Coat of Arms of the Visconti of Milan depicting the biscione, a serpent who appears to be swallowing a human. The Biscione (Italian for ‘large Grass snake ’ also known as the Vipera (‘ viper ’ or in Milanese as the Bissa) The serpent prior to biblical times was a sign of goodness. The human in the mouth of the snake is proposed to be a Saracen who were perceived as evil in Christian history. The symbol therefore depicts the triumph of Good over Evil.

Visconti was the family name of two important Italian noble dynasties of the Middle Ages. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Nobility is a government-privileged title which may be either hereditary (see Hereditary titles) or for a lifetime Two distinct Visconti families are known: 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 and most important one rose to power in Milan, where they left a permanent historical mark ruling the city from 1277 to 1447 and leaving several collateral branches still extant. The Republic of Pisa was a ''de facto'' independent state centered on the Tuscany city of Pisa during the late tenth and eleventh centuries Sardinia (sɑrˈdɪnɪə Sardegna Sardigna or Sardinnya is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily) The Giudicato of Gallura was one of four Sardinian Giudicati of the Middle Ages. Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy.

Any link between the two families in Pisa-Gallura and Milan has yet to be proved.

Visconti of Pisa and Sardinia

The first Visconti of note in Pisa was Alberto, who bore the title patrician. Patricianship, the quality of belonging to a patriciate, began in the ancient world where cities such as Ancient Rome had a class of Patrician families Alberto's son, Eldizio, bore the titles patrician and consul from 1184 to 1185. Consul (abbrev cos; Latin plural consules) was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire It was Eldizio's sons, Lamberto and Ubaldo I, who brought the family to the height of its influence in Pisa and Sardinia. Lamberto Visconti di Eldizio (died 1225 was the Judge of Gallura from 1206 when he married the heiress Elena, to his own death Ubaldo I Visconti (died 1230 was the De jure overlord of the Giudicato of Cagliari from 1217 Both of them carried the title of patrician and each served a term as podestà. For information on the phantom island of the same name see Podesta (island.

In 1212, there was complete anarchy in Pisa as various factions, pro- and anti-Visconti, warred over the political authority. In mid-January 1213, William I of Cagliari led a coalition of anti-Visconti forces to victory in battle near Massa over the combined forces of Lucca and the Visconti under Ubaldo. William I (c 1160&ndash1214 regnal name of Salusio IV) was the ''giudice'' of Cagliari from 1188 to his death Massa is a town and comune in Tuscany, Italy, the administrative centre of the Province of Massa-Carrara. Lucca is a city in Tuscany, northern central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plain near (but not on the Ligurian Sea Afterwards, Pisa divided power between four rectores, one of which was a Visconti. The word rector ("ruler" from the Latin regere and Rector meaning "Teacher" In Latin has a number of different meanings but all of them indicate an academic The Visconti of Sardinia continued to take a part in Pisan politics to the end of the century, but their influence there was greatly diminished after 1213.

In Sardinia Eldizio had married a daughter of Torchitorio III of Cagliari, who became the mother of Lamberto and Ubaldo. Torchitorio III (died after 1188 born Peter, was the Judge of Cagliari from October 1163 to his deposition and arrest in 1188, after which In 1207, Lamberto married Elena, the heiress of Barisone II of Gallura, thus securing control over the northeastern corner of Sardinia with his capital at Civita. Elena (died 1218 was the daughter and successor of Barisone II of Gallura and was named after her mother of the Lacon family. Barisone II (died 1203 was the Judge of Gallura from about 1170 to his death for the Italian commune see Civita Italy. Civita is a Norwegian liberal Think tank which gains support from among In 1215, he and Ubaldo established their hegemony over the Giudicato of Cagliari in the south of the island as well. The Giudicato of Cagliari was one of the four Sardinian Giudicati of the Middle Ages. Through advantageous marriages, Lamberto's son, Ubaldo II, even secured power in Logudoro for a time. Ubaldo II Visconti, son of Lamberto di Eldizio and Elena de Lacon, was the Judge of Gallura from 1225 to his death in 1238 The Giudicato of Logudoro (also known as the Giudicato of Torres after Porto Torres) is a historical state which covered the northwest portion By mid century, Pisan authority was unopposed in Sardinia thanks to the Visconti, who were allied by marriage with the other great families of Pisa (Gherardeschi and Capraia) and Sardinia (Lacon and Bas-Serra). Capraia, called Capraria in ancient times is an Island of Italy, part of the Tuscan Archipelago, off the northwest coast belonging to the The Viscounty of Besalú, or Bas (from the Latin Basso) was the sub-comital authority in the county of Besalú during the Middle Ages

The Visconti of Gallura used a cock as their symbol (Gallura meaning 'land of cocks'), whereas the later Visconti of Milan used a serpent swallowing a Saracen, or, according to another version, on the contrary giving life to a child. The Biscione (Italian for ‘large Grass snake ’ also known as the Vipera (‘ viper ’ or in Milanese as the Bissa) This symbol is still closely connected with Milan. Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy.

