ABSTRACT
Giangaleazzo Visconti’s investiture in 1395 as imperial prince and duke of Milan was his family’s most dramatic symbol of success. Imperial recognition had always been particularly important for Giangaleazzo, preoccupying him from the moment he came to power. The imperial vicariate originally granted in 1355 to his father and uncles had been revoked by Emperor Charles IV.1 But within four months of his own accession in 1378 the old emperor had died and Giangaleazzo immediately began petitioning Wenceslas, new king of the Romans, for another vicariate, finally receiving it on 15 February 1380. By contrast, Bernabò Visconti, Giangaleazzo’s uncle, having refused to acknowledge the revocation of his vicariate, had not bothered to request a new one. It was said that he was too full of pride and arrogance to go begging for such endorsement.2 Giangaleazzo, on the other hand, still not satisfied, was campaigning within five years for an even more illustrious title, either royal or ducal. Promising 100,000 florins with which to fund his progress through Italy, he finally prevailed upon Wenceslas to draw up the diploma of 1395. Giangaleazzo sought further concessions over the next two years, chiefly in the diploma of 13 October 1396, which, among other privileges, extended the ducal title beyond the confines of Milan to his other subject cities, created the county of Pavia and arranged for the succession.3 As imperial princes the Visconti would enjoy a pre-eminence far above any mere signori: it was a spectacular achievement.
