The Parabiago Massacre: Lodrisio’s Gamble for the Throne
LODRISIO VISCONTI (Louis Visconti, Luigi Visconti) of Milan. Lord of Castelseprio, Crenna, Besnate, and Crema. Cousin of Marco Visconti.
Born: 1280 ca.
Death: 1364, April
| Year, Month | State, Mercenary company | Opponent | Command | Area of Activity | Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts |
| ……… | Lombardy | Serves for the Ghibellines with his father Pietro. | |||
| 1310 | |||||
| ……… | Piedmont | Exiled by the della Torre, he goes to Asti to meet the brother of Emperor Henry of Luxembourg (Enrico di Lussemburgo). | |||
| Dec. | Lombardy | Returns to Milan with relatives in the emperor’s entourage. He is obliged to reconcile with the city’s Guelphs. | |||
| 1311 | Ghibellines | Guelphs | Lombardy | He holds the office of podestà in Bergamo. He allies with the Suardi to drive the Bonghi, the Rivola, and part of the Colleoni (opponents of the Ghibelline faction) out of the city. | |
| 1312 | |||||
| Apr. | Emilia | He is appointed imperial vicar of Piacenza. | |||
| 1313 | |||||
| Feb. | Milan | Guelphs | Lombardy | With Werner of Homberg (Guarnieri di Homberg), he attacks the Guelphs who are found billeted in disorder at Ponte San Pietro: 1300 men among the opponents are killed. | |
| 1314 | Lombardy | At the end of the year, he is tasked by Matteo Visconti, along with other Milanese nobles, to settle the disputes separating the Guelphs and Ghibellines in Pavia. | |||
| 1315 | |||||
| Apr. | Lombardy | He is attacked by the exiles of Bergamo, by whom he is defeated in the suburbs. Having received 500 men-at-arms and 1000 infantry as reinforcements from Matteo Visconti, he defeats Ponzino Ponzoni at Ponte San Pietro. He forces the opponents to retreat with the cavalry to Cologno al Serio. | |||
| May | Lombardy | At the head of 1000 infantry and 200 crossbowmen, he surprises the defenders of Nembro through guile. | |||
| 1316 | |||||
| May | Piedmont | In the middle of the month, he is appointed podestà of Vercelli. He maintains this position until the end of the year. | |||
| 1317 | Lombardy | Guarding Bergamo. | |||
| 1319 | |||||
| Feb. | Piedmont | Again podestà of Vercelli. He leaves this position only in April of the following year. | |||
| 1322 | |||||
| June | Lombardy | At the end of the month, Galeazzo Visconti becomes lord of Milan. | |||
| Nov. Dec. | Milan | Church | Lombardy | While Milan is besieged by the papal forces, Visconti (Lodrisio) conspires with the Milanese nobility and some constables of German infantry against his cousin Galeazzo Visconti: he proposes to hand over his relative to the Cardinal Legate Bertrand du Pouget (Bertrando del Poggetto). He promises his soldiers the sack of Monza for three days with the exception of the church of San Giovanni; he brings siege engines to the walls, overcomes the first defenses, and penetrates the locality, which is sacked. The Guelphs of Pieve d’Incino, led by Tignacca and Strazia Parravicini, also try to attack Monza; they are introduced into the castle by their partisans barricaded in the city. Visconti asks for reinforcements from the Ghibellines Franchino Rusca and Calcino Tornielli; he besieges and captures the castle, which is likewise plundered. Tignacca Parravicini is captured and will be ransomed for 1200 florins. Lodrisio Visconti proclaims himself podestà of Monza. He returns to Milan and with the German soldiers incites the city to rebel; Galeazzo Visconti is forced to flee to Lodi. He remains at the head of the city government with Guglielmo Pusterla, Simone Crivelli, and Francesco da Garbagnate. Marco Visconti returns to Milan and, with the help of German mercenaries tired of the city’s anarchy, disperses the militias of Lodrisio Visconti. The two Visconti meet; Lodrisio is convinced to support the cause of Galeazzo Visconti, the only one that can allow him to satisfy his own ambitions. Simone Crivelli and Francesco da Garbagnate are expelled from the city. | |
