Frederick's Siege of Milan

Timeline

1. 1159Milan · MilanAfter its walls were demolished, Milan secretly rebuilt its defenses and formed an alliance with Lombard cities such as Crema and Brescia, openly rejecting imperial authority and becoming the core of the northern Italian resistance movement.
2. 1159Milan · MilanFrederick I led Holy Roman Emperor forces and allied troops to the walls of Milan, constructing siege camps and blockade lines to formally begin a prolonged siege of Milan, while also detaching forces to deal with its allied city of Crema.
3. 1161Canne (northwest of Milan) · Province of MilanImperial forces dug trenches and built ramparts around Canne northwest of Milan, forming a blockade line several kilometers long (the Canne position), completely cutting Milan off from the outside world and bringing the siege into its most brutal phase.
4. 1159–1162Milan · MilanThe siege lasted nearly two and a half years, with Milan's defenders holding out amid hunger and plague, while Lombard League relief forces repeatedly attempted in vain to break the siege. Imperial forces continuously tightened the blockade, ultimately forcing Milan to surrender in 1162.