Rusconi

The Rusconi, also called Rusca or Ruschi, were a noble house of Como, attested from the tenth century, who led the city's Ghibelline faction against the Guelph Vitani. In 1276 Loterio Rusca was acclaimed Lord of the People, exiled the bishop and defeated Ottone Visconti, securing several lordships and counties by the peace of Lomazzo.

The family peaked under Franchino I, who crushed the Vitani in 1313 and ruled Como for some twenty years. In 1335 Azzone Visconti annexed Como, and in 1340 Luchino and Giovanni Visconti took Bellinzona after a long siege, leaving the Rusconi as their officials and feudatories.

After the Visconti crisis of 1402 Franchino II failed to revive the signoria and retreated to Lugano. The family exchanged its claims on Como for Locarno, which the Swiss Confederation took in 1513, leaving only Luino.