Battle of Montebruno
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Montebruno was a battle between the Guelph City of Asti
and the Ghibelline County of Savoy
. Thomas II of Savoy invaded the territory of Asti
, but he was defeated by the Astigiani army at Montebruno
in what is now the northern province of Genoa
. Thomas II was defeated and captured in the battle.
of Italy, and in 1140 received the right to mint coins of its own by Conrad II
. As the commune, however, had begun to erode the lands of the bishop and other local faudataries, the latter sued for help to Frederick Barbarossa, who presented under the city walls with a huge army in the February 1155. After a short siege, Asti was stormed and burnt. Subsequently Asti adhered to the Lombard League (1169) against the German emperor, but was again defeated in 1174. Despite this, after the Peace of Constance (1183), the city gained further privileges.
The 13th century saw the peak of the Astigiani economic and cultural splendour, only momentaneously hindered by the wars against Alba
, Alessandria
, Savoy
, Milan
(which besieged the city in 1230) and the Marquess of Montferrat and Saluzzo
. In particular, the commune aimed to gain control over the lucrative trade routes leading northwards from the Ligurian ports. In this period, the rise of the Casane Astigiane
resulted in contrasting political familial alliances of Guelph and Ghibelline supporters. During the wars led by Emperor Frederick II
in northern Italy, the city chose his side: Asti was defeated by the Guelphs of Alessandria at the Battle of Quattordio and the Battle of Clamandrana, but thanks to Genoese help could recover easily. After Frederick's death, the struggle against Thomas II of Savoy became fierce.
, in the modern-day Province of Genoa
. The two armies charged head-on, and the clash ended with a bloody repulse for Thomas II. Thomas himself was captured in the battle, and his Savoyard armies were utterly defeated. This setback made more Thomas infuriated than defeated. He later ordered all Astigiani traders in Savoy
and France
to be arrested, and his wrath boiled.
and Turin
. This later led to intervention by Charles I of Naples, then the most powerful man in Italy thanks from his possessions in Piedmont and Provence alongside his Neapolitan kingdom. He defeated the Astigiani at the Battle of Cassano
, but was later defeated at the Battle of Roccavione
.
Asti
Asti is a city and comune of about 75,000 inhabitants located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, about 55 kilometres east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River...
and the Ghibelline County of Savoy
County of Savoy
The Counts of Savoy emerged, along with the free communes of Switzerland, from the collapse of the Burgundian Kingdom of Arles in the 11th century....
. Thomas II of Savoy invaded the territory of Asti
Asti
Asti is a city and comune of about 75,000 inhabitants located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, about 55 kilometres east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River...
, but he was defeated by the Astigiani army at Montebruno
Montebruno
Montebruno is a comune in the Province of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about 30 km northeast of Genoa. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 262 and an area of 17.5 km²....
in what is now the northern province of Genoa
Province of Genoa
The Province of Genoa is a province in the Liguria region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Genoa.It has an area of 1,838 km², and a total population of about 900,000...
. Thomas II was defeated and captured in the battle.
Background
Asti was one of the first free communesMedieval commune
Medieval communes in the European Middle Ages had sworn allegiances of mutual defense among the citizens of a town or city. They took many forms, and varied widely in organization and makeup. Communes are first recorded in the late 11th and early 12th centuries, thereafter becoming a widespread...
of Italy, and in 1140 received the right to mint coins of its own by Conrad II
Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor
Conrad II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1027 until his death.The son of a mid-level nobleman in Franconia, Count Henry of Speyer and Adelaide of Alsace, he inherited the titles of count of Speyer and of Worms as an infant when Henry died at age twenty...
. As the commune, however, had begun to erode the lands of the bishop and other local faudataries, the latter sued for help to Frederick Barbarossa, who presented under the city walls with a huge army in the February 1155. After a short siege, Asti was stormed and burnt. Subsequently Asti adhered to the Lombard League (1169) against the German emperor, but was again defeated in 1174. Despite this, after the Peace of Constance (1183), the city gained further privileges.
