The Firidolfi are the lords of the central Chianti between Florence and Siena, with the castles of Ricasoli (from which one line takes its name), Brolio, Cacchiano, Meleto, Vertine, Campi, Tornano and Panzano.
They hold imperial fiefs granted in 1167 and 1187 and lost Montegrossi to Florence (1182 or 1198). The line between Florence and Siena across their country will be fixed only by the award of 1203, which leaves it to Florence.
Who he is
- Name
- The Firidolfi kindred (the Ricasoli and Panzano lines); head in 1200 not pinned
- Title
- Lords of the central Chianti, holding imperial fiefs
- Family
- Firidolfi
- Confidence
- low
it.wikipedia (Ricasoli famiglia): Frederick I gave Campi and Tornano to Ranieri Firidolfi in 1167; the castle of Ricasoli was received as a fief from Henry VI in 1187; from 1197 the family also held Moriano, San Martino, Stiella, Monteluco and Casale; Brolio, Cacchiano, Meleto, Vertine and Panzano are listed among their castles.
Overlord
The Empire (fiefs from Frederick I and Henry VI).
What it holds
- Ricasoli (fief from Henry VI, 1187)
- Brolio
- Cacchiano
- Meleto
- Vertine
- Campi and Tornano (from Frederick I, 1167)
- Panzano
- Moriano, San Martino, Stiella, Monteluco and Casale (from 1197)
How it was acquired
Old Chianti lineage (Ridolfo son of Geremia witnessed a placitum in 1029); imperial grants of 1167 and 1187.
Allies and rivals
Florence (took Montegrossi); Siena (whose claims reach into the Chianti); the abbey of Coltibuono (an ally of Semifonte early in the war).
How things stand that morning
Holding their castles in the zone both Florence and Siena claim; their allegiance between the two is not pinned.
Wealth
Vineyards (the family's viticulture is attested from 1141), woods and castles on the roads between Florence and Siena.
Military
Hill castles; kindred knights.
Threats
- Florence's advance (Montegrossi lost)
- Sienese raids
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 1203 (beyond 1200)The arbiter's award fixing the Florence and Siena line in the Chianti in Florence's favour.Depends on: both cities accepting arbitration Stopped by: war
Places of note
- Brolio: Firidolfi castle
- Montegrossi: Castle taken from the Firidolfi by Florence
Where the sources disagree
- Montegrossi: taken by Florence in 1182 (Ricasoli family article) or 1198 (Semifonte article).
Evidence: Grants dated; members in 1200 not named.
On the map: The Gaiole unit also contains Coltibuono abbey and Florence's Montegrossi.
Primary sources for Empire
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.
- Annals of Marbach (compiled to 1238, the section on 1198 to 1210 written in the early 13th century). Alsatian annals on the Staufen side of the Upper Rhine. Read online
- Annals of Reiner of Saint James, Liège, Reiner of Liège (1197 to 1230, kept year by year). Contemporary annals kept inside Liège. Read online
- Chronicle of Burchard of Ursberg, Burchard of Ursberg (about 1229 to 1230, reworked by Conrad of Lichtenau). Written a generation later by a fierce partisan of the Staufen and a critic of Innocent III. Read online
- Chronicle of Otto of St Blasien, Otto of St Blasien (about 1209 to 1210). A Swabian continuation of Otto of Freising written from the Staufen side. Read online
- Chronicle of Reinhardsbrunn; Chronicle of St Peter's, Erfurt (Erfurt chronicle in the 13th century; Reinhardsbrunn compilation about 1340 to 1349 from older annals). The two Thuringian chronicles. Read online
- Chronicle of the Slavs, by Arnold of Lübeck, Arnold of Lübeck (about 1209 to 1210). Arnold continues Helmold and writes from Lübeck, close to Danish, Welf and Baltic affairs. Read online
- Royal Chronicle of Cologne (in stages from about 1175 to about 1250; the section on 1198 to 1220 written soon after the events). The fullest German narrative of the throne war from the Welf and Cologne side. Read online
- Chronicle of Hainaut, Gislebert of Mons (about 1195 to 1196). Ends in 1195, so it has no 1200 entries, but it is the indispensable background for Flanders and Hainaut: the career of Count Baldwin V of Hainaut (VIII of Flanders), his union of the two counties, the settlement with Philip over Artois, the rights, castles, fiefs and vassals of Hainaut listed by a man who ran its chancery, and the youth of Baldwin IX, who held both counties in 1200. Read online
8 more in the sources library for The Rhineland, the Low Countries and the Swiss Lands.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.