СНАР. XI. 1235-1239. The Campaign in Northern Italy was now all but begun. Frederick left Spires, after endeavouring to prevent the burghers of Strasburg from making war on the Count of Leiningen; he betook himself to Augsburg, the usual starting-point for the Italian enterprise. He bade farewell to several of the German Prelates and Princes, and marched southward, making a bargain on the way with the Bishop of Passau, who was being dunned by his Roman and Sienese creditors for the debts of his Church. Frederick, who had sent his Empress on before him, crossed the Brenner in September, and turned his back on Germany for ever. The Bishop of Worms and the Burgrave of Nuremberg were among his followers. His army was not very strong; the most interesting member of it, in our eyes, was a strapping youth of nineteen, seven feet high, with a small head, pale face, long nose, and thin hair, who ate and drank but little, and who had more wisdom than wealth.* This youth was Rodolph of Habsburg. On his being promoted to Frederick's throne, more than thirty years after this time, he profited by the experience he gained in this and other campaigns, and took good care never to meddle in the faithless politics of Italy. Frederick reached Verona on the 10th of September. He had ordered up into the North 10,000 Arabs from Lucera, who halted at Ravenna in order to defend that city from the Lombard League. Faenza had also declared for the Emperor, and was held by Simon Count of Chieti at the head of 500 knights. Theobald Francesco, a noble in whom Chron. Colmar. Frederick put great trust, was Vicar in the Trevisan March. Morra had come up from the Kingdom to meet his Lord. Gebhard brought up the Saracens, Apulians, and Tuscans, coming through Ferrara.* Frederick now marched by Mantico to Vacaldo, near Verona; his enemy the Count of San Bonifazio had encamped at Goito. The Emperor, having called Eccelin to his aid, began operations by attacking Mantua; a siege of a few days led to its surrender, which took place on the 1st of October. Rolandini says, I saw envoys come from Mantua; they offered their homage to the Empire and to the Crown, and Frederick received it with joyful countenance.' He gave the city a Charter on condition of its renouncing the Lombard League, promised it the restoration of the Castle of Gonzaga, and dispensed with the customary exaction of hostages. It was to supply his army with provisions, while he was warring against Brescia. The Charter was signed by Frederick's old friend the Patriarch of Antioch, who was soon in very bad odour at Rome, and by Hermann von Salza, who had preceded the Kaiser across the Alps. This was the fourth journey into Italy which this peacemaker had undertaken within the space of two years. Even now, he did not cease to besiege the Imperial ear with earnest petitions for concord. Frederick made the Ghibelline Podestas of Cremona, Parma, and Modena swear to the peace with the Mantuans, whom he allowed to retain their old privileges, much to their delight; for their Veronese enemies had boasted that Mantua would be given * Ric. San Germano. Chronicon. CHAP. XI. 1235-1239. CHAP. up to plunder. Frederick contented himself with chiding the Mantuans for shutting their gates on 1235-1239. their Emperor, who had come to pacify Italy, not to conquer it. Such conduct must not be repeated.* Still a few months later, we find the Mantuans in disgrace for wounding and robbing a man who was bringing some falcons to Frederick. He now ordered the surrender of the Castle of San Bonifazio, which had held out for so long a time against Eccelin. The Emperor strove to reconcile the fiery spirits who surrounded him. Azzo of Este and the other old Guelfs saw with disgust the favour shown to the Ghibellines; James of Carrara, a noble of Padua, described as a wise and good man, who was the founder of a princely line, happened to quarrel with Eccelin; he tried to strike the Lord of Romano, and half drew his sword, when Frederick himself rushed between them. Eccelin had his revenge a few years later. The Emperor showed himself courteous to all; it was by the advice of the nobles of the Trevisan March that he had dealt so gently with Mantua, in order that he might the more easily make war on the other rebel states. He granted investiture to three nephews of James of Carrara, when that knight had taken the oath of fealty. He wrote a letter in approval of Gonfalonerio, a Brescian, who was prevented by the rival party from repairing to the Imperial standard. This man was enjoined to send to headquarters all the news he could pick up, for the Emperor wished to find out, whether the Lombards meant to march against his own army, or to attack But Cremona. All good Ghibellines were to take comfort from the assurance, that their long-expected deliverer was at hand, with a mightier host than any Emperor for many years past had led. He said he was well aware of the Milanese tactics; they would not meet him in battle, but would watch the fords of the countless Lombard streams. But the serpent was to be crushed in the head, not in the tail. Few to the East of the Adige cared to dispute Frederick's sway. The Bishop of Padua sent two Proctors to receive investiture on his behalf. Arnold, the fugitive Abbot of St. Justina, had appeared before the Emperor at Verona, had met with a warm welcome, and had followed the camp for two months.* Frederick would have nothing to say to the two Cardinals, who came to Mantua in the hope of making peace; he was better pleased with an embassy from the Roman people. The Italian Ghibellines were now flocking to his camp; Reggio and Parma sent him many knights. Mantua having yielded, Frederick marched Westwards, leaving Solferino to his right, and took Brescia in hand; the city had lately strengthened her walls, but he ravaged her territories, and laid siege to Montechiari, one of her strong castles. This step he took by Eccelin's advice, as usual; Salinguerra, the Count of San Bonifazio, and the Mantuans, were now attached to his army.† The siege began on the 7th of October; two trebuchets were employed. Frederick had 7000 Saracens, (the rest were on duty in the various garrisons), 2000 Germans, 500 knights from the Trevisan March under Eccelin, and many soldiers * Monach. Patavinus. VOL. II. † Chronicon. E СНАР. XI. 1235-1239. XI. CHAP. from Trent, Mantua, Cremona, and Modena. The Emperor's trebuchets did great damage to the walls 1235-1239. of Montechiari, and the garrison had planned to escape by night, each man shifting for himself. Eccelin and others tried to make terms for them. Frederick summoned to his tent their chief, Conrad of Concisa. He came, with some knights; the Emperor got others of the better class into his power, and then ordered them to surrender. The Castle was burnt, after the siege had lasted nearly three weeks.* The captives, 1500 in number, were sent off to Cremona; they declared Frederick guilty of a breach of faith, as according to their account he had promised them their freedom and their property, if they would yield; but the Emperor averred that he had annexed a further condition, the surrender of Brescia.+ The Milanese now came out to the help of their Eastern allies; Piacenza, Alessandria, Vercelli, Novara, and Lodi were on the same side; it is said, that the knights alone were 6000, all on horses cased in steel. Unluckily for the Lombards, their army crossed the Oglio; this movement the Emperor afterwards called a happy chance. After visiting Brescia, they took up a strong position in the marshes near Manerbio, facing Frederick, who was at Ponte Vico to the south. A muddy and impassable stream parted the two armies. The Emperor allowed Hermann von Salza and other pious men to make one more effort for peace; he in vain sent a challenge to the rebels, offering them the choice of ground. They refused to listen either to his words or to his trum * Chronicon. † Rolandini. M. Paris. |