battle of Cortenuova

Italy [1237]

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

The Battle of Cortenuova, fought in 1237, was a significant engagement during the medieval period in Italy. It pitted the forces of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II against the Lombard League, a coalition of northern Italian cities seeking to maintain their autonomy. The conflict was part of a larger struggle between imperial authority and communal liberties in Italy, often framed by the Guelf (pro-papacy) and Ghibelline (pro-imperial) factions. Frederick II achieved a decisive victory at Cortenuova, which temporarily weakened the Lombard League's resistance to imperial power.12

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

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Italy
The war in northern Italy
…a heavy blow in the Battle of Cortenuova. He followed his military success with a strong propaganda attack, chiefly directed against Gregory IX. But the victory won at Cortenuova proved difficult to convert into permanent gains. Milan continued to hold out. In the following summer Frederick laid siege to Brescia…
Read More
…a heavy blow in the Battle of Cortenuova. He followed his military success with a strong propaganda attack, chiefly directed against Gregory IX. But the victory won at Cortenuova proved difficult to convert into permanent gains. Milan continued to hold out. In the following summer Frederick laid siege to Brescia…
Read More