Matteo I Visconti | |
|---|---|
| Lord of Milan and Imperial Vicar | |
_1549.PNG) | |
| Lord of Milan | |
| Rule | 1295–1301, 1311–1322 |
| Predecessor | Ottone Visconti |
| Successor | Galeazzo I Visconti |
| Born | 1250 |
| Died | 24 June 1322 (aged 71–72) Crescenzago |
| Noble family | House of Visconti |
| Spouse(s) | Bonacossa Borri |
| Issue | |
| Father | Teobaldo Visconti |
| Mother | Anastasia Pirovano |
Matteo I Visconti (1250–1322) was the second of the Milanese Visconti family to govern Milan.[1] Matteo was born to Teobaldo Visconti and Anastasia Pirovano.
In 1287, Matteo's uncle Ottone Visconti, archbishop and first lord of Milan, nominated him as capitano del popolo of Milan. Following his uncle's death in 1295, he succeeded him as lord of Milan. Matteo was appointed numerous times as Imperial Vicar over the whole of Lombardy, while expanding, with the assistance of his sons, his sphere of influence to Piedmont, Emilia, Bologna, and Genoa. Caught between the Papal and Imperial power struggle over northern Italy, Matteo would renounce his imperial title as "General Lord of the Milanese People". Found guilty on the charge of necromancy, excommunicated, and facing a crusade, Matteo resigned his position and died months later. He was succeeded by his son Galeazzo I.