The Lombard League, an alliance which included many of the cities in northern Italy, played a crucial role in the evolution of Italy's political landscape. The League enjoyed an iconic status, glorified in 19th-century political and historical pamphlets, and also in paintings, novels and even operas. Historiography has overlooked the cooperation among the Italian city republics and has instead labelled medieval Italy as politically fragmented. This volume offers new interpretations, by examining the League's structure, activity, place in political thought, and its links with regional...