Cassone was the second son of
Corrado della Torre and grandson of
Napo della Torre. In his youth, he stayed in
Friuli, then ruled by his grand-uncle
Raimondo as
patriarch of Aquileia: here most members of the family lived in exile from
Milan after their arch-rival
House of Visconti had been able to seize the power in that city. Cassone was appointed canon of
Cividale in 1296. When the della Torre were able to return to Milan in 1302, Cassone was appointed canon of the
Cathedral of Milan. In 1308, he succeeded Francesco da Parma as
Archbishop of Milan, being elected by the
Chapter of the Cathedral of Milan, confirmed by
Pope Clement V and consecrated bishop in Milano by Ugaccione Borromeo, bishop of Novara on about 12 October 1308. His appointment as Archbishop of Milano spurred a conflict with his cousin
Guido della Torre, who was afraid that Cassone could ally with the Visconti against him (two of the archbishop's brothers were married to nephews of Matteo Visconti's wife). In 1309, he took part in a successful papal military expedition against the
Republic of Venice, returning to Milan with great honours. On 1 October 130,9 Guido's troops attacked the archbishop's palace in Milan and imprisoned him. On 29 October 1309 ,he was exiled from Milan. He moved to
Bologna where the
papal legate excommunicated Guido della Torre. Emperor
Henry VII appointed Cassone mediator between the claims of the families
Torriani and
Visconti, who were in long conflict for ruling Milan. Cassone found an agreement between the two families, but it was not accepted by Guido della Torre; Emperor Henry VII then forced Guido della Torre to flee from Milan and sold the title of imperial vicar for Milan to
Matteo I Visconti. Cassone re-entered Milan, and on 6 January 1311, he crowned Henry VII as
King of Italy. The debt due to the Emperor by the citizens of Milan created dissatisfaction and
the Torriani instigated a revolt, which was suppressed by the Visconti, supported by the soldiers of the Emperor. Cassone then fled from Milan. Following the sacking of the episcopal palace in Milan in 1314, he excommunicated
Matteo I Visconti. On 31 December 1316, Cassone renounced the title of See of Milan and was appointed as secular patriarch of Aquileia by
Pope John XXII. However, he never took the post
Friuli since he died in a fall from horse at
Florence. There he was buried in the church of
Santa Croce; his funerary monument wass crested by
Tino da Camaino. ==References==