| 1324 | |||||
| Feb. | After the Battle of Vaprio d’Adda, he reconciles with Marco Visconti; still hostile to Galeazzo Visconti, he does not hesitate to demand the payment of his salary from the commune of Monza. The lord of Milan, informed, forbids following his requests. | ||||
| 1327 | |||||
| July | Trentino | He accuses Galeazzo Visconti of treason before Emperor Louis the Bavarian (Ludovico il Bavaro). He is also arrested along with all his relatives (Galeazzo Visconti with his brothers Luchino and Giovanni and his young son Azzone). Galeazzo is imprisoned in the Forni of Monza, whose name derives from the presence of wells into which prisoners are lowered after being tortured. Lodrisio Visconti is soon released with Marco Visconti upon payment of a heavy ransom (rumored to be 50,000 florins). | |||
| …….. | Lombardy | He settles in the Seprio and his possessions. In Crenna, near Gallarate, he has a large castle built, making himself hated by the population because of the taxes he imposes. He begins to plot against his nephew Azzone. The relative has the castle of Crenna besieged and destroyed. | |||
| 1338 | |||||
| July | Lombardy, Veneto | Jealous of the authority of his nephew Azzone Visconti, he recruits 250 German horsemen, formerly in his nephew’s pay. He begins to plot against his relative. With the discovery of the conspiracy, he leaves Milan and with the favor of the lord of Como Franceschino Rusca, flees to Vicenza. He enters the service of the lord of Verona Mastino della Scala. | |||
| 1339 | |||||
| Jan. | Mercenary company | Milan | Veneto | At the end of the conflict that pitted the Scaligeri against the Visconti, he is in Vicenza with German bands and the soldiers of both contenders. Mastino della Scala gives Lodrisio Visconti a certain sum with which he convinces 2500 horsemen, 800 infantry, and 200 crossbowmen (mostly Swiss) to follow him against Azzone Visconti. In this way, the Company of Saint George (Compagnia di San Giorgio) is formed, in which Count Lando (Conte Lando), Malerba, and Werner von Urslingen (Guarnieri di Urslingen) serve. Calcino Tornielli da Vergano Novarese and Vincenzo Suardi support his action. | |
| Feb. | Veneto and Lombardy | He crosses the Adige, throws himself into the Brescia area, crosses the Oglio, traverses the Bergamo area and the Adda; at Rivolta d’Adda, he puts to flight the Visconti captain Pinalla Aliprandi, who with 500 men-at-arms tries in vain to block his path on the river. Visconti aims for Monza and arrives at Cernusco sul Naviglio and Sesto San Giovanni on the Lambro; from there he moves to Castelseprio where he recruits more troops and supplies himself with provisions. He enters Legnano and extorts money from its inhabitants. Finally, he stops; thousands of refugees enter Milan; Azzone Visconti, immobilized by gout, entrusts the defense to his uncle Luchino. 700 horsemen remain with the lord of Milan to guard the walls of the capital. Azzone Visconti moves against Lodrisio; meanwhile, Luchino Visconti faces the company at the head of 1800 horsemen (800 Milanese and 2000 Germans commanded by Rinaldo di Lourich) and 10,000 infantry. Luchino Visconti divides his troops into two columns. One squadron (800 horsemen and 3000 infantry) quarters at Parabiago, while the rest of the Visconti forces, with Luchino himself, camp further back at Nerviano. Lodrisio Visconti has Parabiago sacked; provisions for his troops begin to run low. He arranges these in three lines so as to surround the camp at three points; he attacks the Milanese at night, led by Giovannello Visconti and Giovanni Fieschi, brother-in-law of Luchino; the opponents are surprised in their sleep; the vanguard is routed; Fieschi is killed with 300 horsemen and many infantry. At dawn the following day, he leaves 400 horsemen at Parabiago