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618:(or Torriani) had gained the most important political charges in the commune, this way nullifying the democratic ideals of the original medieval commune. They had also launched a program of public works and military expansions, which however brought the Milanese treasure to collapse; the use of often reckless mercenary units further exacerbated the population, granting an increasing support for the Della Torre traditional enemies, the Visconti.
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Whether
Visconti had foreknowledge, or the villagers rebelled, the fact is that at dawn on 21 January 1277 the surprise attack against the government forces succeeded and the village of Desio was captured. The gates were opened, and the rebels defeated the Milanese army: Francesco della Torre was killed, while his brother
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at Como, where he died the following year. Despite the minor size of the battle, Napo's capture was a fatal blow for the della Torre's party. The
Visconti easily seized Milan and put their supporters in the most important positions, gradually strengthening their power, which lasted until the mid-15th
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However, during the inhabitants of Desio abandoned the now hated
Milanese government. Visconti (whom, according to tradition, was warned of the occasion; while others state that the Visconti attack pushed the populace to rebellion) rushed to the town before the Milanese reinforcements could arrive.
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and charged them of high treason: the
Visconti, who accused the Della Torre of the same crimes, were then banned from Milan and their properties confiscated. The civil war which ensued caused more damage to Milan's population and economy, lasting for more than a decade.
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In the 13th century, the politic life in Milan shared the same path of many other communes in Italy, living an increasing series of inner divisions and episodes of corruption. In the decades preceding the battle, the noble family of the
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On 20 January, 500 Milanese heavy cavalry moved to occupy Desio, where they would be joined by another 500 heavy cavalry which had just pushed back a rebel attack at
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Although generally considered one of the numerous minor battles fought in the 13th century in Italy during the
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and its countryside. The battlefield is located near the modern
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51:adding citations to reliable sources
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777:Wars of the Guelphs and Ghibellines
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767:Battles involving Italy
340:Guelphs and Ghibellines
139:Guelphs and Ghibellines
268:Commanders and leaders
757:13th century in Italy
405:Reign of Frederick II
262:House of Della Torre
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16:1277 battle in Italy
627:archbishop of Milan
278:Rizzardo di Lomello
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762:Conflicts in 1277
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455:-Frederick II
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45:Please help
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679:Archbishop
661:Archbishop
616:Della Torre
572:Della Torre
476:Tagliacozzo
389:Alessandria
204: /
741:Categories
687:in triumph
646:The battle
609:Background
511:Campaldino
486:Roccavione
466:Montaperti
411:Cortenuova
77:newspapers
734:century.
555:Gamenario
548:Zappolino
471:Benevento
399:Calcinato
34:does not
631:Urban IV
629:by Pope
603:signoria
588:Lombardy
576:Visconti
441:Fossalta
180:Lombardy
171:Location
696:Brianza
639:Cathars
538:Soncino
531:Brescia
461:Cassano
446:Cingoli
431:Viterbo
416:Brescia
394:Legnano
374:Carcano
364:Spoleto
359:Tortona
297:†
285: (
192:09°13′E
189:45°37′N
91:scholar
55:removed
40:sources
719:Civate
710:, and
516:Lastra
426:Giglio
421:Faenza
248:Novara
217:Result
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712:Lecco
704:Desio
685:Milan
584:Desio
580:Milan
501:Forli
491:Desio
436:Parma
379:Milan
369:Crema
245:Pavia
176:Desio
98:JSTOR
84:books
727:Napo
708:Erba
700:Como
574:and
566:The
453:Post
251:Como
163:Date
70:news
38:any
36:cite
352:Pre
288:POW
49:by
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