GUINIGI, PAOLO. - Lord of Lucca, born there in 1376 to Francesco, banker and merchant, and Filippa 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 splendid court, in which writers and artists were present. He commissioned Jacopo della Quercia to construct the funerary monument of his first wife, Ilaria del Carretto. He devoted himself to the construction of the famous Palazzo dei Borghi.
He promoted trade and craftsmanship, winning the sympathy of his subjects. On 25 May 1408 Gregory XII conferred upon him the Golden Rose, which is still preserved in Lucca. On 31 Aug. 1413 Emperor Sigismondo recognized his lordship. 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 sympathized with the latter, withstanding the attack of Niccolò Fortebracci, sent against him by the Florentines; he opposed to him Francesco Sforza who, on 15 Aug. 1430, betrayed him, taking him prisoner together with his sons.