Bernabò Visconti

Bernabò Visconti (1323 – 19 December 1385), son of Stefano Visconti, lived in exile after a plot against his uncle Luchino, until Archbishop Giovanni recalled him to Milan in 1349. In 1354 he inherited Milan with Matteo II and Galeazzo II and took the eastern lands facing the Scaligeri: Bergamo, Brescia and Cremona. Matteo died in 1355, rumoured poisoned by his brothers.

Bernabò fought almost constant wars against Pope Urban V, Florence, Venice and Savoy; in 1363 the pope declared him a heretic and proclaimed a crusade, and the 1364 peace cost him Bologna but brought half a million florins and lifted his excommunication.

His rule ended on 6 May 1385, when his nephew Gian Galeazzo seized him and took power. He died in Trezzo castle that December, apparently poisoned.