Activity of the League

This chapter describes the activities of the Lombard League, including warfare, diplomacy, resolution of disputes, the nova civitas of Alessandria, and the regulation of movement and trade. Many of the terms of association of the League concerned military issues. Given the conflict with the emperor, the most important one was probably committing the members to mutually helping and protecting each other, both with persons and goods. The policy of the League towards diplomacy is outlined by its set of rules. Mutual support among the members also included diplomatic assistance in the Curia of the pope or of the emperor. The League was also a peace association for its members, as is evident from its description as a Concordia or pax. It restored the cities disbanded by the emperor, in the cases of Milan and Tortona, and contributed to the rise of a new one, Alessandria.