DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63447#0279
THE PEACE OF CONSTANCE. 263
to the Emperor, and by him adjudged through the medium
of magistrates chosen by him, who were to give sentence
within two months, in strict conformity to the custom of
the country, town, or city in which the case was pleaded.
It was also stipulated that the King of the Romans,
passing through Italy on his way to receive the Imperial
crown at Rome, was to have free passage over all the
roads, bridges, and fords ; and that conveyance should be
offered to him, as well as all necessaries for himself, his
suite, and followers, as well as during his residence
within the Lombard cities, over which the right of
“ Regalia ” was reserved. But it was promised that a
discreet use only should be made of these privileges and
rights, which had often been so hatefully abused.
Thus the political interests of the Italian communities
were legally established, nor did Frederick ever attempt
to evade the strict fulfilment of his obligations.
The destinies of the Peninsula were thenceforth
virtually in their own keeping. If ever there was a
moment for a ransomed population to exclaim, ‘‘Not by
our power and might, but by Thy hand, oh Lord, have
we gotten the victory,” it was this; for the plague before
Rome, and the treason of Henry the Lion, could not but
be deemed visible interpositions of Providence, occurring
as they did exactly at the moment so propitious to the
Guelph party in Italy, and overawing the most bitter
foes of the latter, their own brethren the Ghibellines.
History has rarely to record a treaty so well observed as
that of Constance. The Emperor received the oath of
fealty from all the Lombard deputies, consuls, and
Podestas in the names of their respective communities ;
and to each he, in return, gave a standard as a token of
formal investiture of their stipulated rights.
When the heat of passion had died away, and the wise
regulations of Frederick were no longer offensive to the
feelings of the Italians, by being forced on them, either
by a conqueror or a rival, many of them were adopted
voluntarily by the natives, a fact which must suffice to
clear his memory from the accusation of being merely a
to the Emperor, and by him adjudged through the medium
of magistrates chosen by him, who were to give sentence
within two months, in strict conformity to the custom of
the country, town, or city in which the case was pleaded.
It was also stipulated that the King of the Romans,
passing through Italy on his way to receive the Imperial
crown at Rome, was to have free passage over all the
roads, bridges, and fords ; and that conveyance should be
offered to him, as well as all necessaries for himself, his
suite, and followers, as well as during his residence
within the Lombard cities, over which the right of
“ Regalia ” was reserved. But it was promised that a
discreet use only should be made of these privileges and
rights, which had often been so hatefully abused.
Thus the political interests of the Italian communities
were legally established, nor did Frederick ever attempt
to evade the strict fulfilment of his obligations.
The destinies of the Peninsula were thenceforth
virtually in their own keeping. If ever there was a
moment for a ransomed population to exclaim, ‘‘Not by
our power and might, but by Thy hand, oh Lord, have
we gotten the victory,” it was this; for the plague before
Rome, and the treason of Henry the Lion, could not but
be deemed visible interpositions of Providence, occurring
as they did exactly at the moment so propitious to the
Guelph party in Italy, and overawing the most bitter
foes of the latter, their own brethren the Ghibellines.
History has rarely to record a treaty so well observed as
that of Constance. The Emperor received the oath of
fealty from all the Lombard deputies, consuls, and
Podestas in the names of their respective communities ;
and to each he, in return, gave a standard as a token of
formal investiture of their stipulated rights.
When the heat of passion had died away, and the wise
regulations of Frederick were no longer offensive to the
feelings of the Italians, by being forced on them, either
by a conqueror or a rival, many of them were adopted
voluntarily by the natives, a fact which must suffice to
clear his memory from the accusation of being merely a