Battle of Legnano

The Battle of Legnano was fought on 29 May 1176 between the German forces of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and the forces of the Lombard League of north Italian cities. It was the first of the wars of the Guelphs and Ghibellines which dominated north Italian politics for the next century. It was a decisive defeat for imperial pretensions in Italy and a turning point in the history of the Italian city-states, which were thenceforth independent entities.

In the year 1167 several towns in northern Italy formed the Lombard League in opposition to the emperor, Frederick I Barbarossa, who had demanded to have the so-called regalia reinstated, royal rights, such as the right of coinage or collecting duties, which were often very lucrative. In the Oath of Pontida the communes, which until that time had followed conflicting political interests, swore to stand together against Barbarossa. In the Battle of Legnano they finally defeated the imperial forces in 1176.

The Milanese Guelphs created a Carroccio decorated with the cross of St. Ambrose. The Heart piece of the Lombard League was the "Company of Death" which was led by the Guelph knight Alberto da Giussano. Frederick failed to receive expected German reinforcements, and his largely cavalry forces were eventually repulsed by the Lombard League, comprising Milan and other states loyal to the Pope. The Imperial troops kept the upper hand at the start, and routed the first lines of the Lombard cavalry and some infantry. But when the "Company of Death" and the rest of the Lombard infantry arrived, the table was completely turned. Along with these reinforcements came Milanese and Brescian cavalry which attacked the flank of the emperor. Cavalry returning from their initial flight began forcing the Imperial troops back. It was the Brescian cavalry that managed eventually to break through and personally attack the emperor, killing the guards and capturing the Imperial Insignia. Frederick I Barbarossa was wounded and fell to the ground, but managed to escape the battlefield. Frederick's forces were demoralized when he was wounded and erroneously thought him killed. Because of this, the Imperial troops started to flee and were largely chased down by Lombard cavalry.

Although Frederick subsequently negotiated a favorable peace, Legnano marked the Empire's last effort to control the lands south of the Alps during his reign. The outcome of this battle was largely the result of the courage of the Italian infantry. Instead of breaking and running, they remained in formation where their spears and pikes were quite effective. This gave time for the Italian cavalry to regroup and attack. This battle is the first major victory of infantry over feudal cavalry in the Middle Ages. It also demonstrates the superior quality of mixed armies of cavalry and infantry to singularly cavalry armies.

In 1848, Giuseppe Verdi, the famous Italian Composer, composed an opera about this battle titled La battaglia di Legnano.

References

"Battles of the Medieval World." Kelly DeVries. Amber Books Ltd. 2006. Pages 30-39.

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