Visconti, Gian Galeazzo

Visconti, Gian Galeazzo

 known as Count of Valor

(born 1351, Milan—died Sept. 3, 1402, Melegnano, near Milan) Leader of Milan who brought the Visconti dynasty to its height. The son of Galeazzo II Visconti, who shared the rule of Milan with his brother, Gian Galeazzo united all the Visconti lands, added the march of Treviso (1387), and became a prince of the Holy Roman Empire through bribery. By 1402 he held Pisa, Siena, Umbria, and Bologna. He was close to becoming ruler of all of northern Italy and was planning an attack on Florence when he died of the plague.