General Notes

Note: Early head of the powerful dynasty of the Visconti, who foralmost two centruries ruled Milan.  Installed as captian of the people in 1287 with the help of hisgreat-uncle Ottone Visconti, archbishop of Milan, Matteosucceeded in extending his six-month term to five yers and inbeing several times reelected. In 1294 the German king Adolf ofNassau made him imperial vicar in Milan. Exiled in 1302, whenthe Della Torre family, rulers of the city in the first half ofthe 13th century, returned to power, he recovered Milan in 1310with the aid of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII. His positionwas strengthened by the Emperor's sojourn in Italy, and by 1315he ruled through his own military efforts and those of his sonsthe important north Italian cities of Piacenza, Bergamo, Lodi,Como, Cremona, Alessandria, Tortona, Pavia, Vercelli, andNorvara. Opposed in his drive for power by Pope John XXII,Matteo in 1317 renounced the title of imperical vicar to placatethe Pope, nevertheless, excommunicated him in 1320, accusing theVisconti of heresy and witchcraft, and declared an interdictagainst the city. In May 1322 Matteo abdicated in favour of hisson, Galeazzo I and died a month later. [Britannica].