<P> During the 11th century in northern Italy a new political and social structure emerged : the city - state or commune . The civic culture which arose from this urbs was remarkable . In some places where communes arose ( e.g. Britain and France ) , they were absorbed by the monarchical state as it emerged . They survived in northern and central Italy as in a handful of other regions throughout Europe to become independent and powerful city - states . In Italy the breakaway from their feudal overlords occurred in the late 12th century and 13th century , during the Investiture Controversy between the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor : Milan led the Lombard cities against the Holy Roman Emperors and defeated them , gaining independence ( battles of Legnano , 1176 , and Parma , 1248 ; see Lombard League ) . </P>
<P> During the 11th century in northern Italy a new political and social structure emerged : the city - state or commune . The civic culture which arose from this urbs was remarkable . In some places where communes arose ( e.g. Britain and France ) , they were absorbed by the monarchical state as it emerged . They survived in northern and central Italy as in a handful of other regions throughout Europe to become independent and powerful city - states . In Italy the breakaway from their feudal overlords occurred in the late 12th century and 13th century , during the Investiture Controversy between the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor : Milan led the Lombard cities against the Holy Roman Emperors and defeated them , gaining independence ( battles of Legnano , 1176 , and Parma , 1248 ; see Lombard League ) . </P>
who did the lombard league give the most power to
who did the lombard league give the most power to
Milan
Milan