Giovanni III Visconti
Giovanni III Visconti was an Italian Catholic Archbishop of Milan, belonging to the prestigious Visconti family. His tenure was marked by a period of dispute and later a confirmed appointment, during which he reorganized Milan Cathedral's Chapter and promoted the San Barnaba in Brolo Hospital.
Key Facts
- ›Member of the prestigious Visconti family, related to earlier Milanese bishops.
- ›First appointed Archbishop of Milan by Pope Gregory XII (1409-1417) during the Western Schism, but this appointment was revoked.
- ›Reappointed Archbishop of Milan in 1450 by Pope Nicholas V under Francesco Sforza.
- ›Reorganized Milan Cathedral's Chapter, adding a fourth canon.
- ›Promoted the work of the San Barnaba in Brolo Hospital, assigning it an annual sum of 810 gold ducats.
- ›Died on March 9, 1453, and was buried in the Milan Cathedral.
- Reorganization of Milan Cathedral's Chapter
- Promotion of the San Barnaba In Brolo Hospital
About Giovanni III Visconti
Giovanni III Visconti was an Italian Catholic Archbishop of Milan, a significant figure within the prestigious Visconti family. His ecclesiastical career was notably marked by periods of both contested and confirmed authority, ultimately serving the Archdiocese of Milan in the mid-15th century.
Life and Historical Context
Born into the prominent Visconti family, Giovanni III was related to earlier influential bishops of Milan, including his namesake, Giovanni Visconti. He held the position of archpriest of the Metropolitan Chapter in 1402. His initial appointment as Archbishop of Milan occurred between 1409 and 1417, during the turbulent era of the Western Schism, under Pope Gregory XII. However, this appointment was subsequently revoked by the Council of Constance.
Following this revocation, Giovanni III Visconti largely disappeared from the active religious scene. He held the office of commendatory abbot of Morimondo Abbey during this period. His return to prominence came in 1450, after the Ambrosian Republic and the conquest of Milan by Francesco Sforza. With the death of the previous Archbishop, Enrico Rampini, Sforza secured Visconti's reappointment by Pope Nicholas V.
Major Contributions
During his brief but impactful second tenure as Archbishop (1450-1453), Giovanni III Visconti undertook significant administrative and charitable initiatives. He reorganized Milan Cathedral's Chapter, notably by introducing a fourth canon in the position of Provost. A key focus of his efforts was the promotion of the San Barnaba in Brolo Hospital, an institution founded in 1145 and the direct predecessor of the Ospedale Maggiore in Milan. Through an agreement with Duke Sforza and a papal bull from Niccolò V, Visconti allocated an annual sum of 810 gold ducats to support the hospital's staff.
Giovanni III Visconti died in Milan on March 9, 1453, and his remains were interred within the Milan Cathedral.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Giovanni III Visconti?
Giovanni III Visconti was an Italian Catholic Archbishop of Milan. He belonged to the prominent Visconti family, which had produced other important bishops of Milan.
When was Giovanni III Visconti Archbishop of Milan?
Giovanni III Visconti was first appointed Archbishop of Milan from 1409 to 1417 by Pope Gregory XII during the Western Schism, though this appointment was later revoked. He was officially confirmed as Archbishop of Milan in 1450, serving until his death in 1453.
What were Giovanni III Visconti's significant contributions?
During his second tenure as Archbishop, Giovanni III Visconti reorganized Milan Cathedral's Chapter. He also significantly promoted the work of the San Barnaba in Brolo Hospital, assigning it a substantial annual sum of gold ducats.
When and where did Giovanni III Visconti die?
Giovanni III Visconti died in Milan on March 9, 1453. He was buried in the Milan Cathedral.
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