Oldrado da Tresseno


Oldrado da Tresseno was an Italian politician, podestà of Milan in the 13th century. He is responsible for restructuring Piazza dei Mercanti and ordering the construction of Palazzo della Ragione, a prominent historic building of Milan, which served as a broletto in the Middle Ages. He is also remembered as a fierce prosecutor of the Cathar heretics.
Details of Oldrado's life are largely missing. Although he is referred to in medieval texts as "a citizen of Lodi", it is disputed whether he was born there or in Dresano. He was a close friend to inquisitor Pietro da Verona and actively cooperated with the Inquisition in prosecuting heretics, especially the believers of the Church of Concorezzo, a very active Cathar group that was supported by the bishop of Concorezzo and by local feudatory Filippo Confalonieri.
A Romanesque relief representing Oldrado is found on one of the columns of Palazzo della Ragione in Milan; it bears a Latin inscription that reads: