Estorre Visconti, or Astorre (13467 January 1413) was one of the many illegitimate sons of the famous

Bernabò Visconti Bernabò or Barnabò Visconti (1323 – 19 December 1385) was an Italian soldier and statesman who was Lord of Milan. Along with his brothers Matteo and Galeazzo II, he inherited the lordship of Milan from his uncle Giovanni. Later in 1355, he ...

Lord of Milan The Lordship of Milan was a state in Northern Italy created in May 1259 following the election of Martino della Torre as lord of Milan. From 1259 to 1277 it was governed by the Della Torre, Della Torre family until, following the Battle of Desio, ...

, who was deposed by his nephew

Gian Galeazzo Visconti Gian Galeazzo Visconti (16 October 1351 – 3 September 1402), was the first duke of Duchy of Milan, Milan (1395) and ruled that late-medieval city just before the dawn of the Renaissance. He also ruled Lombardy jointly with his uncle Bernabò V ...

in 1385.

Life

Estorre, alternately spelled Ettore or Astorre was born in 1346, the son of

and Beltramola de'Grassi. He was born during his father's exile from

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

for conspiring against his uncle Luchino. When Giovanni Visconti ended his nephew's exile sometime around 1347-1349, it is likely that on his return or soon thereafter he brought Beltramola and their children to Milan. Estorre and his siblings were Bernabò's eldest and only children until 1350 when Bernabò married

Beatrice Regina della Scala Beatrice ''Regina'' della Scala (1331 – 18 June 1384) was Lady of Milan by marriage to Bernabò Visconti, Lord of Milan, and politically active as the adviser of her spouse. Life Beatrice Regina was the youngest child of Mastino II della Sca ...

and started to have legitimate children. Although Estorre was illegitimate, his father Bernabò (who had numerous children with his wife and mistresses) made use of his illegitimate children to advance himself: he married the daughters off to improve his relationships with mercenary leaders, or

condottieri Condottieri (; singular: ''condottiero'' or ''condottiere'') were Italian military leaders active during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The term originally referred specifically to commanders of mercenary companies, derived from the ...

while the sons served as officers in his armies. Accordingly, Estorre undertook a military career where he gained a reputation as a "man without fear". In 1354, Estorre's father became the co-ruler of Milan together with his brothers Matteo and Galeazzo II. Their rule ended in 1385 when Bernabò was ambushed by his nephew

, who subsequently imprisoned and murdered him. Many of Estorre's siblings were then forced into exile. Around 1403, Estorre appeared in

Verona Verona ( ; ; or ) is a city on the Adige, River Adige in Veneto, Italy, with 255,131 inhabitants. It is one of the seven provincial capitals of the region, and is the largest city Comune, municipality in the region and in Northeast Italy, nor ...

, where his half-brother Carlo Visconti ruled. By 1407, Estorre proclaimed himself Lord of

Monza Monza (, ; ; , locally ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) on the Lambro, River Lambro, a tributary of the Po (river), River Po, in the Lombardy region of Italy, about north-northeast of Milan. It is the capital of the province of Mo ...

and began to mint coins with the words ''Hestor Vicecomes Modoetie''.

Giovanni Maria 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 child ...

, the son of Gian Galeazzo and the Duke of Milan, accused him of conspiracy and had him imprisoned in the Castle of Monza, where Gian Galeazzo had imprisoned and murdered Estorre's father. Eventually, Estorre was freed by his followers, members of the

Ghibelline The Guelphs and Ghibellines ( , ; ) were factions supporting the Pope (Guelphs) and the Holy Roman Emperor (Ghibellines) in the Italian city-states of Central Italy and Northern Italy during the Middle Ages. During the 12th and 13th centu ...

party. After the assassination of Giovanni Maria Visconti (16 May 1412), Estorre and his nephew Gian Carlo Visconti were acclaimed as rulers by the people of Milan. Estorre was among the few sons of Bernabò still alive, so his claim joined with that of Gian Carlo, the son of Bernabò's legitimate son Carlo. The pair held on to control until June of that year when they were defeated by his nephew

Filippo Maria Visconti Filippo Maria Visconti (3 September 1392 – 13 August 1447) was the duke of Duchy of Milan, Milan from 1412 to 1447. Reports stated that he was "paranoid", but "shrewd as a ruler." He went to war in the 1420s with Romagna, Republic of Florenc ...

, brother of Gian Maria. Estorre, his sister Valentina, and her husband Giovanni Aliprandi, then fled to Monza, where he was besieged by the Count of Carmagnola. In the courtyard of the castle, while he was watering his horse, a stone thrown at random from a

catapult A catapult is a ballistics, ballistic device used to launch a projectile at a great distance without the aid of gunpowder or other propellants – particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. A catapult uses the sudden rel ...

of the besiegers broke his leg, which caused his death in Monza a few days later. Following renovations in the

Duomo of Monza The Duomo of Monza (), often known in English as Monza Cathedral, is the main religious building of Monza, Italy. Unlike most duomo, duomi, it is not in fact a cathedral, as Monza has always been part of the Diocese of Milan, but is in the charge ...

in 1711, his mummified body was found and is in the Museum of the Treasure of the Cathedral of Monza. His sword, the valuable work of an Milanese armourer, is exhibited there.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Visconti, Estorre Estorre People from Monza People from Brianza 1346 births 1413 deaths Mummies