Crema was besieged and razed by Frederick I in 1159-1160, with Cremona as his eager helper, and rebuilt from 1185 as a fortified town (castrum) with Milanese backing.
In 1199 it gave itself new walls, ditches and gates. Its commune of consuls governs the Cremasco, the old Isola Fulcheria between the Adda, the Serio and the Tormo, which Countess Matilda had granted to the church and commune of Cremona in 1098 and which Cremona still claims. Crema is the ally of Milan and Brescia against Cremona, faced by Cremonese castles at Castelleone (1188), Romanengo and Soncino.
Who holds it
- Title
- consuls of the commune
- Confidence
- low
Lord in 1200
Self-governing commune under Milan's protection.
Overlord
The Empire; under Milan's protection.
Allies and rivals
Allies: Milan, Brescia (allied with Crema against Cremona before 1191). Rival: Cremona. The counts of Camisano, rural lords of the northern Cremasco, are said to have been backed by Cremona [thin].
How things stand that morning
Self-governing under its consuls, newly walled, allied to Milan and Brescia; across its borders Cremona holds Castelleone, Romanengo and Soncino, Bergamo holds the plain to the north-east, and the Milanese and Lodigiani hold the Gera d'Adda and the land beyond the Adda (lmw). No campaign against Crema is pinned for the winter of 1199-1200.
Charter
No imperial charter of its own that we can pin; its rebuilding in 1185 followed Frederick I's reconciliation with Milan. Henry VI favoured Cremona in 1191 [whether his grant named Crema is not pinned].
Council
Consuls of the commune [names for 1199-1200 not pinned].
Communities
Church: the town lay in the diocese of Piacenza, the Cremasco divided between the dioceses of Piacenza, Cremona and Lodi [medium].
Militia
Town militia [no figures].
Walls and castle
New walls, ditches and gates in 1199 (it.wikipedia, Crema).
Trade and crafts
Farming of the wet meadows of the Isola; the road between Milan, Lodi, Brescia and Bergamo [low].
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.
- 1200 (not pinned)Cremonese pressure on the Cremasco continues as part of the war of Milan against Cremona and Bergamo.Depends on: the war continuing Stopped by: a truce
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Rebuilding and 1199 walls from it.wikipedia; the rest from general history; officers not pinned.
On the map: The Cremasco is drawn from its modern comuni (Crema to Camisano and Capralba in the north, Montodine and Ripalta in the south) [medium]; Pandino, Dovera and Spino on the west are left to lmw.
Sources and studies
- it.wikipedia, Crema (Italia)
- it.wikipedia, Battaglia di Rudiano
- Enciclopedia Italiana (Treccani), Cremona
- it.wikipedia, Castelleone
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.