The 13th century saw the peak of the Astigiani economic and cultural splendour, only momentaneously hindered by the wars against Alba
Alba, Italy
Alba is a town and comune of Piedmont, Italy, in the province of Cuneo. It is considered the capital of the hilly area of Langhe, and is famous for its white truffle, peach and wine production...
, Alessandria
Alessandria
-Monuments:* The Citadel * The church of Santa Maria di Castello * The church of Santa Maria del Carmine * Palazzo Ghilini * Università del Piemonte Orientale-Museums:* The Marengo Battle Museum...
, Savoy
Duchy of Savoy
From 1416 to 1847, the House of Savoy ruled the eponymous Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy...
, Milan
Duchy of Milan
The Duchy of Milan , was created on the 1st of may 1395, when Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, purchased a diploma for 100,000 Florins from King Wenceslaus. It was this diploma that installed, Gian Galeazzo as Duke of Milan and Count of Pavia...
(which besieged the city in 1230) and the Marquess of Montferrat and Saluzzo
Marquisate of Saluzzo
The Marquisate of Saluzzo was an historical Italian state that included French and Piedmont territories on the Alps.-Marquisate territories:The Marquisate of Saluzzo occupied parts of the provinces of Cuneo and Turin, and at times areas now under French control. However, Saluzzo was historically...
. In particular, the commune aimed to gain control over the lucrative trade routes leading northwards from the Ligurian ports. In this period, the rise of the Casane Astigiane
Casane Astigiane
The Casane Astigiane were the major family banking houses of Asti, Italy in the middle ages. Their economic activities included currency exchange and lending.-Guelf Families:* Solaro...
resulted in contrasting political familial alliances of Guelph and Ghibelline supporters. During the wars led by Emperor Frederick II
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
in northern Italy, the city chose his side: Asti was defeated by the Guelphs of Alessandria at the Battle of Quattordio and the Battle of Clamandrana, but thanks to Genoese help could recover easily. After Frederick's death, the struggle against Thomas II of Savoy became fierce.
Battle
The Astigiani put force on Thomas' Army by attacking him at MontebrunoMontebruno
Montebruno is a comune in the Province of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about 30 km northeast of Genoa. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 262 and an area of 17.5 km²....
, in the modern-day Province of Genoa
Province of Genoa
The Province of Genoa is a province in the Liguria region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Genoa.It has an area of 1,838 km², and a total population of about 900,000...
. The two armies charged head-on, and the clash ended with a bloody repulse for Thomas II. Thomas himself was captured in the battle, and his Savoyard armies were utterly defeated. This setback made more Thomas infuriated than defeated. He later ordered all Astigiani traders in Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to be arrested, and his wrath boiled.
Aftermath
The decision to capture the Astigiani traders showed the proccupation of the neighbouring states for the excessive power gained by the city, which had captured Alba and controlled both ChieriChieri
Chieri is a town and comune in the province of Turin, Piedmont , located about 11 km southeast of Turin...
and Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
. This later led to intervention by Charles I of Naples, then the most powerful man in Italy thanks from his possessions in Piedmont and Provence alongside his Neapolitan kingdom. He defeated the Astigiani at the Battle of Cassano
Battle of Cassano (1259)
The Battle of Cassano was fought in the Autumn of 1259 between a Guelph and a Ghibelline army in northern Italy.In 1259, Ezzelino da Romano and his Ghibelline army moved into Lombardy and besieged Orci Novi. But the approach of the Guelph army forced Ezzelino to abandon the siege and cross the...
, but was later defeated at the Battle of Roccavione
Battle of Roccavione
The Battle of Roccavione was the last battle of the invasion of the territory of Asti by the Angevine troops from the Kingdom of Naples. Charles I of Naples was defeated, and his entire invasion failed...
.