Luchino Visconti (died 1349)
Encyclopedia
Luchino Visconti was lord of Milan from 1339 to 1349. He was also a condottiero, and lord of Pavia
.
from 1315, five years later he was podestà of Vigevano
, where he erected the castle that is still visible. In 1323, along with all his family, he was excommunicated with the charge of heresy
. The charges of heresy and excommunication were later withdrawn and he became a Papal Vicar in 1341.
He co-ruled in Milan
with his nephew Azzone Visconti and his brother Giovanni, until Azzones's death in 1339. He also took part in the victorious battle of Parabiago
against his other nephew, Lodrisio
, who had set a mercenary army to capture Milan.
With an army of mercenaries from northern Europe, which he entrusted to the sons of his brother Stefano
, he expanded the duchy, capturing Pisa
and buying Parma
from Obizzo III d'Este
.
Luchino Visconti was a patron of both music and literature, having invited Petrarch
to Milan.
He married three times: to Violante of Saluzzo, daughter of Thomas I of Saluzzo
, then to Caterina Spinola, daughter of Obizzo Spinola, and, in 1349, to Isabella Fieschi, niece of Pope Adrian V
, who gave Luchino Visconti his sole legitimate son, Luchino Novello, although others of the Visconti later disputed his parentage. He was a capable military commander and lord, but was also famous for his cruel behaviour. In January 1349 he discovered Isabella's unfaithful behaviour, and announced for her a terrible punishment. A few days later he was found poisoned, the people soon nicknaming his wife Isabella del veleno ("Isabella of poison").
He was succeeded by his nephews Bernabò, Galeazzo
and Matteo II, whom he had exiled from Milan in 1346. The infidelities of Isabella were used by him and his relatives to oust Luchino Novello from the heritage.
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
.
Biography
Ruler of PaviaPavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
from 1315, five years later he was podestà of Vigevano
Vigevano
Vigevano is a town and comune in the province of Pavia, Lombardy, northern Italy, which possesses many artistic treasures and runs a huge industrial business. It is at the center of a district called Lomellina, a great rice-growing agricultural centre...
, where he erected the castle that is still visible. In 1323, along with all his family, he was excommunicated with the charge of heresy
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...
. The charges of heresy and excommunication were later withdrawn and he became a Papal Vicar in 1341.
He co-ruled in Milan
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 ,...
with his nephew Azzone Visconti and his brother Giovanni, until Azzones's death in 1339. He also took part in the victorious battle of Parabiago
Battle of Parabiago
-Background:Lodrisio Visconti set out for Lombardy in the late January 1339, defeating the Milanese in Rivolta d'Adda, and later conquering Cernusco sul Naviglio, Sesto di Monza and Legnano, where he was joined by the Scaliger troops. Luchino set off to meet the Compagnia with his citizen militia...
against his other nephew, Lodrisio
Lodrisio Visconti
-Biography:He was the son of Pietro, of the powerful House of Visconti of Milan, and Antiochia Crivelli.After a military training under his father, he helped his cousin Matteo Visconti and the latter's son Galeazzo in the reconquest of Milan against the Torriani. Later, together with the other...
, who had set a mercenary army to capture Milan.
With an army of mercenaries from northern Europe, which he entrusted to the sons of his 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....
, he expanded the duchy, capturing Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
and buying 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....
from Obizzo III d'Este
Obizzo III d'Este
Obizzo III d'Este was the marquess of Ferrara from 1317 until his death.He was the son of Aldobrandino II d'Este and Alda Rangoni....
.
Luchino Visconti was a patron of both music and literature, having invited 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"...
to Milan.
He married three times: to Violante of Saluzzo, daughter of Thomas I of Saluzzo
Thomas I of Saluzzo
-Life and Reign:Thomas I was the fourth marquess of Saluzzo from 1244 to his death. He succeeded his father Manfred III. Under the reign of Thomas, Saluzzo blossomed, achieving a greatness which had eluded his ancestors. He crafted a state the borders of which remained unchanged for over two...
, then to Caterina Spinola, daughter of Obizzo Spinola, and, in 1349, to Isabella Fieschi, niece of Pope Adrian V
Pope Adrian V
Pope Adrian V , born Ottobuono de' Fieschi, was pope in 1276.-Biography:Ottobuono belonged to a feudal family of Liguria, the Fieschi, Counts of Lavagna....
, who gave Luchino Visconti his sole legitimate son, Luchino Novello, although others of the Visconti later disputed his parentage. He was a capable military commander and lord, but was also famous for his cruel behaviour. In January 1349 he discovered Isabella's unfaithful behaviour, and announced for her a terrible punishment. A few days later he was found poisoned, the people soon nicknaming his wife Isabella del veleno ("Isabella of poison").
He was succeeded by his nephews Bernabò, Galeazzo
Galeazzo II Visconti
-External links:*...
and Matteo II, whom he had exiled from Milan in 1346. The infidelities of Isabella were used by him and his relatives to oust Luchino Novello from the heritage.