Giovanni Visconti (died 1354)
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Visconti was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal, who was co-ruler in Milan
and lord of other Italian cities.He also was a military leader who fought against Florence
, and used force to capture and hold other cities.
.
Giovanni Visconti was elected archbishop by the Capitol of Milan in 1317, but Pope John XXII
refused to confirm the election and enforced instead Aircardus from Comodeia to that position. In 1323 John excommunicated him with the accuse of heresy, and Visconti found an ally in the antipope Nicholas V
, who give him the cardinal title. In 1331 he became bishop and lord of Novara
, and in 1339, after Aicardus' death, he triumphally entered in Milan, although only in 1342 Clement VI issued a bull confirming him in the archbishopric. Officially, he thus was Archbishop of Milan 1342-1354.
Together with his brother Luchino, Visconti bought from the Pope the title of co-ruler of Milan, for 500,000 florin
s. After Luchino's death, he associated in the lordship the sons of his other brother, Stefano
, who were Matteo II, Bernabò
and Galeazzo II
.
The year after Luchino Visconti's death in 1349, and with the approval of his relations, Giovanni Visconti assumed full lordship of Milan and began consolidating power in Lombardy
and beyond. The same year, 1350, he obtained lordship over Bologna
and placed in nephew, Bernabò, in charge of the city in 1951.
Afraid of his growing strength, in 1350 Florence organized a conference in Arezzo
with a papal legate and representatives of other cities to form an alliance against Milan. Aware of these moves against him, Giovanni Visconti cultivated affection and alliance with the Ghibellines of Tuscany
and Romagna
. After the death of Mastino II della Scala
of Verona
, who had been hostile to the Archbishop, he gained the friendship of Mastino’s son, Cangrande II della Scala
.
In 1351, he sent troops from Milan and Bolonga, and from allies in Faenza
and Forli
, all led by Bernabò, to siege Imola
. With war occurring in the Romagna region, Giovanni Visconti was able to lull the Florentines into believing that he had no intentions towards them. However, he then had many leading Bolognese citizens arrested and tortured, and extracted confessions from them of a conspiracy with Florence to overthrow his rule. He used this as a justification of war against Florence and the Guelphs
of Tuscany. The Archbishop placed Giovanni da Oleggio, another Visconti, in command, and he amassed an army from Bologna and led them into Tuscany to besiege and capture towns and castles, while Ghibelline allies in Tuscany wreaked havoc elsewhere in the region.
In 1352, Giovanni Visconti became lord of Genoa
, and in the following year, he added Novara
. In 1353, Petrarch
visited as his guest.
Giovanni Visconti died 5 October 1354.
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and lord of other Italian cities.He also was a military leader who fought against Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, and used force to capture and hold other cities.
Biography
He was the son of Matteo I Visconti and Bonacossa BorriBonacossa Borri
Bonacossa Borri, also known as Bonaca, or Bonaccossi Bonacosta , was Lady of Milan by marriage from 1269 to 1321.-Biography:...
.
Giovanni Visconti was elected archbishop by the Capitol of Milan in 1317, but Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII , born Jacques Duèze , was pope from 1316 to 1334. He was the second Pope of the Avignon Papacy , elected by a conclave in Lyon assembled by Philip V of France...
refused to confirm the election and enforced instead Aircardus from Comodeia to that position. In 1323 John excommunicated him with the accuse of heresy, and Visconti found an ally in the antipope Nicholas V
Antipope Nicholas V
Nicholas V, born Pietro Rainalducci was an antipope in Italy from 12 May 1328 to 25 July 1330 during the pontificate of Pope John XXII at Avignon. He was the last Imperial antipope, that is, set up by a Holy Roman Emperor.-Life:Rainalducci was born at Corvaro, an ancient stronghold near Rieti in...
, who give him the cardinal title. In 1331 he became bishop and lord of Novara
Novara
Novara is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. With c. 105,000 inhabitants, it is the second most populous city in Piedmont after Turin. It is an important crossroads for commercial traffic along the routes from Milan to Turin...
, and in 1339, after Aicardus' death, he triumphally entered in Milan, although only in 1342 Clement VI issued a bull confirming him in the archbishopric. Officially, he thus was Archbishop of Milan 1342-1354.
Together with his brother Luchino, Visconti bought from the Pope the title of co-ruler of Milan, for 500,000 florin
Italian coin florin
The Italian florin was a coin struck from 1252 to 1533 with no significant change in its design or metal content standard. It had 54 grains of nominally pure gold worth approximately 200 modern US Dollars...
s. After Luchino's death, he associated in the lordship the sons of his other brother, Stefano
Stefano 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....
, who were Matteo II, Bernabò
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...
and Galeazzo II
Galeazzo II Visconti
-External links:*...
.
The year after Luchino Visconti's death in 1349, and with the approval of his relations, Giovanni Visconti assumed full lordship of Milan and began consolidating power in Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
and beyond. The same year, 1350, he obtained lordship over 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,...
and placed in nephew, Bernabò, in charge of the city in 1951.
Afraid of his growing strength, in 1350 Florence organized a conference in Arezzo
Arezzo
Arezzo is a city and comune in Central Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about 80 km southeast of Florence, at an elevation of 296 m above sea level. In 2011 the population was about 100,000....
with a papal legate and representatives of other cities to form an alliance against Milan. Aware of these moves against him, Giovanni Visconti cultivated affection and alliance with the Ghibellines of Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
and Romagna
Romagna
Romagna is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to the east, and the rivers Reno and Sillaro to the north and west...
. After the death 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...
of Verona
Verona
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...
, who had been hostile to the Archbishop, he gained the friendship of Mastino’s son, Cangrande II della Scala
Cangrande II della Scala
Cangrande 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...
.
In 1351, he sent troops from Milan and Bolonga, and from allies in Faenza
Faenza
Faenza is an Italian city and comune, in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, situated 50 km southeast of Bologna.Faenza is noted for its manufacture of majolica ware glazed earthenware pottery, known from the name of the town as "faience"....
and Forli
Forlì
Forlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
, all led by Bernabò, to siege Imola
Imola
thumb|250px|The Cathedral of Imola.Imola is a town and comune in the province of Bologna, located on the Santerno river, in the Emilia-Romagna region of north-central Italy...
. With war occurring in the Romagna region, Giovanni Visconti was able to lull the Florentines into believing that he had no intentions towards them. However, he then had many leading Bolognese citizens arrested and tortured, and extracted confessions from them of a conspiracy with Florence to overthrow his rule. He used this as a justification of war against Florence and the Guelphs
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
of Tuscany. The Archbishop placed Giovanni da Oleggio, another Visconti, in command, and he amassed an army from Bologna and led them into Tuscany to besiege and capture towns and castles, while Ghibelline allies in Tuscany wreaked havoc elsewhere in the region.
In 1352, Giovanni Visconti became lord of Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, and in the following year, he added Novara
Novara
Novara is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. With c. 105,000 inhabitants, it is the second most populous city in Piedmont after Turin. It is an important crossroads for commercial traffic along the routes from Milan to Turin...
. In 1353, Petrarch
Petrarch
Francesco Petrarca , known in English as Petrarch, was an Italian scholar, poet and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch is often called the "Father of Humanism"...
visited as his guest.
Giovanni Visconti died 5 October 1354.