The family of Alcherio da Torre, who held the Blenio valley for the emperor until 1176.
After the valley's men destroyed his castle of Serravalle (about 1180), Alcherio built a new castle at Curtero near Torre; the communities of Blenio and Leventina, backed by Milan, then swore the Pact of Torre (1182) and besieged and dismantled it. His son Guido was named advocate of Blenio by Henry VI, probably in 1190/91, but lost the office to his rival Vilfredo Orelli, appointed by the cathedral chapter of Milan. The family keeps lands and alpine pastures in the valley: Guido sells the alps of Pradasca and Carassino to Olivone in 1207.
Who he is
- Name
- Guido da Torre, son of Alcherio
- Title
- Lords in the Blenio valley; advocate (avogadro) of Blenio by Henry VI's appointment, probably 1190/91, later displaced
- Since
- Advocacy probably 1190/91; who holds it on 1 January 1200 is not pinned
- Born
- not pinned (died after 1228)
- Family
- Son of Alcherio da Torre; brother of Rainero; wife Bonavera. He later made peace with the Orelli and married a daughter to Enrico Orelli, advocate of Blenio.
- Confidence
- medium
HLS, Torre, Guido da (L. Deplazes), citing K. Meyer (1916); HLS, Torre; HLS, Tre Valli Ambrosiane.
Overlord
The cathedral chapter (ordinari) of Milan, lord of the valley; Henry VI (dead since 1197) for the advocacy.
What it holds
- Lands and alpine pastures round Torre and Olivone (extent not pinned)
- A claim to the advocacy of Blenio from Henry VI's grant
How it was acquired
Inheritance; the advocacy from Henry VI (1190/91).
Allies and rivals
Imperial in origin; rivals of the Orelli (later reconciled) and of the valley communities and the Milan chapter. In 1224 Guido will be chief witness for the lords of Sax-Misox against the chapter.
How things stand that morning
Living in the valley with diminished rights after the loss of the advocacy; the Milan chapter and the valley communities hold the lordship.
Wealth
Alpine pastures and dues in Blenio.
Military
No castle left standing in 1200 is documented (Serravalle destroyed about 1180, Curtero dismantled after 1182).
Threats
- The valley communities and the chapter
Places of note
- Site of the castle of Serravalle: Destroyed by the valley men about 1180.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: HLS biography with dated acts (1190/91, 1207, 1224, 1228); the date of his loss of the advocacy is not pinned.
On the map: Their lands are scattered rights, not a block.
Primary sources for Milan
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Chronicle of Sicard, bishop of Cremona, Sicard of Cremona (about 1210 to 1213). A universal chronicle whose last part is a well-placed eyewitness account by a Lombard bishop who served emperors and popes. Read online
- The Lombard city annals of Piacenza, Milan, Cremona, Parma, Mantua and Verona (kept in the 12th and 13th centuries). The communes' own year lists. Read online
- The Registers of Pope Innocent III for 1199 to 1201, Innocent III and the papal chancery (22 February 1199 to 21 February 1201). The pope's outgoing letters for the year, in his chancery's own copy, touching nearly every realm in the atlas. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.