(Republica Ambrosiana), from Aug. 14, 1447, to Feb. 27, 1450, a republic in Milan named after the patron saint of Milan, St. Ambrose.
The Ambrosian Republic was established by the upper classes of the city after the death of the last representative of the Visconti dynasty during a hard war with Venice. Legislative power in the Ambrosian Republic was exercised by the Council of 900, and executive power by 24 “captains and defenders of freedom” elected from the city’s districts. The increase in taxes and the compulsory loan necessary to wage the war against Venice produced dissatisfaction among the masses with the policies of the nobles’ government. A new government was created in July 1449 as a result of a popular uprising. It began to confiscate the property and grain supplies of wealthy citizens. The siege of Milan by the troops of Francesco Sforza, the son-in-law of the last Milanese duke of the Visconti dynasty, brought about the fall of the Ambrosian Republic, after which Sforza had himself proclaimed duke of Milan.