Name Gian Visconti | ||
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Assassinated May 16, 1412, Milan, Italy Cousins Albert III, Duke of Bavaria Grandparents Bernabo Visconti, Bianca of Savoy, Beatrice Regina della Scala, Galeazzo II Visconti Similar People Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Filippo Maria Visconti, Galeazzo II Visconti, Bernabo Visconti, Bianca Maria Visconti | ||
Gian Maria Visconti (or Giovanni Maria; 7 September 1388 – 16 May 1412) was the second Visconti Duke of Milan, the son of Gian Galeazzo Visconti and Caterina Visconti.
Contents
Facts
- Gian Maria Visconti (or Giovanni Maria) was born on 7 September 1388 and died on 16 May 1412.
- He was the second Visconti Duke of Milan.
- He was the son of Gian Galeazzo Visconti and Caterina Visconti.
- He assumed the title at thirteen, under his mother's regency.
- The Duchy of Milan disintegrated during his rule, with the condottiero Facino Cane prevailing among various contending parties for its lands.
- Due to Gian Maria's cruelty, Facino Cane managed to create in him doubts about Caterina, who was imprisoned in Monza, where she died on 17 October 1404, probably murdered.
- Gian Maria was famous for his dogs, which were trained to slaughter men.
- In 1408, he married Antonia Malatesta of Cesena, daughter of Carlo I, lord of Rimini. They had no children.
- Amidst Facino Cane's illness, a Milanese Ghibelline plot led to Duke Gian Maria's assassination, paving the way for his brother Filippo Maria, endorsed by the dying Facino, to succeed him.
Biography
He assumed the title at thirteen, under his mother's regency. The Duchy of Milan soon disintegrated: among the various parties contending its lands, the condottiero Facino Cane prevailed.
Taking advantage of Gian Maria's cruelty, he managed to create in him doubts about Caterina, who was imprisoned in Monza, where she died on 17 October 1404, probably murdered. The duke was famous for his dogs, which were trained to slaughter men.
In 1408, Gian Maria married Antonia Malatesta of Cesena, daughter of Carlo I, lord of Rimini. They had no issue.
A plot by a party of Milanese Ghibellines was raised against the Duke when Facino Cane was ill in Pavia, and Gian Maria was assassinated in front of the church of San Gottardo in Milan. The dying Facino had his officers swear to support Filippo Maria, Gian Maria's brother, who in fact succeeded him.