From the Archibishops to Frederick the Barbarossa and the Communes

Finished the domination of Longobards, for Milan begins one period in which the Archbishops are chiefs of the city government. With them, the city mostly develops it and repurchases the importance of once.Again defended by solid bouwalls, it is not only able to withstand at possible assaults, but also to receive the inhabitants of the countries that in the city they find shelter, escaping from the vassals of castles tyranny. So these last ones ask the German emperor Cornrad the Salian his support, which moves war to Milan, but he is not able in subjugating it (1037). Animator of the heroic resistance is the great archbishop "Ariberto of Intimiano", the inventor of the famous one "Carroccio."

The Carroccio

After Ariberto, the authority of the Archbishops decreases while the power of the people, that participates by now to the government of the city electing own consuls, goes affirming it more and more.
So born the Commune and we have already learned from the life of the region how much importance the Communes had in the Middle Ages, expression of the new political power of the cities and their will to fight every feudal power, even that of the emperor.
Unfortunately the free Communes started well soon to fight him amongst them, every one jealous of the power of the other.
The Milaneses destroyed Lodi, and waged war for a long time against Pavia, Cremona and Como. Happened so that the other Common lombardis asked help at the emperor of Germany, Frederick the Barbarossa.
For six times Frederick came in Italy for fight against the Communes. In the first expedition he besieged and destroyed Tortona; in the second he assaulted and forced to the surrender Milan, forcing it to pay a strong tribute.

Frederick "The Barbarossa"

Frederick 1st called "The Barbarossa"
In 1160 here again the Barbarossa in Italy at the siege in Milan that was previously revolted against the Podestà, sent by the emperor to govern the town.
From two years the heroic defense of the Milaneses lasted, when a sudden and furious burning destroyed all the stores in which the provisions had been accumulated: the city in few days was forced to the surrender.
The 1st March 1162, the Milanese consuls went to the Barbaraossa in the new city of Lodi and they folded up the knee in front of the emperor, imploring his clemency. But the answer of Frederick was that of move away, within 8 days, the city otherwise it will be destroyed.
It was an frosty morning of March when from the doors of the city they went out long files criyng of men and women, old, children and sick, and everybody brought that little had been able to save.

The siege of Milan zoom

Then it was the ruin. The abandoned city was left by the Barbarossa in power of the Lodigianis, Cremonesis, Buntings, Comaschis that had hast rushed to enlarge the army of Frederick and now, with the fury of the revenge, they were given to demolish the districts on which they discharged the ancient hate for the received blwrongs.
The lesson had been hard, so much hard that understood it, shortly after, also those cities (Praises, Cremona, Pavia, Comos) that they had given strong hand to the emperor in the looting of Milan and now they also bore every kind of soprusis by the German militias.
With risen Milan, all the Communes tightened them to Pontida, in that League Lombard and in 1176 they faced the Barbarossa in Legnano, defeating him and humiliating forever the arrogance of him.