Visconti, Giovanni (Archbishop)

Giovanni was the third son of Matteo I Visconti and Bonacosa Borri. He devoted himself to a church career and in 1317 was elected Milan Signoria Bishop of Milan. However, Pope John XXII overturned this decision, because the Visconti family traditionally belonged to the political group of the Ghibellines , opposed to the papal throne, and appointed Aicardo di Comodeus as bishop. In 1323, Pope John XXII excommunicated the entire Visconti family, who opposed him on the side of Emperor Louis IV . After weaning, Giovanni became an ally of the antipope Nicholas V , who in 1329 elevated him to the rank of cardinal .

In 1329, Giovanni's nephew, Atzone Visconti , acquired the title of ruler of Milan from the emperor and began to restore power in the possessions of a kind. In 1331, Giovanni became bishop and ruler of the city of Novara , and in 1339, after the death of Aicard, he returned to Milan, although he was officially recognized as archbishop of Milan only in 1342 by the bull of Pope Clement VI . In the same 1339, the childless Atzone died, and the signoria of Milan and other cities appointed Giovanni and his brother Luchino as co-rulers. State affairs was mainly dealt with by Lukino, and Giovanni was in charge of church affairs. In 1341, Visconti was able to restore relations with the papal throne. Benedict XII overturned all decisions against the rulers of Milan in exchange for their recognition of papal authority.

In the early 1340s, a group of influential citizens of Milan, dissatisfied with the rule of Lukino, tried to overthrow the rulers of the city. The conspiracy was exposed, and among the conspirators were the nephews of Lukino and Giovanni, Matteo , Galeazzo and Bernabo , whom Luchino expelled from Milan. Having dealt with internal enemies, Lukino significantly expanded his possessions, adding to them the cities of Bobbio , Asti , Parma , Alessandria and Torton . In 1349, after the death of Lukino, Giovanni became the sole ruler of Milan. He allowed the nephews to return and declared them his heirs. In the last years of his reign, Giovanni acquired from the Pepoli family of Bologna and seized power in Genoa , weakened by the attacks of Venice and Aragon , although these acquisitions did not last long under the authority of Visconti.

Giovanni Visconti died in 1354, his possessions were divided between his three nephews.

• Jane Black. Absolutism in Renaissance Milan: Plenitude of Power under the Visconti and the Sforza 1329-1535. - Oxford University Press, 2009 .-- 300 p. - ISBN 978-0199565290 .

• Storia di Milano. I Visconti (Italian)