Beatrice Regina della Scala
Encyclopedia
Beatrice Regina della Scala (1331 – 18 June 1384) was an Italian noblewoman, a member of the Scaliger
family of Northern Italy
. She was the wife of Bernabò Visconti
, Lord of Milan, and the mother of his seventeen legitimate children.
in 1331, the youngest child and only daughter of Mastino II della Scala
and Taddea da Carrara
. She had three older brothers, and five illegitimate half-siblings. Her father, who was a member of the Scaliger family of Northern Italy, was Lord of Verona, Vicenza
, Brescia
, Parma
, and Lucca
. Her paternal grandparents were Alboino I della Scala
and Beatrice, daughter of Gilberto III da Correggio of Parma, and her maternal grandparents were Jacopo I da Carrara
and Anna Gradenigo, daughter of Pietro Gradenigo
, Doge of Venice
and Tommasina Morosini.
and Valentina Doria
. She was nineteen years of age and he was twenty-seven. The marriage welded a powerful political alliance between Milan and Verona. He assumed power as Lord of Milan in 1354, henceforth, Beatrice Regina was styled as Lady of Milan.
Bernabò was a cruel and ruthless despot, and an implacable enemy of the Church. He seized the papal city of Bologna
, rejected the Pope and his authority, confiscated ecclesiastical property, and forbade any of his subjects to have any dealings with the Curia
. He was excommunicated as a heretic
in 1363 by Pope Urban V
, who preached crusade against him. When Bernabò was in one of his frequent rages, only Beatrice Regina was able to approach him.
Together Bernabò and Beatrice Regina had seventeen children:
Bernabò fathered at least twelve illegitimate children by a variety of mistresses.
Beatrice Regina died on 18 June 1384 at the age of fifty-three years. She was buried in Milan. A year and a half later, her husband was deposed and later poisoned by his nephew and son-in-law Gian Galeazzo Visconti, who in 1395 became the first Duke of Milan.
Scaliger
The noble family of the Scaliger were Lords of Verona. When Ezzelino III was elected podestà of the commune in 1226, he was able to convert the office into a permanent lordship...
family of Northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. She was the wife of Bernabò Visconti
Bernabo Visconti
Bernabò Visconti was an Italian soldier and statesman, who was Lord of Milan.-Life:He was born in Milan, the son of Stefano Visconti and Valentina Doria. From 1346 to 1349 he lived in exile, until he was called back by his uncle Giovanni Visconti...
, Lord of Milan, and the mother of his seventeen legitimate children.
Family
Beatrice Regina was born in VeronaVerona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
in 1331, the youngest child and only daughter of Mastino II della Scala
Mastino II della Scala
Mastino II della Scala was lord of Verona. He was a member of the famous Scaliger family of northern Italy.He was the son of Alboino I della Scala and Beatrice da Correggio. At the death of Cangrande I, he and his brother Alberto II were associated in the rule of Verona. Soon, however, Mastino's...
and Taddea da Carrara
Carraresi family
The Carraresi were an important family of northern Italy in the period 12th-15th centuries. As signori of Padua, their overwhelming power and patronage placed them in an isolated position far outshining any other single family...
. She had three older brothers, and five illegitimate half-siblings. Her father, who was a member of the Scaliger family of Northern Italy, was Lord of Verona, Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
, Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
, and Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
. Her paternal grandparents were Alboino I della Scala
Alboino I della Scala
Alboino I della Scala was the Scaliger Lord of Verona from 1304 until his death.He was the son of Alberto I della Scala, and became seignior and imperial vicar in the city after the death of his brother Bartolomeo in 1304...
and Beatrice, daughter of Gilberto III da Correggio of Parma, and her maternal grandparents were Jacopo I da Carrara
Jacopo I da Carrara
Jacopo or Giacomo I da Carrara , called the Great , was the founder of the Carraresi dynasty that ruled Padua from 1318 to 1405. He governed with the advice of the leading citizens during a rule characterised by unity within the city...
and Anna Gradenigo, daughter of Pietro Gradenigo
Pietro Gradenigo
Pietro Gradenigo was the 49th Doge of Venice, reigning from 1289 to his death.When he was elected Doge, he was serving as the podestà of Koper / Capodistria in Slovenia. Venice suffered a serious blow with the fall of Acre, the last Crusader stronghold in the Holy Land, to the Mamluks of Egypt in...
, Doge of Venice
Doge of Venice
The Doge of Venice , often mistranslated Duke was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city...
and Tommasina Morosini.
Marriage and issue
On 27 September 1350 in Verona, Beatrice Regina was married to Bernabò Visconti, son of Stefano ViscontiStefano Visconti
Stefano Visconti was a member of the House of Visconti that ruled Milan from the 14th to the 15th century. He was the son of Matteo I Visconti....
and Valentina Doria
Doria
Doria, originally de Auria , meaning "the sons of Auria", and then de Oria or d'Oria, is the name of an old and extremely wealthy Genoese family who played a major role in the history of the Republic of Genoa and in Italy, from the 12th century to the 16th century.-Origins:According to legend, a...
. She was nineteen years of age and he was twenty-seven. The marriage welded a powerful political alliance between Milan and Verona. He assumed power as Lord of Milan in 1354, henceforth, Beatrice Regina was styled as Lady of Milan.
Bernabò was a cruel and ruthless despot, and an implacable enemy of the Church. He seized the papal city of Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, rejected the Pope and his authority, confiscated ecclesiastical property, and forbade any of his subjects to have any dealings with the Curia
Curia
A curia in early Roman times was a subdivision of the people, i.e. more or less a tribe, and with a metonymy it came to mean also the meeting place where the tribe discussed its affairs...
. He was excommunicated as a heretic
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
in 1363 by Pope Urban V
Pope Urban V
Pope Urban V , born Guillaume Grimoard, was Pope from 1362 to 1370.-Biography:Grimoard was a native of Grizac in Languedoc . He became a Benedictine and a doctor in Canon Law, teaching at Montpellier and Avignon...
, who preached crusade against him. When Bernabò was in one of his frequent rages, only Beatrice Regina was able to approach him.
Together Bernabò and Beatrice Regina had seventeen children:
- Taddea ViscontiTaddea ViscontiTaddea Visconti, Duchess of Bavaria was an Italian noblewoman of the Visconti family who ruled Milan from 1277 to 1447...
, Duchess of Bavaria (1351–28 September 1381), married on 13 October 1364 Stephen III, Duke of BavariaStephen III, Duke of BavariaDuke Stephen III of Bavaria was a Duke of Bavaria since 1375. He was the eldest son of Stephen II and Elizabeth of Sicily.-Family:...
, by whom she had three children including Isabeau of BavariaIsabeau of BavariaIsabeau of Bavaria was Queen consort of France as spouse of King Charles VI of France, a member of the Valois Dynasty...
, Queen consort of King Charles VI of FranceCharles VI of FranceCharles VI , called the Beloved and the Mad , was the King of France from 1380 to 1422, as a member of the House of Valois. His bouts with madness, which seem to have begun in 1392, led to quarrels among the French royal family, which were exploited by the neighbouring powers of England and Burgundy... - Viridis ViscontiViridis ViscontiViridis Visconti was an Italian noblewoman, a daughter of Bernabò Visconti and his wife Beatrice Regina della Scala. By her marriage to Leopold III, Duke of Austria, Viridis was Duchess consort of Austria, Styria and Carinthia, she was also Countess consort of Tyrol.- Family :Viridis was born in...
(1352–1414), married Leopold III, Duke of Inner Austria, by whom she had six children. - Marco Visconti (November 1353–1382), married Elisabeth of Bavaria
- Rodolfo Visconti, Lord of Parma (1358–1388)
- Ludovico Visconti (1358–7 March 1404), married Violante ViscontiViolante ViscontiViolante Visconti was the second of three children of Galeazzo II Visconti, Lord of Milan and Pavia, and Bianca of Savoy. Her father gave to her the provinces of Alba, Mondovì, Kenites, Cherasco and Demonte as an inheritance...
