Ducal Court of Milan
 

Head of State: Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan
Player: AvanoX
Religion: Catholic
Culture: Italian
Stats: 1/0/3/4/2 --> [1/0/3/4/2]
Provinces: 1
Ports: 0
Owned: Lombardia




Population: 90 000
Resource Information: Cloth
Province Religion: Catholic
CoT: Liguria
Culture: Italian
Trade Venues: Medium

Probably of Celtic origin, Milan was conquered by Rome in 222 BC In later Roman times it was the capital (AD 305-402) of the Western Empire and the religious center of N Italy. In 313 Constantine I issued the Edict of Milan, which granted religious toleration. From 374 to 379 the city's bishop was St. Ambrose, known for the liturgy he wrote and for his eloquence. Milan was severely damaged by the Huns (c.450) and again by the Goths (539) and was conquered by the Lombards in 569.

In the 12th cent. it became a free commune and gradually gained supremacy over the cities of Lombardy. From the 11th to the 13th cent. Milan suffered from internal warfare between rich and poor, from the Guelph and Ghibelline strife, and from the enmity of rival cities, which assisted Emperor Frederick I in destroying it (1163). As a member of the Lombard League, Milan later contributed to the defeat of Frederick I at Legnano (1176). The city's independence was recognized in the Peace of Constance (1183). In the 13th cent. Milan lost its republican liberties; first the Torriani, then the Visconti (1277) became its lords. Galeazzo Visconti received (1395) the title of duke of Milan from the emperor, and under him the duchy became one of the most important states in Italy.



owing to the fact that the nobles were always ready to claim the protection of their feudal chief, the emperor, brought to the front two noble families as protagonists of the contending factions-the Torriani of Valsassina, and the Visconti, who derived their name from the office of delegates which they had held under the archbishops. After the battle of Cortenova, in 1237, where Frederick II. defeated the Guelph army of the Milanese and captured their carroccio, Pagano della Torre rallied and saved the remnants of the Milanese. This act recommended him to popular favour, and he was called to the government of the city
—but only for the distinct purpose of establishing the” catasta,” a property tax which should fall with equal incidence on every citizen. This was a democratic measure which marked the party to which the Torriani belonged and rendered them hateful to the nobility. Pagano died in 1241. His nephew Martino followed as podestà in 1256, and in 1259 as signore of Milan— the first time such a title was heard in Italy. The nobles, who had gathered round the Visconti, and who threatened to bring Ezzelino da Romano, the Ghibelline tyrant of Padua, into the city, were defeated by Martino, and 900 of their number were captured. Martino was followed by two other Torriani, Filippo his brother (I 263—1265) and Napoleone his cousin (1265—1277), as lords of Milan. Napoleone obtained the title of imperial vicar from Rudolph of Hapsburg. But the nobles under the Visconti had been steadily gathering strength, and Napoleone was defeated at Desio in 1277. He ended his life in a wooden cage at Caste! Baradello above Como.

Otto Visconti, archbishop of Milan (1262), the victor of Desio, became lord of Milan, and founded the house of Visconti, who ruled the city—except from 1302 to 131o—till 1447, giving twelve lords to Milan. Otho (1277—1295), Matteo (1310—1322), Galeazzo (1322—1328), Azzo (1328—1339), Lucchino (1339—1349) and Giovanni (1349—1354) followed in succession. Giovanni left the lordship to three nephews—Matteo, Galeazzo and Bernabô. Matteo was killed (1355) by his brothers, who divided the Milanese, Bernabô reigning in Milan (1354—1385) and Galeazzo in Pavia (1354—1378). Galeazzo left a son, Gian Galeazzo, who became sole lord of Milan by seizing and imprisoning his uncle Bernabô. It was under him’ that the cathedral of Milan and the Certosa di Pavia were begun. He was the first duke of Milan, having obtained that title from the emperor Wenceslaus. His sons Giovanni Maria, who reigned at Milan (1402—1412), and Filippo Maria, who reigned at Pavia, succeeded him. In 1412, on his brother’s death, Filippo united the whole duchy under his sole rule, and attempted to carry out his father’s policy of aggrandizement, but without success.

