's help, ended up beheaded for treason in Milan in 1548.[2]
Lorenzo Cybo died the following year, in 1549, and was succeeded as Duke of Ferentillo by his younger son Alberico, although perhaps born from his mother's adulterous relationship with Lorenzo's brother, Cardinal Innocenzo Cybo.[2]
In 1553, upon his mother's death, Alberico succeeded her too, adding, by her testamentary disposition, the style Malaspina to his paternal surname.[2]
Military service
A skilled soldier, he held the position of commander-in-chief of the Papal Army.
