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What happened during Frederick Barbarossa’s siege of Milan in 1162?
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Milan
Shoppers in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan.
During the 12th century, Milan’s aggressive expansion and destruction of neighboring cities like Lodi and Como provided the pretext for Frederick I Barbarossa to intervene and assert direct imperial authority over the city.1
In 1162, after a nine-month siege, Milan yielded to the emperor’s forces. The consequences of the defeat were severe:1
- Destruction: The city’s fortifications were razed, and the devastation was so extensive that the Milanese were forced to flee into the surrounding countryside.1
- Political Impact: The siege was part of Frederick’s broader effort to reduce the liberties of the Lombard communes, though it ultimately failed to suppress the city's resistance permanently.12
Milan was eventually rebuilt in 1167 under the auspices of the newly formed Lombard League. The city subsequently played a central role in defeating Frederick’s German forces at the Battle of Legnano in 1176, which eventually led to the Peace of Constance in 1183 and the restoration of the city's communal liberties.12