The Lombard League was an alliance formed around 1176, which at its apex included most of the cities of northern Italy (although its membership changed in time), including, among others, Milan, Piacenza, Cremona, Mantua, Bergamo, Brescia, Bologna, Padua, Treviso, Vicenza, Venice, Verona, Lodi, and Parma, and even some lords, such as the Marquis Malaspina and Ezzelino da Romano. Related categories Central Italy Southern Italy Insular Italy Northeast Italy Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. Piacenza ( Placentia in Latin and old-fashioned English, Piasëinsa in the local dialect of Emiliano-Romagnolo) is a Cremonese redirects here For the football team see US Cremonese Cremona is a City in northern Italy, situated Mantua (Màntova in the local dialect of Lombard language Mantua is a city in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the Bergamo ( Bèrghem in Lombard, antiquated Wälsch-Bergen in German) is a town in Lombardy, Italy, about Brescia ( Lombard: Brèsa) is a city in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. Bologna (boloɲa from Latin Bononia, Bulåggna in Bolognese dialect is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy Padua ( Padova 'padova Latin: Patavium, Padoa) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy. Treviso (Venetian Trevizo, French Trévise, Latin Tarvisium) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy. Vicenza, a city in northern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region at the northern base of the Monte Berico Venice ( Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venesia or Venexia) is a city in Northern Italy, the capital of the Verona is a city and provincial capital in Veneto, Northern Italy. Lodi ( pronounced) is a town in Lombardy, Italy, on the right bank of the River Adda. Parma is a City in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna near Modena famous for its Architecture and the fine countryside around it Ezzelino da Romano was the name of various seignors of fiefs and cities in northern Italy starting from the 12th century AD The League was formed to counter the Holy Roman Empire's Frederick I, who was attempting to assert Imperial influence over Italy. The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in Frederick I Barbarossa (1122 &ndash 10 June 1190) was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Frederick claimed direct Imperial control over Italy at the Diet of Roncaglia (1158). The Diet of Roncaglia was held in 1158 near Piacenza as a general assembly of the nobles and ecclesiasts of the Holy Roman Empire and representatives of The League had the support of Pope Alexander III, who also wished to see Imperial power in Italy decline. Pope Alexander III (c 1100/1105 &ndash August 30, 1181) born Rolando (or Orlando) Bandinelli, was Pope from 1159 At the Battle of Legnano on May 29, 1176, Frederick I was defeated and, by the Peace of Venice, agreed to a six-year truce from 1177 to 1183, until the Second Treaty of Constance, where the Italian cities agreed to remain loyal to the Empire but retained local jurisdiction over their territories. The Battle of Legnano was fought on May 29 1176 between the forces of the Holy Roman Empire, led by emperor Frederick Barbarossa, and the Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the The Treaty or Peace of Venice, 1177, was an important peace treaty between the Papacy and its allies the north Italian city-states of the Lombard The Peace of Constance of 1183 was signed in Konstanz by Frederick Barbarossa and representatives of the Lombard League.

The Lombard League was renewed several times and after 1226 regained its former prestige by countering the efforts of Frederick II to gain greater power in Italy. Frederick II ( December 26, 1194 &ndash December 13, 1250) of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was a Pretender to the title These efforts included the taking of Vicenza and the Battle of Cortenuova which established the reputation of the Emperor as a skillful strategist. Vicenza, a city in northern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region at the northern base of the Monte Berico The Battle of Cortenuova was fought on 27 November, 1237, when Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II defeated the Lombard League. He misjudged his strength, rejecting all Milanese peace overtures and insisting on unconditional surrender. It was a moment of grave historic importance when Frederick's hatred coloured his judgment and blocked all possibilities of a peaceful settlement. Milan and five other cities held out, and in October 1238 he had to unsuccessfully raise the siege of Brescia. Brescia ( Lombard: Brèsa) is a city in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. Once again receiving papal support, the Lombard League effectively countered Frederick's efforts. History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and During the 1249 siege of Parma, the Imperial camp was assaulted and taken, and in the ensuing Battle of Parma the Imperial side was routed. Parma is a City in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna near Modena famous for its Architecture and the fine countryside around it Frederick lost the Imperial treasure and with it any hope of maintaining the impetus of his struggle against the rebellious communes and against the pope. The League was dissolved in 1250 once Frederick died.

Sources

"Lombard League. " Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 6 Apr. 2008 <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9048806>.

G. Fasoli,"La Lega Lombarda --Antecedenti,formazione, struttura," Problema des 12. Jahrhunderts, Vortraege und Forchungegen, 12 ,1965-67)143-160.