Giovanni Visconti (archbishop of Milan)

Giovanni Visconti (* 1290, † October 5, 1354 in Milan ) from the Visconti family was a younger son of Matteo I Visconti, the lord of Milan, and therefore such provided for the service in the Catholic Church.

It was 1329, Cardinal, Archbishop of Milan in 1342 and succeeded his brother Luchino Visconti in 1349 also in the secular rule over the city. 1353 he was also still elected Doge of Genoa.

Giovanni was one of the remarkable characters of his time. He supported Francesco Petrarca, extended the rule of the Visconti Bologna (1350 ), Pope Clement VI resisted. (reigned 1342-1352 ) and annexed Genoa ( 1353 ); at his death he had extended the rule of his family over all of northern Italy except Piedmont, Verona, Mantua, Ferrara and Venice. The time of the Archbishop Giovanni Visconti were not rivals the della Torre more, also not dependent on imperial whim, but real sovereign rulers with the recognized power over Milan and its surroundings. The state was at Giovanni's death among the three sons Stefano Visconti, Matteo II, Galeazzo II and Bernabo, divided.