Charles defeated a coalition of Ghibellines at the Battle of Cassano in 1259, and he was determined to bring down the Astigiani forces that remained.
The most prominent was that of the powerful bankers of the Solaro family, who, in 1314, gave the city to King Robert of Naples.
In 1342 however, the menace of the Solaro counter-offensive led the new rulers to submit to Luchino Visconti of Milan.
In 1345, in the Battle of Gamenario, the Ghibelline Astigiani and John II of Montferrat again defeated the Angevine Neapolitan troops.
John also ruled over Asti until 1372, but seven years later the city council submitted to Galeazzo II Visconti's authority.