Background
Maddalena was born in Milan and was the twelfth of seventeen children born to her parents. Her father, Bernabò was a cruel and ruthless despot, and an implacable enemy of the Church.
Duke of Bavaria Duchess of Bavaria
Maddalena was born in Milan and was the twelfth of seventeen children born to her parents. Her father, Bernabò was a cruel and ruthless despot, and an implacable enemy of the Church.
He seized the papal city of Bologna, rejected the Pope and his authority, confiscated ecclesiastical property, and forbade any of his subjects to have any dealings with the Curia. He was excommunicated as a heretic in 1363 by Pope Urban V, who preached crusade against him. When Bernabò was in one of his frequent rages, only Beatrice Regina (her mother) was able to approach him.