Otho, Archbishop of Milan, first laid a substantial basis for the dominion of his house by imprisoning Napoleone Della Torre and five of his relatives in three iron cages in 1277, and by causing his nephew Matteo Visconti to be nominated both by the Emperor and by the people of Milan as imperial Vicar.

Matteo, who headed the Ghibelline party in Lombardy, was the model of a prudent Italian despot.

From the date 1311, when he finally succeeded in his attempts upon the sovereignty of Milan, to 1322, when he abdicated in favor of his son Galeazzo, he ruled his states by force of character, craft, and insight, more than by violence or cruelty.

Excellent as a general, he was still better as a diplomatist, winning more cities by money than by the sword.

All through his life, as became a Ghibelline chief at that time, he persisted in fierce enmity against the Church.