The commune of the lower Scrivia, a free commune since about 1122, destroyed by Barbarossa and the Pavese in April 1155 after a famous siege and rebuilt by the Milanese.
Its whole twelfth-century story is enmity with Pavia (which took Voghera from it in 1164) and alliance with Milan. Its contado runs up the Scrivia toward the Ligurian passes, where it meets Genoa's and the Malaspina's lands. Its part in the Milanese campaigns of 1199 is not pinned.
Who rules
- Name
- Not pinned: the officers in office on 1 January 1200 are not named in the sources consulted
- Title
- Podesta or consuls of the commune
- Since
- not pinned
- Confidence
- low
No list of consuls or podestas for 1199-1200 was found.
Overlord
The emperor, under the Peace of Constance.
What the realm holds
- The city on its hill and the near countryside
- The lower Scrivia plain: Castelnuovo Scrivia, Pontecurone, Viguzzolo, Sale
- The hills of the Curone and Grue valleys: Volpedo, Monleale, Garbagna
- The upper Scrivia toward Serravalle and Novi
How it was acquired
From the bishop's county (the bishop's comital rights were granted within one mile by Otto I and three miles by Otto II in 979) and by the commune's own expansion.
Allies and rivals
Ally of Milan; enemy of Pavia. Neighbours: Alessandria to the west, Genoa and the marquises of Gavi to the south, the Malaspina in the Apennine valleys to the east, Piacenza's Oltrepo beyond.
The realm that morning
A Milanese ally facing Pavia across the Staffora and the Po. No dated event of 1199-1200 found.
Wealth
The road from Genoa over the Apennines into Lombardy (the Scrivia route), the Scrivia crossings, farming. No mint of its own in 1200.
Military
The communal host and the castle on the hill. No figures.
Threats
- Pavia
- Genoa's push into the Scrivia passes (it acquires Gavi from its marquises in the early 1200s, by the usual account in 1202)
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 (date not pinned)Entry into office of the commune's officers for 1200.Depends on: The usual election date, not pinned. Stopped by: Internal strife.
- 1202 (beyond 1200)Genoa acquires Gavi from its marquises (usual date 1202, not checked here), closing on Tortona's southern hills.Depends on: Genoa's money and the marquises' needs. Stopped by: A Tortonese or Alessandrine counter-offer.
Places of note
- Castelnuovo Scrivia: Northern stronghold of the contado toward Pavia.
- Serravalle: On the road to the Ligurian passes (old Libarna).
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The twelfth-century pattern (Pavia against Tortona and Milan) is certain; the 1199-1200 position, the officers and the contado's southern limits are not pinned.
On the map: Rough outline; the southern limit toward Novi, Gavi and Serravalle and the eastern limit toward the Malaspina valleys are not pinned.
Primary sources for this realm
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 Genoa, by Caffaro and his continuators, with Ogerio Pane for 1197 to 1219, Ogerio Pane and the other official annalists of Genoa (year by year under the commune's authority; the 1197 to 1219 section by Ogerio Pane). The official record of the commune. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.