to guard the booty and prisoners and heads with 1500 armed men towards Nerviano. He sends Malerba with 700 horsemen towards Milan to garrison the banks of the Olona in order to cut off the enemy’s potential retreat to the capital. Luchino Visconti then leaves Milan and advances two ranks: his own, 1500 German horsemen strong, and a second led by Ettore di Panigo and the Sienese Roberto Villani (on behalf of the Estensi), composed of 700 Italian horsemen (200 Bolognese and 300 Savoyard). Ettore Panigo defeats the mercenaries who camped in Parabiago; Lodrisio Visconti clashes with the rank led by Luchino Visconti in a battle that lasts six hours amidst snow and frost. Both contenders fly the Visconti viper with eagles. Their battle cries differ, however: on one side “Miles Sancti Ambrosii!” and on the other the captain’s name “Ruithband Henrich!”. The Milanese forces, superior in numbers, are torn to pieces by the Germans: Luchino Visconti is unhorsed and, once captured, tied to a walnut tree. Meanwhile, the horsemen of Ettore di Panigo intervene, finding Lodrisio Visconti’s men in disorder while searching for booty and fugitives. In the clash, 4000 horsemen and many more infantry die on both sides (700 horsemen and 3000 infantry among the Milanese). 2100 horsemen are captured. Visconti flees; the flooded Adda forces him to stop. He then surrenders as a prisoner to his nephew Giovannello with two sons; he will be imprisoned, with some freedom of movement, for twelve years in an iron cage in the castle of San Colombano al Lambro. It is said that the victory was favored by Saint Ambrose (Sant’Ambrogio): hence the custom of painting the saint with a whip in hand. Azzone Visconti has a church built in Parabiago dedicated to Sant’Ambrogio della Vittoria, behind whose main altar a marble slab is placed with an inscription praising the success achieved. | |||
| 1356 | |||||
| Nov. | Milan | League | Captain General | Emilia and Lombardy | In 1351 he is released by Archbishop John Visconti (Giovanni Visconti) from his prison in the castle of San Colombano al Lambro. His son Ambrogio, moreover, marries Margherita Visconti, natural daughter of the new lord of Milan. In 1356 he has command of the Visconti barbute that must defend Parma from the troops of the League led by Count Lando (Conte Lando). Joining Pandolfo Malatesta and Francesco d’Este, he heads against the opponents camped at Magenta; when they retreat, Visconti, at the head of 6000 horsemen, camps near Casorate Primo. He issues a challenge for a pitched battle. The commander of the League’s army, the Bishop of Augsburg Astorgio Markwald, orders the crossing of the Ticino at night to reach Pavia; Lodrisio Visconti prevents him by sending Valeriano Castracani with 300 horsemen to block the ford for the opponents. In the morning, Markwald, Count Lando (Conte Lando), Dondaccio da Piacenza, Raimondo Lupo, and 1500 barbute have yet to cross the Ticino. Visconti, who has positioned his men on the road so tightly as to block the path for the opponents, has them attacked by infantry hidden all around the road and in the nearby vineyards; he orders them to strike especially the mounts. When these are almost all struck down, he orders the final assault: the enemies are defeated within three hours; 600 prisoners are taken, including the main commanders and almost all the constables. |
| 1357 | |||||
| Jan. | Piedmont | He loses the castle of Novara to Count Lando (Conte Lando), Azzo da Correggio, and the Marquis John of Montferrat (Giovanni di Monferrato). | |||
| 1364 | |||||
| Apr. | Lombardy | He continues to live at the court of Visconti; his son Ambrogio enters the service of Bernabò Visconti. He dies of illness in Milan at the beginning of the month. He is given a solemn funeral. To officiate his funeral, Bernabò Visconti has a tournament suspended. He marries Costantina Malaspina and Vincenza Cavalcabò. |
