Viridis Visconti

1354 – 1414 · Generation IV · Consort

Viridis Visconti was Duchess of Austria by her marriage to Leopold III and the mother of the Habsburg dukes who divided the family lands. Born in Milan, she was a daughter of Bernabò Visconti, Lord of Milan, and Beatrice Regina della Scala. Her father married his many children into the leading families of the empire, and Viridis brought a dowry of 100,000 florins.

The Habsburgs wanted the Visconti as allies in securing their hold on Tyrol. Viridis and Leopold married in Milan on 23 February 1365 and made their home at Tyrol Castle near Merano. In 1385 her father was overthrown by her cousin Gian Galeazzo Visconti, who was also married to her sister Caterina, and he died in prison at Trezzo that December, probably poisoned.

Leopold was killed in 1386, and their eldest son William became duke. Their sons William, Leopold IV, Ernest the Iron and Frederick IV of the Empty Pockets founded the branches of the house, and Ernest’s line would provide every later Habsburg emperor. As a widow Viridis lived beside Stična Abbey, which she supported for many years, often lending money to its abbot. She died on 1 March 1414 and was buried there, having outlived at least three of her seven children.

Place in the family

• Viridis Visconti was a great-great-great-grandmother of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.
• The archive records 62 of her descendants, across 20 generations.

Read more on Wikipedia

Partners

• Married Leopold III, Duke of Austria (1351 – 1386) in 1365 — 2 children together

Children

• Ernest, Duke of Austria (1377 – 1424)
• Frederick IV, Duke of Austria (1382 – 1439)

Life

• 1354 — Born
• 1365 — Married Leopold
• 1414 — Died

Sources

1. Viridis Visconti · Wikipedia
2. Leopold III, Duke of Austria · Wikipedia