Anglesia was daughter of Bernabò Visconti, Lord of Milan and Beatrice Regina della Scala, daughter of Mastino II lord of Verona.
Anglesias father utilized his many children to make politically advantageous marriages and gain allies and as a young child, a betrothal between Anglesia and Frederick the youngest son of Frederick V. of Nuremberg was negotatied[1]
Three of Anglesias sisters Antonia, Elisabetta and Maddalena were married to Eberhard III, Count of Württemberg, Albert III, Duke of Bavaria and Frederick, Duke of Bavaria respectively. This marriage for reasons unknown however never materialized.Friedrich would later go on to marry Anglesias niece Elisabeth of Bavaria.
In 1383 Anglesias mother Beatrice died and in 1385 her father Bernabo after being imprisoned by his nephew (and son-in-law) Gian Galeazzo Visconti died. It was suspected that he had been poisoned by Gian Galeazzo who then declared himself duke of Milan.
Despite the downfall of her father, Anglesia was seen as a very eligible bride. Anglesias sister Caterina Visconti was also now duchess of Milan by marriage to Gian Galeazzo.Anglesia then lived in the castle at Pavia at the court of Caterina and Gian Galeazzo and her still unmarried sisters Lucia and Elisabetta.[2]
In 1398 another marriage negotiation on behalf of Anglesia was initiated; this time to marry Frederick I, Elector of Saxony[3] or one of his brothers Wilhelm or Georg.[3]
Marriage
Anglesia became queen consort of Cyprus, through marriage to King Janus of Cyprus, sometime after January 1400. Janus cousin and predecessor Peter II had been married to Anglesias oldest sister Valentina Visconti. (d. 1393)
After her marriage Anglesia was renamed Heloise. The marriage was annulled between 1407 and 1409 without issue.
After the annulment of the marriage Anglesia returned to Milan. By this time her sister Caterina Visconti was already dead after having been imprisoned and then poisoned by her own son and Anglesias nephew Gian Maria Visconti who now ruled Milan.
Gian Maria did give his aunt property in Selvanesco[4] so that she would be economically supported, but after his assassination in 1412 and on the succession of his younger brother and her nephew Filippo Maria Visconti, she was ordered to return the property and to enter a convent in Pavia.
Through an inheritance which she received in 1424 she was able to leave the convent whereafter she settled in Reggio Emilia together with her half-sister Isotta.
