After the failure of the negotiations between the Lombard cities, the pope and the imperial diplomats, Frederick invaded Lombardy from Verona. In November 1237 he won a great victory over the Lombard League at the Battle of Cortenuova, displaying his capability as a strategist and battlefield leader able to maneuver and prevail in difficult situations. Frederick celebrated the victory with a triumph in Cremona in the manner of an ancient Roman emperor, with the captured carroccio (later sent to the commune of Rome) and an elephant. The imperial victory at Cortenuova sent shockwaves around Europe and burnished Frederick’s already legendary status. Now at the zenith of his power, Frederick's political preeminence was seemingly unassailable and his hegemony was recognized across almost all of Europe. Not since the days of his father and grandfather, or perhaps even since the heyday of the Ottonians or Salians, had imperial sovereignty been in such a strong position.
After the failure of the negotiations between the Lombard cities, the pope and the imper,ial diplomats, Frederick invaded Lombardy from Verona. In November 1237 he won a great victory over the Lombard League at the Battle of Cortenuova, displaying his capability as a strategist and battlefield leader able to maneuver and prevail in difficult situations. Frederick celebrated the victory with a triumph in Cremona in the manner of an ancient Roman emperor with the captured carroccio (later sent to the commune of Rome) and an elephant. The imperial victory at Cortenuova sent shockwaves around Europe and burnished Frederi,ck’s already legendary status. Now at the zenith of his power, Frederick's political preeminence was seemingly unassailable and his hegemony was recognized across almost all of Europe. Not since the days of his father and grandfather or perhaps even since the heyday of the Ottonians or Salians, had imperial sovereignty been in such a strong position.