Peace of Constance

The Peace of Constance is the year 1183 between the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa and the northern Italian cities of the Lombard League in Konstanz closed peace treaty.

The treaty was a final written record of already funded under the Peace of Venice in 1177 between the emperor and the Lombard League agreements. The federal government and the right of communities to form alliances, was recognized by the emperor. The cities so vehemently that called by the Emperor during the Diet of Roncaglia 1158 regalia were left against one-time or annual payments. Thus, the municipal constitution was accepted in imperial Italy by the Emperor, after all attempts of Frederick to stop this special development had failed. The municipalities now enjoyed a privileged status. In return, they committed themselves to military service and accepted that their elected consuls were formally used by imperial officers and had to make an oath of allegiance. In serious cases also could be appealed to the emperor as supreme court masters.

The municipalities were perceived as an independent entity with the contract and its Constitution, which was designed to self- government and a relatively strong autonomy, legitimized by the emperor. This was novel and presents the peculiarity of the peace treaty, particularly since the local gentry were not aristocratic, but cooperative coined. Thus, the Lombard League was legitimized permanent.

The peace document was cast in bronze in 1990 and can be admired at Constance Emperor Fountain in the market place.