city state · Italy

Commune of Pavia

1100 CE – 1359 CE (approx.) · capital Pavia

The old Lombard royal capital turned city-republic, a loyal imperial ally and Milan's bitter rival until the Visconti took it in 1359.

Origins

Pavia had been the capital of the Kingdom of the Lombards and the coronation city of the Kingdom of Italy (medieval). Around 1100 its citizens organised a commune under consuls, inheriting the city's royal palace traditions and a renowned school of law.

Rule and society

Consuls and later a podestà ruled the city, which stood firmly with the emperors against Milan, fighting it repeatedly in the 12th and 13th centuries. Pavia controlled the confluence of the Ticino and the Po and much of the Lomellina. Its churches, such as San Michele Maggiore where kings were crowned and San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro with Saint Augustine's tomb, reflected its royal past. The Beccaria family dominated in the 14th century.

Decline and legacy

Galeazzo II Visconti captured Pavia in 1359 after a long siege, absorbing it into the Lordship of Milan. The Visconti built a castle there, founded the university in 1361 and later the Certosa di Pavia.

Connections (2)

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

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