The Diet of Roncaglia, held in 1158…
October 1158 CE
The Diet of Roncaglia, held in 1158 near Piacenza as a general assembly of the nobles and ecclesiasts of the Holy Roman Empire and representatives of each of the fourteen cities of the future Lombard League, follows a series of raids carried out by the forces of Frederick Barbarossa in Italy that have forced the submission of Milan.
The Emperor wishes to establish his rights as feudal sovereign in the face of the growing independence of trading cities, which had won charters of municipal privilege during the earlier periods of strife between Papacy and Empire.
The determination of the respective rights of the parties is left to four jurists from Bologna, the home of the great law school founded in 1088.
The lawyers' decision favors the emperor, judging that his rule is by divine right, thus restoring the Imperial rights established since the period of nascent trade under rule of Emperor Otto.
The lawyers proceed to define taxes, tolls, and exactions of various kinds to be imposed on trade.
The Diet sees the establishment of imperial officers in the cities of northern Italy, and the beginning of the long struggle with Pope Alexander III.