How were the Guelfs and Ghibellines divided in medieval Milan?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

People walk and shop inside the ornate Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy, with its glass-domed roof, decorative mosaics, and luxury store entrances. — Milan Shoppers in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan.

In medieval Milan, the division between the Guelfs and Ghibellines was defined by a power struggle between two prominent families and their respective social bases.1

The Guelfs: Led by the della Torre family (or Torriani), this faction represented the city's popular forces and industrial classes. They aligned themselves with the papal cause in the broader international conflict between the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire.1
The Ghibellines: Headed by the Visconti family, this faction was supported by the aristocracy and maintained an alliance with the Holy Roman emperor.1

This rivalry eventually led to the decline of the commune's political structures. In 1277, the Ghibelline leader Ottone Visconti defeated the Torriani at the Battle of Desio, paving the way for the Visconti family to establish a signoria and rule as the supreme lords of Milan.1