, widow of Lionel of Antwerp. They had a son, Giovanni, who left descendants. - Carlo Visconti (September 1359–August 1403), married Beatrice of Armagnac, daughter of John II, Count of Armagnac and Jeanne de Périgord, by whom he had four children.
- Valentina ViscontiValentina Visconti, Queen of CyprusNot to be confused with Valentina Visconti, Duchess of OrléansValentina Visconti was a daughter of Bernabò Visconti and his wife Beatrice della Scala...
(1360–1393), married firstly in 1378, King Peter II of CyprusPeter II of CyprusPeter II of Cyprus or Pierre II le Gros de Lusignan , called The Fat, was king of Cyprus from 17 January 1369 until his death.-Biography:...
, by whom she had one daughter who died in early infancy; she married secondly, Galeazzo, Count of Virtù - Caterina ViscontiCaterina ViscontiCaterina Visconti, Duchess of Milan was a member of the Italian noble family Visconti, which ruled Milan from 1277 to 1447. She was the second wife of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the first Duke of Milan, and was the mother of two succeeding Dukes of Milan, Gian Maria Visconti and Filippo Maria Visconti...
, Duchess of Milan (1361–17 October 1404), married on 2 October 1380 as his second wife, Gian Galeazzo ViscontiGian Galeazzo ViscontiGian Galeazzo Visconti , son of Galeazzo II Visconti and Bianca of Savoy, was the first Duke of Milan and ruled the late-medieval city just before the dawn of the Renaissance...
1st Duke of Milan, by whom she had two sons, Gian Maria ViscontiGian Maria ViscontiGian Maria Visconti was the second Visconti Duke of Milan, the son of Gian Galeazzo Visconti and Caterina Visconti.-Biography:...
, 2nd Duke of Milan; and Filippo Maria ViscontiFilippo Maria ViscontiFilippo Maria Visconti was ruler of Milan from 1412 to 1447.-Biography:Filippo Maria Visconti, who had become nominal ruler of Pavia in 1402, succeeded his assassinated brother Gian Maria Visconti as Duke of Milan in 1412. They were the sons of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Gian Maria's predecessor, by...
, 3rd Duke of Milan, who fathered Bianca Maria ViscontiBianca Maria ViscontiBianca Maria Visconti was Duchess of Milan from 1450 to 1468.-Early years:Born near Settimo Pavese, Bianca Maria was the illegitimate daughter of Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan and last of the Visconti rulers, and Agnese del Maino, the only person the shy, secluded Filippo ever loved...
by his mistress Agnese del MainoAgnese del MainoAgnese del Maino was a Milanese noblewoman and the mistress of Filippo Maria Visconti, the last legitimate Duke of Milan of the Visconti dynasty. Agnese was the mother of Bianca Maria Visconti, who succeeded to the title of Duchess of Milan in 1450, despite her illegitimacy.- Family :Agnese was...
. - Agnese ViscontiAgnese ViscontiAgnese Visconti also known as Agnes was a daughter of Bernabò Visconti and his wife Beatrice Regina della Scala...
(1362–1391), married in 1380 Francesco I GonzagaFrancesco I Gonzagathumb|Portrait of Francesco I Gonzaga at [[Ambras Castle]], [[Innsbruck]].Francesco I Gonzaga was ruler of Mantua from 1382 to 1407. He was also a condottiero....
, by whom she had one daughter. Agnes was executed for alleged adultery. - Antonia ViscontiAntonia ViscontiAntonia Visconti was a daughter of Bernabò Visconti and his wife Beatrice Regina della Scala. Antonia was Countess of Württemberg by her marriage.- Family :...
(died 26 March 1405), married Eberhard III, Count of WurttembergEberhard III, Count of WürttembergEberhard III of Württemberg der Milde , ruled from 1392-1417 as the Count of Württemberg, then a part of the Holy Roman Empire.-Life:...
, by whom she had three sons. - Mastino Visconti (died 1404), married Antonia della Scala (died 1400), daughter of Cangrande IICangrande II della ScalaCangrande II della Scala was Lord of Verona from 1351 until his death.In 1351, after the death of his father Mastino II della Scala, he inherited the lordship of Verona and Vicenza, initially under the regency of his uncle Antonio...
