The largest city between the Po and the Apennines and the home of the law schools.
Inside its second circuit of walls stand the towers of the noble families (the Asinelli tower was begun in 1109, the Garisenda beside it), the cathedral of San Pietro and the commune's courts; outside lie suburbs along the Via Emilia and the roads to Florence and Ferrara.
Who holds it
- Name
- Orlando (Rolando) Rossi of Parma
- Title
- Podestà for 1199
- Since
- 1199
- Confidence
- medium
See the realm record Bologna; the 1200 podestà is not pinned.
Lord in 1200
The commune, under its podestà; Bishop Gerardo Ariosti (since late 1198) holds the cathedral and the episcopal rights.
How things stand that morning
Governed by its commune; no imperial or papal officer.
Charter
Diploma of Henry V (Governolo, 1116) to the citizens; membership of the Lombard League and the Peace of Constance (1183), confirming the regalia; Henry VI's diploma of 1191 granting the right of coinage. The earliest surviving statutes are much later (1245-1250).
Council
The podestà (from 1151, Guido da Sasso the first), the consuls of justice, a council of the credenza (the inner council) and a general council. The arms societies and craft guilds that make up the people's regime (popolo) are only taking shape; the popolo's rising is in 1228.
Communities
Students and masters from across Europe, organising in nations; a Jewish presence is not documented for 1200 in the sources read.
Fairs and markets
Not pinned for 1200 in the sources read.
Militia
Raised by the four quarters named after the gates of the old walls (Porta Stiera, Porta San Procolo, Porta Ravegnana, Porta Piera); the knights of the tower families.
Walls and castle
The second circuit (the torresotti), built in the later twelfth century after Barbarossa had the old walls levelled; the third circuit is begun only in the thirteenth century. No citadel.
Trade and crafts
Teaching and the book trade of the law schools (Azo, Hugolinus, Lothair of Cremona, Alanus Anglicus, Laurentius Hispanus, Boncompagno da Signa about 1200); cloth and leather; money-changing; the market of the plain's grain; the road over the Apennines to Florence and Pistoia; canals toward the Reno and Ferrara.
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.
- Start of the 1200 term (not pinned)The new podestà takes office.Depends on: Election in the councils. Stopped by: Nothing likely.
Places of note
- Asinelli and Garisenda towers: The towers of the great families
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Institutions and walls from the general histories; the 1199 podestà from one source.
On the map: The near land is drawn as about 6 km round the walls.
Sources and studies
- Storia di Bologna (it.wikipedia)
- Castel San Pietro Terme (it.wikipedia)
- Arcidiocesi di Bologna (it.wikipedia)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.