Wars of the Guelphs and Ghibellines: Battle of Legnano
Conflict:
The Battle of Legnano was fought during the Wars of the Guelphs and Ghibellines.
Date:
The Lombard League was victorious on May 29, 1176.
Armies & Commanders:
Holy Roman Empire
- Frederick I Barbarossa
- 3,000 men
Lombard League
- Alberto da Giussano
- 3,500 men
Battle of Legnano Summary:
In September 1174, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa began his fifth major campaign in Italy. Crossing the Alps, Frederick sought to destroy the Lombard League and firmly establish imperial control over Italy.
Capturing Susa, he had the town burned before moving on to Asti. After a brief 7-day siege, the city capitulated. By late October, Frederick had reached Alessandria. Founded by refugees who had fled Milan during Frederick's 1164 campaign, the town held special significance for both sides. Unable to storm Alessandria, Imperial forces were forced to lay siege.
After spending the winter before the city, Frederick's men tunneled under the walls and attacked on Holy Saturday. In a fierce battle, their assault was repulsed. Alerted to the approach of the Lombard army, Frederick elected to break off the siege and withdrew to Pavia to consolidate his forces. On April 16, 1175, Frederick met with representatives of the Lombard League at Montebello Castle to discuss peace. These talks proved fruitless and both sides departed determined to continue the hostilities. At the end of the month, Frederick was heartened to hear that reinforcements were en route from Germany.
Departing Pavia in the company of Philipp I of Heinsberg and Archbishop Wichmann of Magdeburg, Frederick rode north to meet the new troops.
Meeting them near Lake Como, he found that these included 1,000 knights and 1,000 infantry. Supplementing the German forces were an additional 1,000 men from the Como region. Moving south, Frederick sought to rejoin his main army. Alerted to Frederick's presence, the leaders of the Lombard League assembled 3,500 men to block the emperor's route to Pavia. Consisting of 1,450 knights and 2,050 infantry, the Lombard force also included a sacred war wagon known as a carroccio.
Among the Lombard infantry was an elite unit known as the "Company of Death" which was led by Alberto da Giussano. Assuming a position near Borsano, the Lombards awaited Frederick's approach. On the morning of May 29, the Lombard dispatched 700 cavalry to reconnoiter north of their position. These horsemen encountered Frederick's vanguard and a brief battle ensued. With the main body of Imperial troops approaching, the Lombards fled the field. Having swept this force aside, Fredrick advanced on the main Lombard position at Borsano.
Launching a full attack on the Lombard lines, Frederick's men quickly drove the enemy knights from the field and began to focus their attack on the infantry around the carroccio. In brutal fighting, the Company of Death struggled to protect the wagon from the Germans. Despite this stiff resistance the Imperial troops continued to gain ground. As this struggle raged, the Lombard cavalry was able to reform. Reinforced by additional horsemen from Brescia, they returned to the field and attacked the Imperial rear.
Charging through Frederick's lines, they managed to kill many of his personal guard and struck down his standard bearer. In the fighting, Frederick was thrown from his horse and was believed to have been killed. Under assault from two sides, and thinking their leader dead, the Imperial troops fled the field towards Pavia.
Aftermath:
While casualties for the Battle of Legnano are not known, sources indicate that they were heavy on both sides. Thinking Frederick dead, his family and army began mourning him at Pavia. This proved premature as he arrived outside Pavia several days later, battered but alive. Unable to defeat the Lombard League, Frederick sued for peace and negotiations began. Peace between Frederick and Pope Alexander III was finally achieved in 1177, when both parties signed the Treaty of Venice.
Selected Sources
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