Battle of Colle Val d'Elsa

Battle of Colle Val'd'Elsa
Part of the conflict between Guelphs and Ghibellines
XIV century thumbnail, Roma Chigiana Library: an infantryman carries on a spear the head of Provenzan Salvani
Date 16 June 1269 Location near Colle di Val d'Elsa (SI), present-day Italy Result Guelph victory
Belligerents
Siena (Ghibellines)	Charles of Anjou Florence (Guelphs) Colle di Val d'Elsa
Commanders and leaders
Provenzano Salvani	Giambertoldo
Strength
9,400 (1,400 cavalry, 8,000 infantry)	1,100 (800 cavalry, 300 infantry)

The battle of Colle di Val d'Elsa took place between 16 and 17 June 1269 at Colle di Val d'Elsa between the Ghibelline troops of Siena and the Guelph troops of Charles of Anjou and Florence, represented by fewer than 200 knights commanded by Neri de' Bardi.

Background

After the battle of Montaperti where Siena, a Ghibelline city, defeated Guelph Florence on 4 September 1260, Colle Val d'Elsa found itself in the Guelph camp. Indeed, Colle had ended up as a center for many former citizens of Siena who, finding themselves on the wrong (Guelph) side, had been persecuted and driven into exile by Siena's dominant Ghibelline party.

On 27 August 1268 yet another battle took place on the edge of Rome between King Charles of Anjou, rushing to the defense of the Pope, and Conradin leading a Ghibelline army: the outcome was a Guelph victory. But the Ghibellines, despite the defeat, continued their persecution of Guelphs and took possession of the Castle of Ulignano.

Then the surrounding municipalities (especially Colle and San Gimignano) decided to attack the castle and chase the fugitives to Pisa and Poggibonsi, until the bulk of the Ghibelline militias found themselves within the walls of Siena and Pisa.

The battle

In June 1269 Captain Provenzano Salvani and Count Guido Novello left Siena with 1400 knights and 8000 infantry from Siena, Pisa, Germany, Spain, Florentine exiles and other Tuscans, camping in the Badia plateau near the Spugna Abbey.

The Colle inhabitants, who did not expect this siege, locked themselves up between the fortifications of Colle Alta (Higher Colle) and sent messengers to seek help from Florence.

The next day, French troops under the command of Marshal Giambertoldo, vicar of King Charles of Anjou, arrived in Colle Val d'Elsa, followed - twenty-four hours later - by another contingent of 400 Florence troops (which didn't arrive in time for the battle).

During the night the Marshal lined the French over the walls of Colle Alta and conquered the Ghibelline castle inside Colle. Next morning, the Ghibelline tower signaled the approach of troops sent from Florence (actually the Florence army was still in Barberino), and ordered the trumpets to be sounded and people to shout loudly to persuade the Ghibellines that combat troops were much more than they believe. It seems that the trick worked, because in the early morning the Ghibellines retreated to San Marziale, and remained on the hill Poggio ai Berci.

Marshal Giambertoldo ordered the Colle militias to get around that hill and to remain hidden until the moment he appeared with the insignia of Florence in front of the Siena troops and attacked them. During hisadvance the Marshal tore down the bridge of San Marziale to prevent a retreat of his soldiers, but also to slow down the escape of Siena.

Once in sight of the Ghibellines, Gianbertoldo started the battle, while Colle inhabitants were shouting and waving their weapons, giving the feeling that more troops were waiting to attack.

Captain Salvani threatened, promised compensation and shouted, but the Ghibelline soldiers fought only briefly and badly, retiring soon and giving themselves to flight. Many were hunted down and killed by the Guelphs, while Salvani, not wanting to return to Siena defeated, threw himself into the fray and was killed by Regolino Tolomei, his sworn enemy.

Aftermath

Gianbertoldo had managed, with only 800 horsemen and 300 infantry of Colle, to cunningly defeat an army of no less than 9400 men. All this happened under the eyes of Sapia Salvani of Siena, sung by Dante's Divine Comedy (Purgatorio, Canto XIII et seq.), who followed the battle, praying for the defeat of her countrymen.