Galeas of Milan surprises and imprisons his Uncle.
PLATE XX.
GALEAS VISCONTI ARRESTS HIS UNCLE.
Galeas Visconti, count of Vertus, imagining that his uncle, Sir Bernabo Visconti, duke of Milan, had some intention of dispossessing him of his Lordships, proved himself the keener politician of the two, by being beforehand with his uncle and arresting him. He the more easily formed a party for this purpose, as Sir Bernabo had cruelly oppressed that part of Lombardy over which he ruled. Sir Galeas fixed upon the opportunity of his uncle’s passing from one castle to another, to waylay him, by three ambuscades, as represented in the Illumination, which it was impossible to escape. The person of Sir Bernabo being thus treacherously secured, he was thrown into prison, where he died shortly after, as it is supposed, by foul means.
The cotemporary opinion respecting events of this description may be inferred from the circumstance that Galeas Visconti, becoming thus duke of Milan, was enabled to marry his daughter to the then most powerful prince in Europe, Charles VI., king of France.