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How did the Lombard League help Milan recover from its destruction?
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Milan
Shoppers in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan.
After the Holy Roman emperor Frederick I Barbarossa besieged and destroyed Milan in 1162, the city’s recovery was facilitated by the formation of the Lombard League in 1167.12
The league provided a collective military and political framework that allowed Milan to rebuild under its auspices. By uniting with other northern Italian cities, Milan gained the strength to challenge imperial authority, ultimately playing a pivotal role in defeating Barbarossa’s forces at the Battle of Legnano in 1176. This resistance led to the Peace of Constance in 1183, which secured the city's communal liberties and jurisdiction. With its privileges restored, Milan experienced a period of significant economic growth and prosperity over the following century.12