Battle of Monte Porzio

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Battle of Monte Porzio
Date 29 May 1167
Location Between the hill of Monte Porzio Catone and the walls of the city of Tusculum, field "Prataporci", modern Lazio
Result Imperialist victory
Combatants
Holy Roman Empire Rome
Commanders
Christian of Buch and Rainald of Dassel probably Oddo Frangipani
Strength
1,600 40,000

The Battle of Monte Porzio or Battle of Tusculum was fought between a small hill outside Tusculum and the city walls, location "Prataporci", on 29 May 1167. The "greatest army which Rome had sent into the field in centuries"[1] was defeated by the forces of the Holy Roman Emperor and the local princes.

In 1167, the emperor Frederick Barbarossa set out on an expedition to Italy with the intent of deposing Pope Alexander III and setting up his antipope, Paschal III, in the Lateran. The Archchancellor Rainald of Dassel, Archbishop of Cologne, and Christian of Buch, Archbishop of Mainz, were sent into Latium to take cities in opposition. On 18 May, Rainald took Civita Vecchia and then moved on to friendly Tusculum, possibly at the urging of Raino, Count of Tusculum. Rainald explained his move in a letter to Henry II of Limburg:

“ nos cum sola nostra et d. cancellarii Philippi militia Tusculanum ingressi sumus, ne civitas illa, imperio summe necessaria, perderetur. ”

The Romans had meanwhile been harassing Tusculum, though Pope Alexander urged them to abstain from this. After Rainald's arrival, Rome marched an army to besiege the chancellor in their ancient rival city.

Raino and Rainald then sent word to Christian, then besieging Ancona. Among Christian's army were Alexander II, Bishop of Liège, and Robert III of Loritello. According to Romuald of Salerno, also present with Christian's army was Andrew of Rupecanina. Christian's army consisted of 1,300 troops. According to Otto of St. Blasien, this was a combination of 500 milites and 800 Cæaesarianos. Otto also puts 300 men in Tusculum. Other chroniclers give the Germans 1,000 cavalry and some Brabantine mercenaries. The lowest total estimate for Christian's forces is 500 men.

Christian encamped his army beside the hill and rested it for a day while trying to negotiate a resolution. The Romans refused Christian's diplomatic overtures and instead attacked with a whole force numbering 40,000 on Whitsunday. The leader of the Romans is not preserved, but it may have been Oddo Frangipani. The imperialists were gravely outnumbered, but they prepared for battle anyway. The Brabançons were quickly routed, but the cavalry of Cologne stood up to the Roman infantry. Two charges from Tusculum divided the Romans: one hitting their flank and one running through the centre. The Romans' cavalry fled the field and the Brabançons descended on the Roman camp. A third of the Roman hoste made it into the city walls before nightfall. Thousands were taken prisoner to Viterbo (including a son of Oddo Frangipani) and more left dead on the field and the road.

The defeat has been called the "Cannae of the Middle Ages".[2] The pope and Oddo took refuge in the Coliseum and called in reinforcements. The city prepared for a siege. The army of the Emperor Frederick, however, was hit hard by an epidemic (malaria or plague) and had to withdraw his forces to Germany.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Gregorovius. Rome in the Middle Ages Vol. IV Part 1. trans. Annie Hamilton. pg 580.
  2. ^ Gregorovius. pg 582.

[edit] Sources

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