Reconciliation with the Empire after the Peace of Constance (1184–1199)

This chapter describes the reconciliation of the Lombard League with the Empire after the Peace of Constance. It discusses the renewals of the oath of association in 1185, 1195, and 1198. The terms of the Peace of Constance entitled the Lombards to keep the League and to renew its oath of association whenever they wanted. On 21 January 1185, in the church of Santa Brigida of Piacenza, an assembly was held that was attended by rectors from twelve cities. The association was confirmed for thirty years, but the oath could be renewed every five years if the majority of the rectors requested this. After the Peace of Constance, the League continued to be involved in the resolution of disputes among its members. On the other hand, the Lombard regional conflicts of the 1190s show that in practice the Po Valley was increasingly divided into two opposing coalitions.