12 Facts About Ghibellines

Guelphs and Ghibellines were factions supporting the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively, in the Italian city-states of Central Italy and Northern Italy.

The Ghibellines were the imperial party, while the Guelphs supported the pope.

Broadly speaking, Guelphs tended to come from wealthy mercantile families, whereas Ghibellines were predominantly those whose wealth was based on agricultural estates.

Philip's heir, Emperor Frederick II, was an enemy of both Otto and the Papacy, and during Frederick's reign, the Guelphs became more strictly associated with the Papacy while the Ghibellines became supporters of the Empire and Frederick in particular.

Ghibellines then laid siege to Brescia but was forced to lift it.

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Ghibellines was forced to retreat, sacking the city of Benevento.

Things became worse for the imperial party as the Ghibellines were defeated in the Battle of Fossalta by the Bolognese, at which Enzo was captured and imprisoned until his death.

The Sienese Ghibellines inflicted a noteworthy defeat upon Florentine Guelphs at the Battle of Montaperti .

Division between Guelphs and Ghibellines was especially important in Florence, although the two sides frequently rebelled one against the other and struggled for power in many of the other northern Italian cities as well.

Those who were not connected to either side or who had no connections to either Guelphs or Ghibellines considered both factions unworthy of support but were still affected by changes of power in their respective cities.

The Ghibellines then supported Louis' invasion of Italy and coronation as King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor.

In Milan, the Guelphs and Ghibellines cooperated in the creation of the Golden Ambrosian Republic in 1447, but over the next few years engaged in some intense disputes.