PAOLO GUINIGI. — Lord of Lucca, born there in 1376 to Francesco, banker and merchant, and to Filippo Serpente, died at Pavia in 1432. Heir to the fortune of Castruccio Castracani, he was lord of Lucca from 1400 to 1430.
He surrounded himself with a small but lavish court, in which writers and artists were present. To Jacopo della Quercia he entrusted the construction of the sepulchral urn for his first wife Ilaria del Carretto. He attended to the construction of the famous Palazzo dei Borghi.
He promoted commerce and craftsmanship, winning the sympathy of his subjects. Gregory XII awarded him the Golden Rose on 25 May 1408, which is still preserved in Lucca. Emperor Sigismund recognized his lordship on 31 August 1413. On 12 July 1418 he concluded peace with Braccio da Montone, who had invaded his territory.
In the struggle between Florence, Venice, and Filippo Maria Visconti, he sided with the latter, enduring the onslaught of Niccolò Fortebracci, sent against him by the Florentines; against him he opposed Francesco Sforza, who on 15 August 1430 betrayed him by capturing him along with his sons.