Purgatorio (English)

Battles between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines

The struggle between European monarchs, particularly between the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope, would lead to over a hundred years of conflict in Italy. The Investiture Quarrel caused a split between the Italian city-states and even the populations of the city-states. Guelf was the name given to those who supported the papacy — while the Ghibellines were supporters of the Holy Roman Empire. Guelph cities tended to be further from the Papal States and closer to the Holy Roman Empire, while Ghibelline cities were further from the Holy Roman Empire and closer to the temporal power of the Pope.

Battles raged across Italy from the mid-1100s to the mid-1300s, with both sides coming to dominate at one point or another. This sixth Men of Iron game covers some of these battles: starting with Frederick Barbarossa attempting to retake rebellious provinces in Italy in the late 12th century, crossing into the 13th century with a few battles that marked the end of direct Hohenstaufen rule in Italy, and ending with a war that, according to myth, was fought over the theft of a bucket from one city by another!

Battles include:

• Legnano May 29, 1176 – Frederick Barbarossa fights the Lombard League for control of northern Italy.
• Cortenuova November 27, 1237 – Frederick II, grandson of Barbarossa, clashes with the Second Lombard League for control of northern Italy.
• Montaperti September 4, 1260 – Florence and Sienna fight one of the bloodiest battles in medieval Italy — as seen on television, or in GMT's Inferno!
• Benevento February 26, 1266 – Manfred, King of Sicily, died in battle in southern Italy against Charles I, also King of Sicily, thus ensuring Charles I the title of King of Sicily.
• Tagliacozzo August 23, 1268 – Conradin III, King of Jerusalem, is captured and executed after a battle in southern Italy against Charles I, King of Sicily.
• Campaldino June 11, 1289 – Florence and Arezzo fight in northern Italy. The famous Italian poet Dante Alighieri fought in the battle. Later, his Guelf version lost power in Florence, and he was forced into exile.
• Zappolino November 15, 1325 – Modena and Bologna fight, not over an oak bucket stolen from a well, but because of a long feud marked by raids and reprisals that had lasted for almost a century.

This game will use 9/16" counters.

Time scale: 1 to 5 hours

Map scale: approximately 110 yards per hex

Units: approximately 500 for infantry, 250 for missile units and 150 for mounted men-at-arms

Players: 1-2

Components:

• Three 22" x 34" game cards (printed back)
• One 22" x 34" game card (front only)
• Two and a half sheets of counters
• Two player aid cards
• One rule book
• One Playbook
• Two 10-sided dice
• Single flight point