   the battle of legnano was fought on may 29, 1176, between the forces of the holy roman empire, led by emperor frederick barbarossa, and the lombard league. the imperial army suffered a major defeat. ==the lombard league== the lombard league was formed in 1167, largely out of the veronese league.lexikon des mittelalters: band iv seite 931 it was a union of lombard cities promising each other unity, against emperor frederick i barbarossa. the lombardy cities swore the oath at pontida, a small village in lombardy. after the disastrous defeat of pope alexander iii at the battle of monte porzio in may 1167 by the imperial forces, the lombard league remained as the last legitimate fighting force opposing the emperor and was therefore heavily backed by the pope. ==frederick's 5th italian campaign== in september 1174, frederick embarked on his fifth italian campaign, to quench the constant revolts in lombardy and settle his quarrels with pope alexander iii. frederick led a force of 8,000 knightserich brandenburg, die nachkommen karls des groÃen over the alps and arrived in piedmont in late september. his cousin henry the lion and his forces were once again not a part of the imperial campaign. frederick wanted to take revenge on susa for its behaviour of 1168, and on september 30 his forces captured and burned down the town. his next goal was the town of asti, which he captured after a seven-day siege. in october, frederick finally received the promised imperial reinforcements from bohemia. upon frederick's rapid and fierce initial success, margrave william of montferrat and the count of biandrate abandoned the lombard league.kurowskifranz:p.292 ==siege of alessandria== the siege of alessandria was an important event in frederick's fifth campaign as this was a campaign of revenge, with the aim of the total destruction of the lombard league and the removal of the pope alexander iii. frederick's next
1176_in_Italy Battles_involving_the_Holy_Roman_Empire History_of_Lombardy Wars_of_the_Guelphs_and_Ghibellines