Quotes/ Sources
-“Fu il primo..che desse loro (ai mercenari stranieri) forma di potenze strane, terribili, feroci, le quali fatte sostegno all’ altre già miseramente disordinate di papi, di re, d’imperatori, correan dietro ad un’insegna qual ch’ella fosse, e battagliavano dove più larghe venissero le paghe, più certo lo sperpero ed il saccheggio.” ODORICI
-“Huomo destro in arme.” BUGATI
-“De quo dici potest, quod numquam fuit aliquis Civis in Lombardia tantae audaciae, nec tantae fortitudinis, qui ad militum numquam expavit occursum, nihil; quod libuit, perpetrare pertimuit.” FIAMMA
-“Vir in armis, et bellis strenuus et industrius.” MORIGI
-“Tanto celebre per le militari sue imprese e varie vicende.” ROSMIMI
-“Uomo cattivo.” I. CANTU’
-Con Niccolò Piccinino, Uguccione della Faggiuola, Castruccio Castracani, Giovanni Acuto, Facino Cane, Bartolomeo Colleoni, il Carmagnola “Furono capi notissimi per le loro imprese.” AGOSTINI
-“Notevole uomo d’arme.” RENDINA
-“Intrigante, maneggione, sulfureo, abbinava a tali doti il carisma del grande combattente, astuto e audace..La battaglia di Casorate fu uno dei primi esempi italiani in cui si ribaltò l’usanza medievale secondo la quale, in uno scontro in campo aperto, a fare la voce grossa fossero solamente i contingenti di cavalleria. Al contrario, la parte del leone fu interpretata dalla fanteria.” STAFFA
-“Nelle scelte politiche di Lodrisio non bisogna vedere esclusivamente cieca vendetta nei confronti dei parenti; piuttosto, la sua vicenda mostra alcuni interessanti aspetti degli esponenti delle linee “minori” dei Visconti, che verosimilmente non si sentivano affatto tali, che potevano fare affidamento su estese amicizie nel contado e in città (che forse Lodrisio non fu in grado di mobilitare pienamente) e che, infine, dovevano percepire come tirannica l’impostazione in termini dinastica data dai parenti “maggiori” alla signoria su Milano.” BOZZI
“Eresse il bellissimo castello di Crenna, presso Gallarate, gravando moltissimo gli uomini del Seprio. Egli si comportò con crudeltà verso sua moglie, dei Marchesi Malaspina,, e giunse a tali eccessi ch’ella fuggì a Verona.” AZARIO
-“Una pia leggenda corse subito: durante la battaglia si era vista in alto la figura di Sant’Ambrogio in atto di percuotere con la sua sferza i sovvertitori della sua città. I Visconti erano dunque i rappresentanti dell’antico vescovo? E tra Parabiago e Nerviano Giovanni Visconti mise la prima pietra del tempio che significasse la gratitudine a Dio per tanta protezione: per lunghi secoli i Milanesi, capitanati dal vicario di Provvisione e dai Dodici, si recarono il 21 febbraio a ringraziarvi Sant’Ambrogio che aveva salvato la Signoria dei Visconti e la loro città.” COGNASSO
-“La sorte di Lodrisio Visconti..fu quella del parente povero. Ammesso a far parte del clan di Matteo (Visconti) in esso ebbe tuttavia una parte di secondo piano: era chiaro che il potere da Matteo sarebbe passato ai figli e poi ai figli dei suoi figli. Per lui, che il destino aveva voluto appartenesse a un ramo cadetto, del potere non restavano che le briciole: qualche feudo in provincia forse, qualche privilegio, una discreta rendita, ma nulla di più. E Lodrisio non si sentiva l’animo del gregario; si riteneva, forse a ragione, un protagonista: valoroso, scaltro, crudele, ambiziosissimo, egli rimase nell’ombra, servizievole comprimario della politica di Matteo e di Galeazzo, fino a quando credette di poter tentare la sorte…(La battaglia di Parabiago) La versione ufficiale rimane quella dell’intervento del Santo risplendente e fustigante e l’episodio fu riportato nei messali ambrosiani. Per due secoli i milanesi continuarono a ringraziare il loro patrono di averli liberati dall’empio Lodrisio. Finché su quei messali caddero gli occhi sospettosi di san Carlo Borromeo (1582) e tutti finirono nella spazzatura.” PACCA
Featured image: wikimedia
