Frontier town · Smaller communes and their contadi · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Pontremoli

Pontremoli is the town at the head of the Magra valley, where the Via Francigena comes down from the Cisa pass into the Lunigiana.

In 1167 its men blocked Frederick I's passage over the Cisa on his retreat from Rome, and Obizzo Malaspina guided him through his own lands instead. The town has become a commune under the Empire (the Treccani encyclopedia calls it a commune recognised by Frederick I in 1167), takes part in the wars between Parma and Piacenza, and has sided with the bishop of Luni against the Malaspina. On 1 January 1200 it governs itself and its upper valley; who leads it that winter is not pinned.

Who holds it

Title
The commune of Pontremoli
Confidence
low

Lord in 1200

Its own commune under the Empire, with no single lord: the Malaspina claim rights over it and their disputes will be put to Piacenza's judgment in 1200; it has fought the Malaspina alongside the bishop of Luni.

How things stand that morning

Self-governing commune; in dispute with the Malaspina.

Charter

Imperial recognition [the 1167 date in Treccani conflicts with the town's resistance to Frederick that year; not pinned]; Frederick II's privileges of 1226 come later.

Council

Consuls [not pinned].

Militia

Town militia; the castle (the Piagnaro, 11th century) commands the road.

Walls and castle

The Piagnaro castle above the town.

Trade and crafts

A road town of the Via Francigena: inns, tolls and the passage over the Cisa.

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.

  1. 1200 (month not pinned)The Malaspina agree to submit their disputes with Pontremoli to Piacenza's judgment.Depends on: The Piacenza-Malaspina alliance. Stopped by: Pontremoli refusing Piacenza's court.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Encyclopedic summaries only; no dated act of the commune for 1199-1200 was found.

Sources and studies

  1. Pontremoli, Enciclopedia Italiana (Treccani)
  2. Pontremoli (it.wikipedia)
  3. Alberto Malaspina, DBI (Treccani)

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.