Otto VISCONTI
Father: unknown VISCONTI
Mother: unknown
born: unknown
Title: archevêque, de Milan
Died: 1295

Otho VISCONTI
Father: unknown
Mother: unknown
born: unknown
Title: unknown
Died: unknown

Matteo VISCONTI(killed)
Father: Teobaldo VISCONTI
Mother: Anastasia PIROVANO
born: 1250
Title: seigneur, de Milan Date: FROM 1295
Died: 1322

Galeazzo VISCONTI
Father: Matteo VISCONTI
Mother: Bonacossa BORRI
born: 1277
Title: seigneur, de Milan
Died: 1328

Azzo VISCONTI
Father: Galeazzo VISCONTI
Mother: Beatrice D'ESTE
born: 1302
Title: seigneur, de Milan
Died: 1339

Lucchino VISCONTI
Father: Matteo VISCONTI
Mother: Bonacossa BORRI
born: 1287
Title: seigneur, de Milan
Died: 1349

Giovanni VISCONTI
Father: Matteo VISCONTI
Mother: Bonacossa BORRI
born: 1290
Title: seigneur, de Milan
Title: cardinal
Died: 1354

Matteo VISCONTI(killed)
Father: unknown
Mother: unknown
born: unknown
Title: unknown
Died: unknown

Galeazzo VISCONTI
Father: unknown
Mother: unknown
born: unknown
Title: unknown
Died: unknown

Bernabô VISCONTI
Father: Stefano VISCONTI
Mother: Valentina DORIA
born: 1319
Title: unknown
Died: 1385

Gian Galeazzo VISCONTI
Father: unknown
Mother: unknown
born: unknown
Title: unknown
Died: unknown

Giovanni Maria VISCONTI
Father: unknown
Mother: unknown
born: 1339
Title: unknown
Died: unknown

Filippo Maria VISCONTI
Father: Giangaleazzo VISCONTI
Mother: Caterina VISCONTI
born: 1392
Title: duc, de Milan

place holder.

Ambassadors in Milan

Pierre D'Tromp, Napes

Ambassadors of Milan

place holder

A letter arrives from Napoli .



Your Grace Duke Filippo Maria Visconti of Milan,

You are cordially invited to the Italian Trade Federation. Our next council meeting will be held at Genoa in one year. We hope that your nation will prosper along with the rest of the federation.

Best wishes,
Tomas Sforza
Courier to the Viceroy of Naples

A short figure enters the court and introduces himself as a man sent by the Viceroy of Naples. He seems to be a friendly and knowledgeable man, however biased.

Greetings Noble Duke,

I have been sent by Viceroy Julian to act as an ambassador to your court. My name is Pierre D'Tromp. I grew up in Piedmonte under the harsh reign of Burgundy. I am glad to be serving for Naples in your court. The Viceroy grants you best wishes and requests that you send a respresentative to the Italian Trade Federation offices in Napoli. Once registered there, he can proceed onto Genoa at a permanent quarters built for him so that he can represent your nation in the next council session a year from now.



Pierre goes silent.

Filippo smilies and says:

"I will do so as you said, I will send a respresentative right away!, if you dont mind... I would be pleased if you stayed here as an ambassador, and I will call for you when needed, ok ?, you will also get a fine suite."

Filippo awaits a reply...

A letter arrives from Genoa.

To Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan

I am glad to see that Milan once more have engaged itself in the forever important affairs of Italy. In these regard, I would like to suggest that we make another exchange of ambassador, as it is custom between us Italian brothers. We have much to discuss, so perhaps I could even invite you to come to Genoa sometime in the not so distant future? Nonetheless, I wish you all the luck in the world with your rule.

Signed
Allesandro Doria
Doge of Genoa

Pierre smiles.

It is an honor to be expected into your court. I will continue to convey news between yourself and the viceroy.

Pierre speaks up.

Your Grace,
The representative you dispatched to Napoli has been treated with luxury, registered for the Italian Trade Federation, and sent to Genoa. We request that you send an additional representative to permanently represent your presence in the court of Naples.

We are working to get you admitted into the Italian Trade Federation treaty, and will have this done as soon as possible. Allow me to present the treaty to you in full.

Pierre begins to read aloud.

The Italian Trade Federation

I. Introduction
The Italian Trade Federation is designed to promote a free trading society within the members of it. Only Italian nations and provinces adjacent to the eastern and western seas of Italy are invited. This includes but is not limited to Corsica, Sardinia, Malta, Ragusa, Albania, Dalmatia, and Istria. Owners of these provinces are not necessarily part of the federation, as they join on their own accord.

II. The Council
The federation offices will be based out of Napoli and will be run as a democracy. A council will meet once a year in Genoa, as it has been decided as the most convenient host location as a major trading centre. A simple majority is required to make common decisions while a two-thirds majority is required to make major decisions such as changing the host location and making changes to the treaty. At any time any member of the federation can call for a council session. This will be held in the host city, Genoa.

