refuse, continued to work for the rebel cities. The latter showed
their gratitude by founding a new town, which was to be a common
fortress for the whole league, and naming it Alessandria in honor of
their ally. The citizens took an oath of fealty to the Pope and agreed
to pay him a yearly tax. The new foundation, although laughed at at
first by the imperialists and called Alessandria della Paglia, from
its hastily constructed straw huts, soon held a population of fifteen
thousand. It continues to-day to reflect credit on its sponsor.

Contrary to all expectations it was six years before Frederick
returned to Italy, and the Lombard League was meanwhile left master of
the field. This delay is undoubtedly ascribable to the fact that the
Emperor found it impossible at once to raise another army. The recent
blows of fate had been too severe, and no enthusiasm for a new Italian
war could be called into being. When, later, Frederick did recross the
Alps it was with the mere shadow of an army; the nobles had seized
every possible excuse to remain at home.

No doubt but that the enforced rest was of benefit to Germany; there
at least the Emperor's power was undiminished. Indeed, the lands of
many of those who had been carried away by the pestilence had fallen
to him by inheritance, or lapsed as fiefs of the crown. Frederick is
the first of the emperors who really acquired great family
possessions. These helped him to maintain his imperial power without
having to rely too much on the often untrustworthy princes of the
realm. The Salian estates, to which his father had fallen heir on the
death of Henry V, formed a nucleus, while, by purchase and otherwise,
he acquired castle after castle, and one stretch of territory after
another, especially in Suabia and the Rhine Palatinate.