Cisalpine League

The Cisalpine League (Italian: *Lega Cisalpina*) was a political confederation of Italian cities established in 441 AD and dissolved in 468. The League's main goal was to ensure the safety and stability of the prosperous Cisalpine cities after the fall of the Roman Empire.

The league was ruled by the Grand Council of Free Cisalpine Cities, commonly known as the Grand Council, a governing body formed of representatives of the most powerful and influential cities of the confederation: originally Milan, Venice, Turin and Genoa. A second, lesser council, was formed of the representatives of the other cities and acted as an advisory and regulatory body. Soon after the foundation of the league, both the councils agreed on making their titles hereditary.

## Early History

Shortly after its foundation, the Cisalpine League worked to create diplomatic bonds with the greatest Mediterranean states of that time, strengthening its position as an international trading power.

In 443, the Grand Councillor and Supreme Doge of Venice, Orso Rodenigo, met king Kalinus Marcellinović of Illyria in Venice, laying the foundations for crucial future political developments.

In 445, the Cisalpine League, the Republic of Hispania, the Kingdom of Castille and the Republic of Sardinia and Corsica formed the trade alliance Via Maris Mediterranei. The organisation's main purpose was to intensify trading routes among the members while economically isolating the powerful Empire of Ardonia, whose presence in the Mediterranean, the Iberian peninsula and the Italian isles spread discontent among local leaders.

## Provençal Campaign

Around the time of the Cisalpine League's foundation, the Provençal government collapsed. The League started a prolonged military campaign to annex the Provençal land to its domain, arguing that, without the support of the Cisalpine cities, Provence was doomed to succumb to the Germans and the Gauls.

Although the Provençal campaign was mostly peaceful, the Cisalpine League and the Duchy of Lugaria, a vassal of the Semnone, were involved in a minor diplomatic crisis over disputed territory. The crisis was finally solved by peaceful means.

## Political Crisis

In 459, Orso Rodenigo of Venice was elected Supreme Councillor of the Cisalpine League. The position was created when Ugo Valdo Velisanti, Consul of Milan and Grand Councillor of the Free Cities, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The political crisis required the intervention of a skilled, respected politician, and Rodenigo had already proven his unmatched genius and moral cleanliness.

As Supreme Councillor, Rodenigo persisted in the creation of diplomatic bonds with the central Mediterranean powers. The same year of his election, Rodenigo founded the Foedus Mediterraneum "Co-Prosperitas" alliance with the rulers of Illyria, Greece and Greater Belgrade.

Two years later, in 461, the Cisalpine League agreed on a reciprocate defence pact with the newly formed Imperial Diarchy (Illyria and Greece united).

## Dissolution

In 467, Orso Rodenigo died at the age of eighty-seven without male heirs. His daughter, Cassandra, was married to Federigo Cervante, Consul of Turin, and had a son, Adriano.

Cassandra claimed her father's throne for her son, Adriano, but many opposed her. It was the beginning of the brief Cisalpine Civil War. Ludovico Lolli, Consul of Milan, led the reactionary faction against Cassandra and her allies.

Cassandra won the civil war in 468. With all her enemies arrested or banished, nobody was there to stop her when she formally dismantled the Cisalpine League and created the Principality of Italy. Adriano Cervante-Rodenigo became the Prince and ruler of Italy.