The Alberti's new walled town on the Petrognano hill above the Elsa, founded about 1177 and grown into a rival of Florence on the Via Francigena: its walls are a little shorter than Florence's own.
Florence has been at war with it since 1198 and has ringed it with posts at Barberino, Vico d'Elsa and Certaldo. In 1199 it joined Colle and San Gimignano. Within weeks both its lords will sell out to Florence (12 February and 6 March 1200), but the townsmen will hold out until the assault of 23 March 1202 and the surrender of 3 April 1202, after which the town is razed.
Who holds it
- Name
- Alberto IV and Scorcialupo da Mortennano; consuls not pinned for 1 January 1200
- Title
- Lords: Count Alberto IV degli Alberti (half) and Scorcialupo da Mortennano (half); governed by its consuls
- Confidence
- medium
Lord in 1200
Half Count Alberto IV's, half Scorcialupo da Mortennano's (since 18 July 1189). The town governs itself through three consuls and a council of seven (the article names consuls Uguiccio Isaki, Ildebrandinus Scoti and Orlandinus Nieri, date not pinned; a consul Mainesctus negotiated the alliance of November 1199).
How things stand that morning
Ringed by Florence, allied with Colle and San Gimignano, still held by its two lords and governed by its consuls. Celestine III had put Florence under interdict in 1196 for attacking its outer borgo at the abbot of Passignano's request.
Charter
Founded by Count Alberto about 1177; 'comes Albertus de Summofonte' at Henry VI's court in Bologna on 19 August 1187; half ceded to Scorcialupo on 18 July 1189.
Council
Three consuls and a council of seven named councillors.
Communities
The abbey of Passignano's holdings and parish title in the borgo (1192).
Militia
Town militia; in 1192 it captured Cardinal Ottaviano, probably on Henry VI's orders. The Rocca di Capo Bagnolo is its citadel.
Walls and castle
A four-pointed star of walls with a gate at each point: Porta al Bagnano (alla Fonte), Porta Tezanella, Porta San Niccolò and Porta Romana (Porta Grande), the last under the Torre del Leone; the square Rocca di Capo Bagnolo. The Semifonte article puts the population at the 1202 surrender at about 1,500, rejecting the old figure of 15,000.
Trade and crafts
Market town near the Via Francigena; property of the abbey of Passignano in the borgo (1192).
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The it.wikipedia article is detailed and dated from charters.
Sources and studies
- Semifonte (it.wikipedia)
- E. Faini, Firenze al tempo di Semifonte (storiadifirenze.org)
- Conti Alberti (it.wikipedia)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.