Viridis Visconti

Viridis Visconti (1354–1414) was an Italian noblewoman. Her marriage to Leopold III, Duke of Austria, Viridis was Duchess consort of Austria, Styria and Carinthia, she was also Countess consort of Tyrol.

Life Born in c.1354, Viridis was born in Milan, a daughter of the Lord of Milan, Bernabò Visconti and his wife Beatrice Regina della Scala. She was likely named after her maternal aunt Verde della Scala.

Viridis and the rest of her sisters secured politically advantageous marriages. Viridis was seen as a very eligible bride, as not only did the Visconti family rule over the extremely wealthy region of Lombardy by her father Bernabòs strategically marrying off his many children, whom he systematically married to members of the nobility, so he had a network of relatives among the leading families of the Empire.

Thus in 1365 she was betrothed to the fourteen year old Leopold. She brought 100 000 florins as dowry. The marriage was arranged by the grooms brother Rudolf II, Duke of Austria who allying themselves through marriage with the powerful Viscontis, the Habsburgs found an ally in their efforts to secure their rule in Tyrol. Rudolf however died on his way to attend the marriage of Viridis and Leopold in Milan. Viridis husband therefore came to co-rule Austria with his brother Albrecht.

They were married 23 February 1365 in the Bernabo palace at the church San Giovanni in Conca. Her parents gifted her a Tacuinum Sanitatis around this time.

Viridis and her husband lived at Tyrol Castle near Merano

In 1385 her father was deposed by her cousin Gian Galeazzo Visconti and brother-in-law through having married her sister Caterina Visconti. Bernabo was then imprisoned in the castle of Trezzo, he died on 19 December of that year, presumably poisoned.

Marriage Viridis married Leopold III, Duke of Austria, son of Albert II, Duke of Austria and his wife Johanna of Pfirt.

The couple had: William the Courteous Leopold IV the Fat Ernest the Iron Frederick IV of the Empty Pockets Elisabeth (1378–1392) Margaretha (1370–?) Catherine (1385–?), Abbess of St. Klara in Vienna

Viridis was widowed in 1386, and her eldest son William became Duke of Austria.

She was a long time benefactor of the Stična Abbey, and often lend money to the abbot of the monastery. As widow, she resided on a property close to the convent.

Death Viridis died on 1 March 1414 and out-lived at least three of seven children, since her younger daughter Katherine's date of death is unknown. Viridis is buried in Sittich, Karnten, Austria.

Ancestry