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Gian Maria Visconti
Duke of Milan
Giovanni Maria Visconti - Le vite de i dodeci visconti che signoreggiarono Milano (1645).jpg
Duke of Milan
Reign 3 September 1402 – 16 May 1412
Predecessor Gian Galeazzo
Successor Filippo Maria
Born (1388-09-07)7 September 1388
Abbiategrasso
Died 16 May 1412(1412-05-16) (aged 23)
Milan
Spouse Antonia Malatesta of Cesena
House Visconti
Father Gian Galeazzo Visconti
Mother Caterina Visconti

Gian Maria Visconti (or Giovanni Maria; 7 September 1388 – 16 May 1412) was the second Visconti Duke of Milan, the son of Gian Galeazzo Visconti and Caterina Visconti. He was known to be cruel and was eventually assassinated. He had no children.

Biography

Borgognone fresk
Gian Galeazzo Visconti, with his three sons, presents a model of the Certosa di Pavia to the Virgin (Certosa di Pavia).

Visconti was born in Abbiategrasso. Following his father's death, he assumed the title of duke at the age of thirteen, under his mother's regency. The Duchy of Milan soon disintegrated: among the various parties contending its lands, the condottiero Facino Cane prevailed.

Taking advantage of Gian Maria's cruelty, he managed to create in him doubts about Caterina, who was imprisoned in Monza, where she died on 17 October 1404, probably murdered. The duke was famous for his dogs, which were trained to slaughter men.

In 1408, Gian Maria married Antonia Malatesta of Cesena, daughter of Carlo I, lord of Rimini. They had no issue.

A plot by a party of Milanese Ghibellines was raised against the Duke when Facino Cane was terminally ill in Pavia, and Gian Maria was assassinated in front of the church of San Gottardo in Milan. The dying Facino had his officers swear to support Filippo Maria, Gian Maria's brother, who in fact succeeded him.

In literature

  • Bellarion, by Raphael Sabatini
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