Giovanni Visconti (archbishop of Milan)

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For other uses, see Giovanni Visconti (disambiguation).
Giovanni Visconti
Cardinal

Giovanni Visconti (1290–1354) was an Italian Roman Catholic

cardinal, who was co-ruler in Milan and lord of other Italian cities.[1][2] He also was a military leader who fought against Florence, and used force to capture and hold other cities.[3]

Biography

He was the son of Matteo I Visconti and Bonacossa Borri.

Giovanni Visconti was elected archbishop by the Capitol of Milan in 1317, but Pope John XXII refused to confirm the election and instead raised Aicardus from Comodeia to that position.[2] In 1323 John excommunicated him with an accusation of heresy, and Visconti found an ally in the antipope Nicholas V,[2] who give him the title of cardinal. In 1331 he became bishop and lord of Novara,[1] and in 1339, after Aicardus' death, he triumphantly entered Milan, although Pope Clement VI only issued a bull confirming him in the archbishopric in 1342.[2] Officially, he was Archbishop of Milan from 1342 to 1354.[4]

Together with his brother

florins.[2] After Luchino's death, he associated in the lordship the sons of his other brother, Stefano, who were Matteo II, Bernabò and Galeazzo II.[2]

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 his nephew, Bernabò, in charge of the city in 1351.[3]

Afraid of his growing strength, in 1350 Florence organized a conference in

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.[3]

In 1351, he sent troops from Milan and Bologna, and from allies in

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.[3]

In 1352, Giovanni Visconti became lord of Genoa, and in the following year, he added Novara.[2] In 1353, Petrarch visited as his guest.[5]

Giovanni Visconti died 5 October 1354.[1]

Gallery

  • The House of Visconti coat of arms on the Archbishops' palace in Piazza Duomo bearing the initials (IO.<HANNES>) of the name of Archbishop Giovanni Visconti.
    The House of Visconti coat of arms on the Archbishops' palace in Piazza Duomo bearing the initials (IO.<HANNES>) of the name of Archbishop Giovanni Visconti.
  • Giovanni Visconti's tomb. The shared grave of Archbishops Ottone Visconti († 1295) and Giovanni Visconti is preserved inside the Milan Cathedral, Italy. It was sculpted by an anonymous Campionese master, and it originally stood in Santa Tecla church. A Latin poem is sculpted on it, signed by a Sabino de' Zamorei from Parma and dated 1354.
    Giovanni Visconti's tomb. The shared grave of Archbishops
    Milan Cathedral
    , Italy. It was sculpted by an anonymous Campionese master, and it originally stood in Santa Tecla church. A Latin poem is sculpted on it, signed by a Sabino de' Zamorei from Parma and dated 1354.

Ancestry

References

  1. ^ a b c Simeoni, Luigi (1937). "VISCONTI, Giovanni". Enciclopedia Italiana (in Italian). Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Tolfo, Maria Grazia; Colussi, Paolo (February 7, 2006). "Storia di Milano ::: I Visconti" [History of Milan::: The Visconti]. Storia di Milano (in Italian). Milano: Storiadimilano. Retrieved July 25, 2010.
  3. ^
    OCLC 75180629
    .
  4. OCLC 608151505
    .
  5. OCLC 469725245
    . Retrieved July 26, 2010.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Eusebio

1329–1354 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Bishop of Novara

1331–1342 		Succeeded by
Pietro Filargis
Preceded by
Archbishop of Milan

1342–1354 		Succeeded by
Italian nobility
Preceded by Lord of Milan
1349–1354 		Succeeded by
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