. - Maddalena ViscontiMaddalena ViscontiMaddalena Visconti was a daughter of Bernabò Visconti and his wife Beatrice Regina della Scala. Maddalena was Duchess of Bavaria-Landshut by her marriage to Frederick, Duke of Bavaria.- Family :...
(1366- 17 July 1404), married Frederick, Duke of BavariaFrederick, Duke of BavariaFrederick was Duke of Bavaria from 1375. He was the second son of Stephen II and Elizabeth of Sicily.-Family:His maternal grandparents were Frederick III of Sicily and Eleanor of Anjou...
, by whom she had five children including Henry XVI of BavariaHenry XVI of BavariaHenry XVI of Bavaria , , since 1393 Duke of Bavaria-Landshut. He was a son of duke Frederick and his wife Maddalena Visconti, a daughter of Bernabò Visconti.-Life:... - Aymonette Visconti, married Louis I de Berton des Balbes
- Anglesia Visconti (died 12 October 1439), in January 1400 married King Janus of CyprusJanus of CyprusJanus of Cyprus was a King of Cyprus, King of Armenia and a Titular King of Jerusalem from 1398 to 1432.-Biography:He was born in Genoa where his father, King James I of Cyprus was a captive...
, but the marriage was childless and was dissolved 1407/1409; he married in 1411 as his second wife, Charlotte de Bourbon-La MarcheCharlotte de Bourbon-La MarcheCharlotte de Bourbon was the Queen consort of Cyprus and titular Queen consort of Armenia and Jerusalem through her marriage to King Janus of Cyprus. She was his second wife and the mother of his six legitimate children, which included King John II and Anne de Lusignan...
by whom he had six children. - Giammastino Visconti (1370- 19 June 1405), married Cleofa della Scala (died 1403), by whom he had three children. She was the daughter of Cangrande IICangrande II della ScalaCangrande II della Scala was Lord of Verona from 1351 until his death.In 1351, after the death of his father Mastino II della Scala, he inherited the lordship of Verona and Vicenza, initially under the regency of his uncle Antonio...
. - Lucia ViscontiLucia ViscontiLucia Visconti Was the daughter of Bernabò Visconti, Lord of Milan, and Beatrice Regina della Scala.Negotiations for marriage Lucia opened in 1382 and were aimed at the alliance between Bernabo and Louis II of Anjou, the latter she was betrothed to . However she ended up marrying Edmund Holland,...
(1372- 14 April 1424), married Edmund Holland, 4th Earl of KentEdmund Holland, 4th Earl of KentEdmund Holland, 4th Earl of Kent, 5th Baron Holand, KG was the Earl of Kent in ca. 1400 – ca. 1407. He was the 106th Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1403....
, the marriage was childless. - Elisabetta ViscontiElisabetta ViscontiElisabetta Visconti , also known as Elisabeth or Elizabeth, was a younger child of Bernabò Visconti and his wife Beatrice Regina della Scala...
(1374- 2 February 1432), married on 26 January 1395 Ernest, Duke of BavariaErnest, Duke of BavariaErnest of Bavaria-Munich , , from 1397 Duke of Bavaria-Munich.-Biography:Ernest was a son of John II and ruled the duchy of Bavaria-Munich together with his brother William III....
, by whom she had five children including Albert III, Duke of BavariaAlbert III, Duke of BavariaAlbert III the Pious of Bavaria-Munich , , since 1438 Duke of Bavaria-Munich. He was born to Ernest, Duke of Bavaria and Elisabetta Visconti, daughter of Bernabò Visconti.-Life:Albert was born in Munich....
.
Bernabò fathered at least twelve illegitimate children by a variety of mistresses.
Beatrice Regina died on 18 June 1384 at the age of fifty-three years. She was buried in Milan. A year and a half later, her husband was deposed and later poisoned by his nephew and son-in-law Gian Galeazzo Visconti, who in 1395 became the first Duke of Milan.