Ottone Visconti

Ottone Visconti (* 1207, † August 8, 1295 ) was Archbishop of Milan and the founder of the power of the Visconti family in Milan and Lombardy.

Ottone Visconti was a great-uncle Matteo I. Visconti and therefore probably a son Uberto Visconti († 1249 ). His ecclesiastical career began as assistant to the papal legate and Cardinal Ottaviano Ubaldini. In 1260 he was Podestà of Novara. Two years later, on July 22, 1262, Pope Urban IV appointed him Archbishop of Milan, in order to strengthen the position of Rome against the Milan Church and the della Torre family ( Torriani ) as leader of the People's Party, the Popolaren to this time controlled the city. Mastino della Torre, who was de facto master of the city since 1256, opposed the appointment and banished Ottone, so this the archdiocese for 15 years could not accept. With the help of standing in opposition to the Torriani aristocratic party he succeeded in 1277 in the Battle of Desio the decisive victory over Napoleone della Torre, who enabled him not only to take his diocese in possession, but also the control of the city to gain.

In 1287 he left Matteo Visconti to the Capitano del Popolo appoint, in 1291 appointed him to the Lord of Milan. Ottone then retired to the monastery of Chiaravalle Milanese, where he died on August 8, 1295.

The Battle of Desio, detail from a fresco in the courtroom of the castle Angera

Ottone Visconti returns to Milan, detail from a fresco in the courtroom of the castle Angera