Siege of Crema
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Crema was a siege of the town of Crema, Lombardy by the Holy Roman Empire
in 1159. The Cremans tried to defend their city from the German invaders, but they were eventually defeated by Frederick's men. The people who weren't killed in the siege were decapitated along with the inhabitants of the city. Frederick Barbarossa
let his men play football with the severed heads of the decapitated, and this outraged Pope Alexander III
. Frederick seized Milan
in 1162 shortly after he took Crema. This started the wars of Guelphs and Ghibellines
, and this would last until the year 1529.
led an army into Italy
to conquer northern Italy. The city of Crema
was allied to his enemy, the city of Milan
, and he was encouraged to attack the walls by the city of Cremona
. The Cremese settled into their city to hold against a siege. Barbarossa killed his prisoners, so the Cremese hacked their prisoners to pieces in front of their comrades. Rumor said that Barbarossa flung city children from catapults against the city's walls. The besiegers used a "cat" mobile roof to cover their siege engineers who were mining under the walls. This led to the Cremese also digging tunnels to start underground warfare. Soon, the civilians died of hunger and disease, prompting them to surrender. They were allowed to leave before Crema was burnt to the ground. Soon, Milan was taken.
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
in 1159. The Cremans tried to defend their city from the German invaders, but they were eventually defeated by Frederick's men. The people who weren't killed in the siege were decapitated along with the inhabitants of the city. Frederick Barbarossa
Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term...
let his men play football with the severed heads of the decapitated, and this outraged Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III , born Rolando of Siena, was Pope from 1159 to 1181. He is noted in history for laying the foundation stone for the Notre Dame de Paris.-Church career:...
. Frederick seized Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
in 1162 shortly after he took Crema. This started the wars of Guelphs and Ghibellines
Guelphs and Ghibellines
The Guelphs and Ghibellines were factions supporting the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively, in central and northern Italy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the split between these two parties was a particularly important aspect of the internal policy of the Italian city-states...
, and this would last until the year 1529.
Background
In 1158, Frederick BarbarossaFrederick I, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term...
led an army into Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to conquer northern Italy. The city of Crema
Crema
-Other uses:* Crema , a thin layer of foam at the top of a cup of espresso* Crema Mexicana, or Mexican fresh cream, akin to crème fraîche...
was allied to his enemy, the city of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, and he was encouraged to attack the walls by the city of Cremona
Cremona
Cremona is a city and comune in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River in the middle of the Pianura Padana . It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local City and Province governments...
. The Cremese settled into their city to hold against a siege. Barbarossa killed his prisoners, so the Cremese hacked their prisoners to pieces in front of their comrades. Rumor said that Barbarossa flung city children from catapults against the city's walls. The besiegers used a "cat" mobile roof to cover their siege engineers who were mining under the walls. This led to the Cremese also digging tunnels to start underground warfare. Soon, the civilians died of hunger and disease, prompting them to surrender. They were allowed to leave before Crema was burnt to the ground. Soon, Milan was taken.