Page 24 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

22  INTRODUCING MILAN

The Visconti and Sforza

The period of the Signorie, or family lordships,
from the late 13th to the early 16th century, was Gian Galeazzo
one of the most successful in the history of Milan. imprisoned his
uncle Bernabò in
The Visconti dynasty succeeded – especially 1385 and became
during Gian Galeazzo’s rule – in expanding the sole ruler of Milan.
city’s territories, albeit for a brief span of time. He was made a
The Sforza dukedom is best known for the duke by Emperor
Wenceslaus ten
cultural and artistic splendour commissioned years later.
by Lodovico il Moro, who invited the leading Umberto
artists and architects of the time to his court. † before 1248

OTTONE Obizzo Andreotto
Archbishop of Milan
Lord of Milan
(1277–8, 1282–5)
† 1295
Tebaldo
Ottone † 1276
Archbishop of Milan in 1262,
he was recognized lord of
the city in 1277, after the MATTEO
battle of Desio. Lord of Milan (1291–
1302, 1311–22)
† 1322

Marco GIOVANNI Stefano GALEAZZO I LUCHINO
† 1329 Archbishop of Milan Lord of Arona Lord of Piacenza Lord of Milan
Lord of Milan (1339) † 1327 Lord of Milan (1339)
† 1354 (1322–27) † 1349
† 1328

BERNABÒ GALEAZZO II MATTEO II AZZONE
Lord of Milan Lord of Milan Lord of Lord of Milan
(1354–85) (1354) Milan (1329–39)
† 1378 (1354)
Visconti
Caterina After defeating the Della Torre (Torriani)
Wife of Gian Galeazzo family in 1277, the Visconti ruled Milan until
† 1404
1447, and from 1395 were dukes of the city.
GIAN GALEAZZO Their policy centred around systematic
Count of Virtue territorial expansion. Under Gian Galeazzo
Lord of Milan (1378) the duchy reached its maximum extent, even
Duke of Milan (1395–1402)
Married Caterina di Bernabò conquering Perugia and Siena in central Italy.

GIAN MARIA FILIPPO MARIA
Duke of Milan Duke of Milan
(1402–12) (1412–47)

Bianca Maria
Wife of Francesco Sforza
Bianca Maria Visconti and Francesco Sforza Duke of Milan
The sole heir to the duchy, Bianca Maria married (1450–66)
Francesco Sforza in 1441 and then helped her
husband to take over power in Milan.
† indicates year of death

022-023_EW_Milan.indd 22 20/10/16 3:19 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
History Portrait template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.2)
Date 20th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm