Siege of Faenza

In this military confrontation, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II aggressively laid siege to the town of Faenza and successfully captured the city.

With these accomplishments complete, the Emperor assembled an army and turned his attention to reasserting control over the rebellious northern Italian cities in his Empire.

[2] Once he reached northern Italy in the late summer of 1237, Frederick II and his Ghibelline allies quickly captured the cities of Mantua and Ferrara.

[4] In August 1238, Frederick II attempted to capture the city of Brescia by means of a siege; this effort failed and in October an armistice was put in place.

Then in March 1239 Gregory IX excommunicated Frederick II for ten crimes including inciting "rebellion in Rome against the Pope and Cardinals" and being in "contempt of the papal decision between himself and the Lombards.

"[6] In addition, Gregory IX proclaimed a Crusade against the Emperor and raised a large Guelph army to fight against the enemies of the Pope.

[7] And finally, the Pope declared that excommunication included for Frederick II a forfeiture of his Empire, and instructed the German princes to move forward with an election.

Frederick II considered a siege on Milan but changed his mind and led his army into Tuscany,where he spent Christmas in Pisa.

When food supplies ran short in the besieged city, the citizens sought permission to send out their women, children, and non-combatants.

This request was denied by Frederick II as he knew that such an act would only prolong the siege of those fighting men that remained inside the city walls.