Siege of Crema

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Siege of Crema
Part of Guelphs and Ghibellines
The Comune of Crema (15th century)
Date 2 July 1159 – 25 January 1160 (6 months, 3 weeks and 2 days) Location Crema, Lombardy Result Imperial Victory
Belligerents
Holy Roman Empire Commune of Cremona Commune of Pavia	Comune of Crema
Commanders and leaders
Frederick Barbarossa Henry the Lion
Strength
15,000[1] 5,000 cavalry[2] 10,000 infantry[3]	9 mangonels
Casualties and losses
Heavy	City burned to the ground

The siege of Crema was a siege of the town of Crema, Lombardy by the Holy Roman Empire from 2 July 1159 to 25 January 1160. The Cremaschi attempted to defend their city from the Germans, but were eventually defeated by Frederick Barbarossa's men. Frederick seized Milan in 1162, shortly after he took Crema. These events started the wars of Guelphs and Ghibellines, leading to the formation of the Lombard League, a league of northern Italian communes allied against the emperor, supported by the Pope.