GIOVANNI da LEGNANO. – Jurist, born in Milan on an uncertain date, died in Bologna on 16 Feb. 1383.
From 1350 he taught civil law and later the Decretals. He undertook diplomatic missions of the highest order on behalf of the city of Bologna to Gregory IX, so much so that he was later appointed the Pope’s vicar general in that city. At the outbreak of the Western Schism, he wrote in support of the legitimacy of Urban VI’s actions, who in turn showered him with royal favours for the steadfastness with which he directed the controversy against the supporters—especially the French—of the antipope Clement VII.
He wrote on politics, canon and civil law, moral philosophy, theology and the schism. His most important works are: Commentaria in Decretales; Commentaria in Clementinas; Commentaria in Decretum; also the treatises De bello, De represaliis, De duello, De pace; the De fletu Ecclesiae and the very numerous Consilia.