Peace of Constance
Constance (Konstanz), on Lake Constance, Germany
What happened
Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa and his son Henry VI, and the cities of the Lombard League in northern Italy. The cities of northern Italy had joined together in the Lombard League to resist the emperor's control and had defeated him at Legnano in 1176. After a truce, the emperor issued the Peace of Constance. The cities kept the right to elect their own councils and make their own laws, and in return swore loyalty to the emperor.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the emperor's formal recognition of self-government for a large group of Italian cities. Later generations celebrated it as a charter of city freedom.
What came next
The peace held through the rest of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, but from 1226 a second Lombard League clashed with Emperor Frederick II over it.
Did you know?
Because an emperor could not sign a treaty with his own subjects, the peace was issued as an imperial 'privilege', a grant from the emperor.
Timeline
- 7 April 1167The Lombard League is formed after the oath of Pontida.
- 29 May 1176The League defeats Barbarossa at Legnano.
- 1177The Treaty of Venice sets a truce.
- 25 June 1183The Peace of Constance is issued.
- 1226-1250A second Lombard League opposes Frederick II.