city state · Italy

Commune of Cremona

1098 CE – 1334 CE (approx.) · capital Cremona

A rich Po valley city-republic, usually loyal to the emperors and Milan's great rival, crowned by the Torrazzo bell tower.

Origins

Cremona's citizens won rights from their bishop in the late 11th century, and consuls are recorded from 1098. Commanding a crossing of the Po, the city became a major river port and soon clashed with Milan and its ally Crema.

Rule and society

Cremona was governed by consuls and later a podestà, with a strong guild of merchants and cloth makers. It generally sided with the emperors: it helped Frederick Barbarossa destroy Crema in 1160 and was a key base for Frederick II. The Torrazzo, one of the tallest medieval bell towers in Italy, and the cathedral date from this period. In the 13th century Ghibelline strongmen such as Buoso da Dovara and Uberto Pallavicino held power.

Decline and legacy

Faction struggles between the Cavalcabò and their rivals weakened the commune, and in 1334 it submitted to Azzone Visconti, becoming part of the Lordship of Milan.

Connections (2)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Commune of Cremona. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/commune-of-cremona
MLA
“Commune of Cremona.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/commune-of-cremona. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Commune of Cremona.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/commune-of-cremona.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Commune of Cremona’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/commune-of-cremona (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