Battle of Colle Val d'Elsa

A Guelph carries on a spear the head of Provenzan Salvani

Date	16 June 1269
Location	near Colle di Val d'Elsa, Tuscany present-day Italy
Result	Guelph victory

Belligerents

Ghibellines:

Siena

Guelphs:

Charles of Anjou

Florence

Commanders and leaders

†

Giambertoldo

Strength

9,400
1,400 cavalry
8,000 infantry

1,100
800 cavalry
300 infantry

Casualties and losses

Heavy

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.

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.

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, 400 French horse under the command of Marshal Giambertoldo, vicar of King Charles of Anjou in Tuscany, arrived in Colle Val d'Elsa followed by another contingent of 400 Florentine horse. The Florentine foot, except for a fraction, did however not arrive in time for the battle.

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Wikipedia