Visconti rulers of Gallura

• Lambert (1207 – 1225)
• Ubaldo (1225 – 1238)
• John (1238 – 1275)
• Nino (1275 – 1298)
• Joanna (1298 – 1308)

Visconti of Milan

The effectual founder of the Visconti of Milan, Ottone, wrested control of the city from the rival Della Torre family in 1277. Lamberto Visconti di Eldizio (died 1225 was the Judge of Gallura from 1206 when he married the heiress Elena, to his own death Ubaldo II Visconti, son of Lamberto di Eldizio and Elena de Lacon, was the Judge of Gallura from 1225 to his death in 1238 John (or Giovanni) Visconti (died 1275 was the Judge of Gallura from 1238 to his death Ugolino Visconti (died 1298 better known as Nino, was the Giudice of Gallura from 1275 or 1276 to his death Joanna (or Giovanna) Visconti (died 1339 was the titular Judge (''Giudicessa'' of Gallura from 1298 Ottone Visconti (1207 &ndash August 8, 1295) was an Archbishop of Milan, a member of the Visconti family and the founder of their rule in The Della Torre (or Torriani, Italian for "Of the Tower" were an Italian noble family who rose to prominence in Lombardy during the 12th-14th centuries

The family, once risen to power, loved to claim legendary versions about its origins. Fancy genealogies were "cool" at the time, while established facts reflect quite sober and almost humble beginnings in the lesser nobility. The branch of the Visconti family that came to rule Milan was originally entrusted with the lordship of Massino (nowadays Massino Visconti), a hamlet in lovely position over Lago Maggiore, where they were in charge since the twelfth century as archiepiscopal vassals. Massino Visconti is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Novara in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 110 km northeast Lake Maggiore (in Italian: Lago Maggiore or Verbano) is the most westerly of the three large prealpine lakes of Italy and the second

It is thought that the Milanese Visconti had their origins in a family of capitanei (cfr. the modern surname Cattaneo) whom archbishop Landulf of Milan (978-998) had granted certain feudal holdings known as caput plebis (at the head, likely in geographical and not hierarchical sense, of the pieve, an ecclesiastical lesser subdivision). A document from the year 1157 says the Visconti were holders of the captaincy of Marliano (today Mariano Comense); late chronicler Galvano Fiamma confirms this version. Mariano Comense is a town in the Province of Como, Lombardy, Italy. Decades before that, surely before 1070, they had gained the public office of viscount, to be later inherited down the male line (Biscaro, ASL, "I maggiori dei Visconti di Milano"). A viscount ( VAI-count is a member of the European Nobility whose comital title ranks usually as in the British peerage, above a Soon the family dispersed into several branches, some of which were entrusted fiefs far off from the Lombard metropolis; the one which gave the Medieval lords of Milan is said to be descended from Umberto (d. A metropolis (from the Greek μήτηρ mētēr meaning 'mother' and πόλις pólis meaning 'city/town' is a big City, in most cases with in the first half of the 12th century).

The Visconti ruled Milan until the early Renaissance, first as Lords, then, from 1395, with the mighty Gian Galeazzo who almost managed to unify Northern Italy and Tuscany, as Dukes. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere Gian Galeazzo Visconti (November 1351 – September 3, 1402) son of Galeazzo II Visconti and Bianca di Savoia, was the first Duke of Milan Tuscany (Toscana is a region in Italy. It has an area of 22990 km² and a population of about 3 The Duchy of Milan was a state in northern Italy from 1394 to 1797 Visconti rule in Milan ended with the death of Filippo Maria Visconti in 1447. Filippo Maria Visconti, ( September 23, 1392 &ndash August 13, 1447) was ruler of Milan from 1412 to 1447 He was succeeded, after a short-lived republic, by his son-in-law Francesco I Sforza, who established the reign of the House of Sforza. The Golden Ambrosian Republic (Italian Aurea Repubblica Ambrosiana; 1447&ndash1450 was a short-lived government founded in Milan by members of the University of Francesco I Sforza ( July 23, 1401 - March 8, 1466) was an Italian Condottiero, the founder of the Sforza dynasty in Sforza was a ruling family of Renaissance Italy, based in Milan.

Visconti rulers of Milan

• Ottone Visconti, Archbishop of Milan (1277 – 1294)
• Matteo I Visconti (1294 – 1302; 1311 – 1322)
• Galeazzo I Visconti (1322 – 1327)
• Azzone Visconti (1329 – 1339)
• Luchino I Visconti (1339 – 1349)
• Bernabò Visconti (1349 – 1385)
• Galeazzo II Visconti (1349 – 1378)
• Matteo II Visconti (1349 – 1355)
• Gian Galeazzo Visconti (1378 – 1402) {1st Duke of Milan & nephew of Bernabò Visconti}
• Giovanni Maria Visconti (1402 – 1412)
• Giacomo Visconti (1412 – 1447)

Visconti of Milan family tree

Visconti of Modrone

From Uberto, brother of Matteo I, came the lateral branch of Dukes of Modrone. To this family belonged Luchino Visconti, one of the most prominent film directors of Italian neorealist cinema. Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo ( November 2, 1906 - March 17, 1976) was an Italian Italian neorealism is a style of film characterized by stories set amongst the poor and Working class, filmed on location frequently using nonprofessional Actors

Other members

• Pope Gregory X (1210–1276) was born Teobaldo Visconti in Piacenza. Pope Piacenza ( Placentia in Latin and old-fashioned English, Piasëinsa in the local dialect of Emiliano-Romagnolo) is a
• Valentina Visconti, elder daughter of Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duchess of Orléans and grandmother of the King Louis XII of France, who conquered Milan as her heir