Latest / The Story of Italy: Rome, Renaissance, and the Birth of Modern Europe — Fexingo History
The Lombard League: How Italian Cities Defeated Barbarossa
In the 12th century, Frederick Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor, sought to assert imperial authority over the wealthy communes of northern Italy. The cities of Lombardy, led by Milan, formed a military alliance known as the Lombard League, building a formidable army around a sacred war wagon called the carroccio. The League faced Barbarossa at the Battle of Legnano in 1176, where a surprise attack by the Milanese cavalry broke the imperial lines. The resulting Peace of Constance granted the cities extensive self-governance, a landmark victory for communal autonomy that shaped the political…
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