The middle Valdelsa between Certaldo, Barberino, Poggibonsi, Colle and San Gimignano is a raided zone in the winter of 1199-1200.
Florence has been at war with Semifonte since 1198, holding Barberino as headquarters, Vico d'Elsa and Certaldo (taken 11 May 1198) round it; in 1199 Colle and San Gimignano made war on Poggibonsi with raids and destruction (the war of Casaglia), and Semifonte joined their alliance (pact of 24 November 1199).
How things stand that morning
Active: neither side can farm the ground between the posts in safety.
Who raids here
Florence's garrisons (Barberino, Vico d'Elsa, Certaldo) against Semifonte and the Alberti castles; Colle and San Gimignano against Poggibonsi; Semifonte's militia against Florence's posts.
Anchors on each side
Florence: Barberino Val d'Elsa, Vico d'Elsa, Certaldo. Semifonte and its allies: Semifonte, Colle di Val d'Elsa, San Gimignano. Poggibonsi on its hill.
Last campaign
1199 (the Casaglia raids; Florence's blockade of Semifonte continuing).
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Dated in the Semifonte and Colle di Val d'Elsa articles; the extent is a reconstruction.
On the map: Overlays the communes' own ground; drawn as a band round the posts and towns named in the sources.
Sources and studies
- Semifonte (it.wikipedia)
- Colle di Val d'Elsa (it.wikipedia)
- E. Faini, Firenze al tempo di Semifonte (storiadifirenze.org)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.