III. Voting
Each member country's representative to the council will get one vote.

IV. Benefits of the Federation
Merchants belonging to members of the federation will have to pay no tariffs while trading in ports and inland trade centres of the other members. A trade stockpile of numerous resources from all members of the federation will be compiled in Napoli. By centralizing the location of the main trading, merchant costs shall naturally be cut significantly and have a more ample source for their nations.

V. Amendments and Current Federation Information
The current host city of the federation is Genoa. Pablo Rodriguez, representative from Naples, is the current president of the federation. Venice has been expelled from the treaty. Should another nation take control of Istria, Dalmatia, or Veneto they will be welcome into the federation following council discretion.

VI. Presidency of the Federation.
Every three years a President of the Federation will be elected. He will not get any additional votes for the nation he represents, but will have the job of mediating the council. He has the power to overwrite any decisions made by the council that he doesn't approve of. If the council feels that he is abusing his power, they only need a simple majority to remove him.


Signed,
[x]Andrea Julian
Viceroy of Naples
[x] Allesandro Doria
Doge of Genoa
[x]Cosimo I de Medici
Duke of Tuscany
[x]Stefan Crnojevic
Duke of Ragusa

He speaks again.

Sire,
As your nation lack sufficient naval transportation to Napoli we would like to assist you in accomodating means of transporting goods, especially fine Milanese cloth, from Milano to Napoli. The faster however more expensive method of this would be paying Genoese merchants to transport your merchants and your goods to Napoli after caravans have taken your goods from Milano to Genoa. The far cheaper and slower method of doing this is by acquiring a treaty with the Holy See to reach Napoli by land. The choice is yours.

Viceroy Julian is very pleased with the civillization in Milano and hopes to continue a path of friendship with them.

Pierre falls silent.

Filippo rises and says:

"I have talked to my councellors and they agreed to it, I sign with grate pleasure, it will serve me well..."

The agreement was signed:

[X] Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan

Filippo then sits down on his chair and awaits a reply...

A courier arrives from Piemonte with a letter of official introduction.


To His Grace Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan!

His Grace Antonio di Savoia, the newly crowned Duke of Piemonte hereby greets His Grace Filippo Maria Visconti, the Duke of Milan, hopes he is in good health, and would like to wish prosperous years for him and for his country.
Duke Antonio also would like to express his hope that peaceful and cordial relations will be developed between the Duchy of Milan and the Duchy of Piemonte, as it intends between good neighbours.

Antonio di Savoia, Duke of Piemonte

An official letter arrives from Nurnberg.

“Onto Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan

Your Grace,

As we all rejoice on the fact that Milan is once again active on the stage of politicks We would like to kindly ask Your Grace to appoint a delegation to the Imperial Diet in Nurnberg for we fail to see one here currently.

Many important matters are being discussed in the Imperial Diet and voices of all Imperial Princes mean very much. New laws and policies are being discussed as well as Imperial position concerning internal and external matters.

We all are awaiting your representatives with great anticipation.

written in Nurnberg,

Lord-Chancellor of Reichstag, Baron Hans-Dietrich von Kuppelweiser"

An official Imperial decree has been delivered.

"Onto Our Most faithful and loyal subjects, Princes of the Holy Roman Empire, Swords and Shields of the Holy Roman Church,

Let it be known that a state of Imperial War was announced between heathens fromwho invaded Christian soil in numerous hordes. They claim our lifes and lands breaking all possible agreements and breaching the Eastern Bull. Jerusalem fell, Rhodes and its knights fell, Cyprus fell, Constantinople fell, Macedonia fell. Muslims are as united as they never been before. They coordinated their attack while Christendom is weak in their petty quarrels.

Thus we ask you to immediately fulfill the call of His Holiness and Imperial Laws. Start to raise your troops and sending them to Nurnberg where they will gather under the joint Imperial command. Declare the war against the forces of Timurid, Mameluke and Omani invaders in one month time (OOC: Friday evening – Saturday morning CET)

Let Christendom and Empire be united in this call.

Dictated in Nurnberg,

Joachim of the Greif, King of the Romans, King of Italy, King of Germany, Sword of Christ, Right Hand of the Church, Caesar Augustus, King of Sweden, Duke of Pommerania, Fürst of the House of the Greif. Duke of Poznan and Silesia, Margrave of Danzig, Prince-Protector of Sweden, Overlord of Ingermanland and Gotland, Master of the Imperial Hunt."