Cansignorio della Scala
A ruthless and ambitious ruler of Verona who secured his power by murdering his own brother, cementing the Scala family's violent legacy.
1340–1375 (age 35)·Lord of Verona from 1359 to 1375·Birthday: March 5
Biography
Cansignorio della Scala inherited a city-state simmering with familial rivalry. Initially sharing rule of Verona with his brother Paolo Alboino, he chafed at the arrangement. In a move that shocked even by the brutal standards of Italian signori, Cansignorio orchestrated Paolo's assassination in 1375, seizing sole control. His reign was marked by the construction of formidable defenses, including the Castelvecchio bridge, and patronage that continued Verona's cultural prominence. Yet his story is forever shadowed by the fratricide that defined his ascent. He died later that same year, leaving a contested succession that would soon unravel the Scala family's grip on power, his short, brutal rule a high-water mark of both architectural achievement and profound treachery.
#1 When Cansignorio Was Born
The biggest hits of 1340
Cansignorio's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1340Born
1345Started school
1353Became a teenager
1356Could drive
1358Could vote
1361Turned 21
1370Turned 30
1375Died at 35
Key Achievements
- Became the sole Lord of Verona in 1375 after having his brother and co-ruler, Paolo Alboino, assassinated.
- Commissioned the fortified Castelvecchio Bridge, a major architectural landmark in Verona that still stands.
- Continued the Scala family's patronage of the arts and fortification of the city.
Did You Know?
The name 'Cansignorio' translates roughly to 'Lord Dog' or 'Top Dog'.
He was only 35 years old when he died, just months after becoming sole ruler.
His tomb, an elaborate Gothic monument, is located in the church of Santa Maria Antica in Verona.
“A city divided against its own house cannot stand.”
