From the 11th century onwards, part of the region was governed by the prince-bishops of Trent and Brixen, to whom the Holy Roman Emperors had given extensive temporal powers over their bishoprics.
A partir do século XI, parte da rexión estaba gobernada polos príncipes-bispos de Trento e Brixen, a quen o Emperador do Sacro Imperio Romano Xermánico deu amplos poderes sobre os seus bispados.