Battle of Legnano
The Battle of Legnano, fought in 1176, was a significant military engagement during the conflict between the Holy Roman Empire and the Italian city-states, particularly the Lombard League. The battle unfolded as German reinforcements, led by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, attempted to join forces in the Lake Como region. The Milanese and their allies mobilized approximately 3,500 troops to intercept these forces, setting up a fortified position near Borsano and utilizing the carroccio, a war cart, as a focal point for their infantry.
As the battle commenced, a reconnaissance unit from the Milanese engaged Frederick's vanguard but was initially routed. However, the tide shifted when they regrouped and attacked the German knights from behind, leading to chaos within Frederick's ranks. The emperor's horse was reportedly brought down, leading to the widespread belief that he had been killed and causing his troops to flee. The aftermath of the battle resulted in significant losses for the Germans, including considerable captured resources and prisoners.
The victory at Legnano not only showcased the effective coordination and military strategy of the Lombard League but also set the stage for the subsequent Peace of Venice in 1177, marking a turning point in the power dynamics between the German Empire and the Italian city-states.
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Battle of Legnano
Type of action: Ground battle in the Wars of the Lombard League
Date: May 29, 1176
Location: Legnano, sixteen miles northwest of Milan
Combatants: 3,000 troops of the Holy Roman Empire vs. 3,500 of the Lombard League
Principal commanders:Holy Roman Empire, German emperor Frederick I Barbarossa (c. 1123–1190); Lombard League, rectors
Result: League victory brought about the Peace of Venice (1177)
German reinforcements crossed Lukmanier Pass into the Lake Como region in April, 1176. Frederick I Barbarossa rode secretly from Pavia along the Ticino River to meet them and to lead them to a joint operation with his main force. At Como, Italian imperialist troops increased the reinforcements to about 3,000. To intercept them, the Milanese and the Lombard League placed about 3,500 men near the west bank of the Olona across approaches from Como to the Ticino. The infantry around the Milanese war cart, the carroccio, stood in a hastily fortified position at Borsano. One wing of cavalry stretched from there two and one-half miles east-northeast to Legnano on the Olona and the other wing one and one-half miles north to Busto Arsizio.
At dawn, the rectors sent a reconnaissance force of 700 horsemen north. The emperor had crossed the Olona and was marching south from Cairate, five miles north-northeast of Busto Arsizio. The reconnaissance group engaged the emperor’s vanguard but was routed and fled beyond Borsano when his main army pushed on. Frederick’s knights turned on the infantry. However, the fleeing reconnaissance troops met knights from Brescia, and jointly they hit the German knights at the carroccio from the rear. Frederick’s horse fell, and as he was believed killed, his troops fled, pursued to the Ticino by the league cavalry. The booty and numbers of prisoners taken were immense.
Significance
Prompt Milanese coordination and strong infantry blocking defeated Frederick’s hasty engagement from the march. The league’s victory proved its superior military leadership and resulted in the favorable Peace of Venice (1177).
Bibliography
Carson, Thomas, ed. Barbarossa in Italy. New York: Italica, 1994.
Morazzoni, Joseph. The Majolicas and the Ancient Weapons of Legnano. Milan, Italy: Associazione Amatori Armi Antiche, 1950.
Munz, Peter. Frederick Barbarossa: A Study in Medieval Politics. London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1969.
Otto I, Bishop of Freising. The Deeds of Frederick Barbarossa. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1994.
Pacaut, Marcel. Frederick Barbarossa. London: Collins, 1970.