The struggle continued: the Empire lost Como and Modena, but regained Ravenna. From early 1250, the situation progressively favoured Frederick II. In the first month of the year, the indomitable Ranieri of Viterbo died, depriving pro-papal leadership in Italy of an implacable foe of Frederick. An army sent to invade the Kingdom of Sicily under the command of Cardinal Pietro Capocci was crushed in the Marche at the Battle of Cingoli and Imperial condottieri again reconquered the Romagna, the Marche and Spoleto. Conrad, King of the Romans, scored several victories in Germany against William of Holland and forced the pro-papal Rhenish archbishops to sign a truce. Innocent IV was increasingly isolated as support for the papal cause dwindled rapidly in Germany, Italy, and across Europe generally. Frederick of Antioch, as imperial vicar of Tuscany and podestà of Florence, had relatively stabilized the region by heavy-handed but effective means (although the loyalty of the Tuscan Ghibellines was pragmatic). Piacenza changed allegiances to Frederick and Oberto Pallavicino, Imperial vicar of Lombardy, defeated Parma and recaptured a swathe of central Lombardy. Ezzelino da Romano held Verona, Vicenza, Padua and the Trevisan March along with most of eastern Lombardy. Only Milan, Brescia, Modena, Mantua, Ferrara, and Bologna held out. Genoa was threatened by Frederick's allies and Venice's support for Innocent and the League waned. The forces of the League had never truly recovered from the defeat at Cortenuova in 1237 and their resistance was more confined to the major cities like Milan and Bologna. Even with imperial prospects brightening however, large areas of Italy had been ravaged by years of war and the League’s defense works made assaulting some of its cities difficult. The demands of war forced the Emperor to levy increasingly higher taxation over the past few years. Even the resources of the wealthy and prosperous Kingdom of Sicily were strained. Frederick's unified regime in Italy and Sicily was despotic and brutal, imposing harsh taxes and ruthlessly suppressing dissent wherever it could. Nevertheless, that his administrative system consistently recovered in the face of reversals remains an impressive feat.
The struggle continued the Empire lost Como and Modena but regained Ravenna From early 1250 the situation progressively favoured Frederick II In the first month of the year the indomitable Ranieri of Viterbo died depriving pro-papal leadership in Italy of an implacable foe of Frederick An army sent to invade the Kingdom of Sicily under the command of Cardinal Pietro Capocci was crushed in the Marche at the Battle of Cingoli and Imperial condottieri again reconquered the Romagna the Marche and Spoleto Conrad King of the Romans scored several victories in Germany against William of Holland and forced the pro-papal Rhenish archbishops to sign a truce Innocent IV was increasingly isolated as support for the papal cause dwindled rapidly in Germany Italy and across Europe generally Frederick of Antioch as imperial vicar of Tuscany and podestà of Florence had relatively stabilized the region by heavy-handed but effective means (although the loyalty of the Tuscan Ghibellines was pragmatic) Piacenza changed allegiances to Frederick and Oberto Pallavicino Imperial vicar of Lombardy defeated Parma and recaptured a swathe of central Lombardy Ezzelino da Romano held Verona Vicenza Padua and the Trevisan March along with most of eastern Lombardy Only Milan Brescia Modena Mantua Ferrara and Bologna held out Genoa was threatened by Frederick's allies and Venice's support for Innocent and the League waned The forces of the League had never truly recovered from the defeat at Cortenuova in 1237 and their resistance was more confined to the major cities like Milan and Bologna Even with imperial prospects brightening however large areas of Italy had been ravaged by years of war and the League’s defense works made assaulting some of its cities difficult The demands of war forced the Emperor to levy increasingly higher taxation over the past few years Even the resources of the wealthy and prosperous Kingdom of Sicily were strained Frederick's unified regime in Italy and Sicily was despotic and brutal imposing harsh taxes and ruthlessly suppressing dissent wherever it could Nevertheless that his administrative system consistently recovered in the face of reversals remains an impressive feat