Castle of Pontevico

About

The Castle of Pontevico is a former fortification built at the height of the early Middle Ages in Pontevico, Province of Brescia, currently used as a neuropsychiatric institute. It has also been remodeled several times over the centuries, due to the continuous sieges suffered over time. It was completely rebuilt in 1844, and the current version dates from the second half of the 20th century.

The Oglio River in front of the castle. With the Frankish conquest of the territory at the hands of Charlemagne, dating back to the 9th century, feudal struggles began (first between bishoprics and then between communes ) and Pontevico found itself placed in an important strategic position along the course of the Oglio River.

The first construction of a castle dates back to the end of the 9th century due to the continuous raids carried out by the Hungarians at that time, being remembered in the chronicles of the time as a colossal stronghold, called munitissimum castrum. A wide moat equipped with drawbridges surrounded the fortress and encircled its forts. It is thought of the ancient presence of an underground road that, starting from the castle, connected Pontevico to nearby Robecco d'Oglio.

The long conflict between Guelphs and Ghibellines

On July 26, 1127, Count Goizone Martinengo granted the investiture of Pontevico Castle to Bishop Villano and the consuls of the Commune of Brescia.

In 1191, Pontevico Castle had been, at the hands of Emperor Henry VI, ceded to the people of Cremona. However, it is known for certain that, in January of the following year, it immediately returned to Brescian hands, so much so that along with it came under Pontevico's control not only the waters of the Oglio River, but also the 100 trabucchi (170 meters) starting from the right bank of the Oglio, in Cremonese territory, and with them plantations, pastures and every building located in that area.

Also by the end of the 12th century, the fortress was one of the most important in the Brescian area, so much so that in the same period it was further renovated and enlarged as part of the grandiose military measures of the Commune of Brescia to deal with the growing threat from Cremona. On the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the new fortress, a special ceremony was held, in which the three most influential men in the town, after touching the pole of the public banner with their right hand, bowed and kissed the foundation stone, with the bishop's blessing.

The conflict between Guelphs and Ghibellines was developing during the century: Cremona was a city of Ghibelline traditions and bargained for the Empire, while Brescia was Guelph and bargained for the Church. The contadi of the two cities were divided by the Oglio River, and at the center of the border was Pontevico, which became the bulwark of the defense of Brescia's territory.

- See also: Battle of Cortenuova The fortress of Pontevico was, during this period, the target of Brescian outlaws who, out of spite against the city, tried to take possession of the fortress and cede it to the Cremonese. In 1208, the most egregious case happened: the Marquis Guido Lupo, commanding an army reinforced by soldiers from Parma and Cremona, besieged the castle and took possession of it, though it is not known whether by force or through the surrender or betrayal of the garrison commanders. The fort was then ceded to the Cremonese. However, due to Milanese help, the Brescians managed in the same year to retake the fortress, commanded by the then podestà of Brescia Obizone Pusterla. Guelph soldiers managed to penetrate the castle during the night with the enemy sentries half-asleep, so much so that with that event the mocking phrase Dormono i cremonesi nel castello di Pontevico (The Cremonese sleep in Pontevico Castle) was born.

In 1237, on the eve of the Battle of Cortenuova, the army of the Lombard League was stationed in the fortress. The army made the mistake of moving northwest, leaving Frederick II to cross the Oglio River right at Pontevico, where he found no resistance. The Emperor gave a military parade in the town, in which not only the Alemannic soldiers took part, but also the Saracens, who paraded their war elephants through the streets of the town. The following year, with the defeat suffered in the siege of Brescia, Frederick was forced to leave Pontevico (which he set on fire on the way to the town), which returned to the hands of the Brescians. However, in 1242 the Malessardi outlaws managed to seize the castle and cede it to the Cremonese. The Brescians managed to retake Pontevico in 1248, following the defeat suffered by the emperor in Parma. On March 8, 1252, Brescia and Cremona reached a settlement.

In this period, as a document signed by Alberto Notaio indicates, there were two castles in the town. In addition to this one, the larger one located in the upper part of the town, there was another one defending the lower part of the town, still called borgo, which disappeared during this century.

In 1260, Uberto Pelavicino conquered the Brescia area; however, the people of Brescia dismissed the governors imposed by the marquis, who, in quick response, razed many castles in the Lower Brescian area, including that of Pontevico. Despite this, the town returned to Brescian hands, while the fortress was rebuilt over the next few years.

In 1308, the episode of Bishop Nicholas of Butrint is notable. The prelate was the bearer of an important letter and was in Soncino, subsequently being taken prisoner in Pontevico, garrisoned by 300 Guelphs. However, the religious man, after destroying the incriminated letter, ordered his servants to arrange everything as best he could and invited all the soldiers who were holding him to lunch in the military compound. As can be deduced from his diary, the bishop asked to be allowed to go to Robecco d'Oglio for wine, which was then in short supply at the castle:

The river could not be traversed without a boat, so, having set the tables, I asked without fail to go, accompanied by a friar preacher known to the people of Pontevico, to Robecco to provide the necessary wine.

Thus, having crossed the Oglio, he did indeed keep his promise to send wine to the castle, but he did so by sending back the friar of Pontevico and pretending, in agreement with the castellan of Robecco, to be detained in the village. He thus managed to free himself by an ingenious stratagem.

In 1311, the fortress was passed into the possession of the Ghibelline Giberto da Correggio, following the faction's success in the Siege of Brescia, which brought the entire Brescia area under the Lordship of Milan. During much of the 14th century, Brescia and Cremona being subjugated by the Visconti, it was precisely the Visconti and the Scaligeri, lords of Verona, who fought over the territory.

In 1362, the anti-Visconti League took possession of the village but the castellan managed to maintain control of the fortress, calling Bernabò Visconti to his aid. The armies of the League, formed by the Lords of Verona, Ferrara, Mantua and Carrara, with the support of the local population (the fortress did not contain any inhabitants of Pontevico), besieged the castle with 28 companies of knights and a large number of foot soldiers.

- The Allies placed in front of the castle twenty-eight cavalrymen's insignia, as well as a large number of foot soldiers.

Bernabò, having gathered a good number of knights, headed for the fortress. Meanwhile, the besiegers, not knowing what aid the Visconti had sent, ended up putting the conquest of the fortress on the back burner; thus, the castellan warned Bernabò, who had arrived near Pontevico, of the Guelphs' lack of vigilance.

- Having taken the lower part of the Castle, those in the Fortress bargained to surrender in case no help arrived within a few days. The Allies placed many soldiers in the Castle, who, not being aware of the amount of reinforcements arriving, were placed haphazardly. The very shrewd castellan understood their lack of vigilance and reported this to M. Bernabò.