Peace of Constancy

Context

The common independence of the S was not done without sorrow. In 1154, the emperor Frederic Ier, known as Barberousse tries to restore the imperial authority in Italy of North. In 1158, it besieges Milan which ended up capitulating. This city will however continue to hold head with the emperor whereas this one with successful to take again the control of the Italian communes by appointing itself the consuls. In 1162, following the example small towns which refused the imperial authority, Milan will be besieged again then destroyed by a coalition of cities faithful to the imperial crown.

In 1167 the situation is turned over: the Germanic army is decimated by the epidemics and the near total of the cities of North is combined within the Ligue lombarde in order to make common front against the emperor. The league lombarde is an alliance of military aid between the various communes of the North of Italy. The decisive victory of the communes over Frederic 1st occurs only in 1176 in Legnano, forcing the emperor to sign the Paix of Venice in July 1177.

Signed in 1183, the Paix of Constancy establishes arrangements between the emperor and the communes. With this treaty, the communes obtain the kingly capacity (regalia), i.e. all the jurisdictions, taxes, drudgeries and taxes. The free return to the elections of the consuls is conceded and the communes obtain the right to be combined between them. The emperor preserves only one authority symbolic system because an intervention of its share in the communal businesses would mean assured negotiation. This treaty marks the beginning of the rise of the Italian communes.

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Denis Ferland

Sources

Driving François. Italy of the communes. Paris, Belin, 2005, p. 21.

GAULIN, Jean-Louis and Al Towns of Italy/Texts and documents from XIIe, XIIIe, XIVe centuries, University Presses of Lyon, Lyon, 200 5,329 p.

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