The Podestàs and the Sforza's "Signoria"

After the victory of Legnano it followed a certain time of peace during which Milan reconstructed the venerandes basilicas destroyed by the Germans and erected new churches and new buildings.
Meanwhile it occurred a novelty in the municipal rules: the authority of the Consuls was replaced by that of only one citizien: the Podestà.
the most powerful and noble city families aspired at this position.
It began a period of discords among the Della Torre and the Visconti. This period ended with the victory of these last. In the year 1311, the Visconti became the Sirs of the city.

The Signoria
Onehundredthirtysix years the "signoria viscontea" lasted. In this long time Milan became the capital of a vast Dukedom that, under Gian Galeazzo Visconti, extended it on the whole Lombardy and on big part of the surrounding regions. Every city of this territory almost had an own Castle "Visconteo".

Il ducato di Milano

To the" Visconti" the "Sforza" followed when Francis Sforza, in 1447, married" Bianca Maria", daughter of Filippo Maria Viscounti.
With Francis Sforza, Milan became the greatest and the richest city in Italy, and a vivacious center of culture and art.
Francis Sforza reigned for sixteen years, and hewas wise prince governing with justice and moderation.
Besides the re-edification of the Castle Visconteo, (called now Sforzesco), to him it is owed the construction of the beautiful " The Maggiore Hospital" (Greater Hospital) that replaced the twenty scattered hospitals in the city.

Maggiore Hospital

Francis Sforza died in 1466, leaving the Signoria to hisr child Galeazzo, inconsiderate, squanderer and cruel which was killed.
The new duke Galeazzo II, in that moment, was only six years of age; therefore he had put under the guardianship of uncle Ludovico Sforza, called the Moro.
When the young prince became of age,, he didn't not only have the power, but he was relegated in the jail of the castle in Pavia.
Happened then the wife of Gian Galeazzo, Isabella of Asturias, turned her to her father, the King of Naples, to have justice. The King, seeing Ludovico didn't want to feel reason, prepared an army to attach him. Ludovico, frightened, called in help the young King of France, Charles VIII.