Houses of Visconti

Visconti is the family name of at least four Italian noble dynasties of the Middle Ages.[1]

History of the houses

The first one (chronologically) in the Republic of Pisa in the mid twelfth century who achieved prominence first in Pisa, then in Sardinia, where they became rulers of Gallura. The second family rose to power in Milan, where they ruled from 1277 to 1447, and where several collateral branches still exist. Two other Visconti families were from Piacenza and Vercelli.

Pope Gregory X, who reigned from 1271 to 1276, was a member of the Visconti family of Piacenza. The renowned film director Luchino Visconti was a scion of Visconti of Modrone, a branch of Visconti of Milan.

The Visconti of Gallura used a cock as their symbol (Gallura meaning 'land of cocks'), whereas the later Visconti of Milan used a biscione (a great serpent) swallowing a Saracen, or, according to another version, on the contrary giving life to a child. This symbol is still closely associated with Milan.

Any ancestral link between the Visconti family in Pisa-Gallura and the Visconti family in Milan has yet to be proven. Some members of the Visconti of Milan, Piacenza and Vercelli had the same first name, making difficult to distinguish the family they belonged to. [2]

Houses

References

  1. ↑ Ulwencreutz, Lars. Royal Families in Europe. p. 440.
  2. ↑ Filippini, Ambrogio (2014). I Visconti di Milano nei secoli XI e XII. Indagini tra le fonti (in Italian). Tangram Edizioni Scientifiche. p. 22. ISBN 9788864580968.
  3. ↑ Michelle, Hobart (2017). A Companion to Sardinian History, 500–1500. Brill. p. 100. ISBN 978-90-04-34123-4.
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