Rulers of Milan
The following is a list of rulers of Milan from the 13th century to 1814, after which it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia by the Congress of Vienna.
Until 1259, Milan was a free commune, in practice an oligarchy, that elected its own podestà. The Della Torre family gained sustained power in 1240, when Pagano della Torre was elected podestà. After Pagano's death, his nephew Martino was elected, but at the end of his tenure, Martino perpetrated a coup d'état and proclaimed himself the first "Lord of Milan", establishing the city's Signoria (Italian for "Lordship"). Another powerful family were the Viscontis, who eventually became Dukes of Milan.
• Brother of Azzone
• Brother of Azzone and Luchino
In 1395, Gian Galeazzo Visconti was appointed by Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia as "Duke of Milan". In 1447, with the death of Filippo Maria Visconti, the original line of the Viscontis ended, and the Golden Ambrosian Republic was established. After three years, Francesco Sforza, Filippo Maria Visconti's son-in-law, overthrew the Republic and re-established the Duchy. During the Renaissance, the Italian Wars undermined the Sforzas' rule in Milan, and French kings allied with the Holy Roman Empire usurped the Sforzas several times. In 1535 Francesco II Sforza died without heir, ending the original line of the Sforzas. In 1540, Charles V, uncle of the wife of Francesco II, Christina of Denmark annexed the Duchy and appointed his son Philip II of Spain as Duke.
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