Preface; List of abbreviations; 1. Italy in the fourteenth century. The growth of the Visconti state; 2. Giangaleazzo's early years: the Count of Vertus in Piedmontese politics (1378–85); 3. Giangaleazzo and Bernabó: the hermit of Pavia (1378–85); 4. Northern Italy and the fall of Bernabó (1385). The new Lord of Milan; 5. The Visconti state: the government of Lomardy and Giangaleazzo's administrative reforms (1385–9); 6. The political divisions of Italy. The new situation in Piedmont; the betrothal of Valentina, and the great schism (1385–9); 7. The conquest of eastern Lombardy (1385–8); 8. Giangaleazzo and Florence: the delineation of the Tuscan problem (1385–8); 9. Giangaleazzo and Florence: the drift to war (December 1388–April 1390); 10. The first war against Florence (May 1390–January 1392); 11. The Visconti dominions and the war. The aftermath of the war: the League of Bologna (1392); 12. Giangaleazzo and France: the 'Kingdom of Adria'. Giangaleazzo and the League of Bologna. Giangaleazzo and Germany (1393–May 1395); 13. The Duke of Milan and his court; 14. Giangaleazzo and the negotiations for an imperial–papal alliance. The difficulties of the League of Bologna. The Franco–Florentine alliance (September 1395–October 1396); 15. The Mantuan war (November 1396–May 1398); 16. Lombardy during the Mantuan war. The collapse of the League of Bologna, and Giangaleazzo's policy at the truce of Pavia (1397–May 1938); 17. From the truce of Pavia to the peace of Venice: the acquisition of Pisa, Siena and Perugia (May 1398–March 1400); 18. Giangaleazzo and the states of Western Europe: the deposition of Wenceslaus and the Italian expedition of Rupert of Bavaria (1400–April 1402); 19. The rule of Giovanni Bentivoglio in Bologna. The policy of Venice during the German expedition, and Giangaleazzo's conquest of Bologna (1401–June 1402); 20. Giangaleazzo and Florence (1402); 21. The state of Lombardy at the time of Giangaleazzo's death (1402); 22. Conclusion; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.