The Battle of Legnano was a military engagement of the Middle Ages. It was fought between Frederick Barbarossa’s army and the Lombard League’s forces at Legnano, northern Italy. Frederick, the Holy Roman Emperor who wanted to take full control of the Italian cities, was defeated by the Italian forces.
The Italian cities of northern Italy had political autonomy (they ruled themselves) and they were against Barbarossa’s policies in the region. In order to assert his imperial laws on them, the German emperor organized a big army and marched into Italy as he crossed the Alps. However, the cities had just organized into the Lombard League, which was supported by Pope Alexander III.
The two armies clashed on the morning of May 29, 1176. After a long and vicious fight, Frederick Barbarossa was defeated, suffering heavy casualties. Having lost the battle, the German emperor was forced to sign the Peace of Constance in 1177, and to accept Alexander III as a Pope and the autonomy of the Italian cities.
Opposing forces
Barbarossa: 4700 men (cavalry and infantry)
Lombard League: 5500 troops.
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