Battles & Campaigns · 1237
Battle of Cortenuova
Cortenuova, Lombardy, Italy
What happened
After weeks of stalemate in autumn rain, Frederick pretended to withdraw. The League army, strung out on muddy roads, was spotted, and the emperor's forces attacked. The League gathered around its carroccio, a sacred war wagon, but slipped away in the night and was overtaken at dawn.
Why it matters
The League's field army was effectively destroyed, and several cities submitted to the emperor. It also raised tensions between Frederick and Pope Gregory IX.
What came next
Milan refused to surrender, and Frederick's siege of Brescia in 1238 failed.
Did you know?
The captured Milanese carroccio was dragged through Cremona by an elephant the emperor had received from the Sultan of Egypt.
Timeline
- 29 May 1176Battle of Legnano.
- 27–28 Nov 1237Battle of Cortenuova.
- 1238Frederick's siege of Brescia fails.
- 1239Frederick is excommunicated again.