Battle of Montaperti
Monteaperti, about 6 km east of Siena, Tuscany, Italy
What happened
The Ghibelline army of Siena and its allies, including Florentine exiles led by Farinata degli Uberti and German knights, fought the larger Guelph army of Florence. Tuscany's cities were split between two rival factions, the Guelphs and the Ghibellines. Near Siena, the Florentine-led army fought all day against the Sienese. Late in the day a Florentine knight, Bocca degli Abati, switched sides, hidden German knights charged, and the Florentine army broke.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was a high point of the Guelph-Ghibelline feud and gave Siena and its allies control of the region. The poet Dante later placed the traitor Bocca degli Abati in the deepest circle of Hell in his 'Inferno'.
What came next
The Sienese captured Florence's carroccio, a sacred war cart carrying its banners. German soldiers used part of their pay to found the Church of San Giorgio in Siena, named after the battle cry.
Did you know?
The Ghibellines' signal to attack was the cry 'San Giorgio' (Saint George).
Timeline
- 1258Florence expels its last powerful Ghibelline families.
- 4 September 1260Siena and its allies win at Montaperti.