Editing Parma (section)

===Middle Ages===
[[File:Battistero.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Baptistery of Parma]], 1196–1270]]

Under [[Franks|Frankish]] rule, Parma became the capital of a county in 774. Like most northern Italian cities, it was nominally a part of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] created by [[Charlemagne]], but locally ruled by its bishops, the first being Guibodus. In the subsequent struggles between the [[Papal States|Papacy]] and the Empire, Parma was usually a member of the Imperial party. Two of its bishops became [[antipope]]s: Càdalo, founder of the cathedral, as [[Antipope Honorius II|Honorius II]]; and Guibert, as [[Antipope Clement III|Clement III]]. An almost independent [[medieval commune|commune]] was created around 1140; a treaty between Parma and [[Piacenza]] of 1149 is the earliest document of a ''comune'' headed by [[consul]]s.<ref>G. Drei, ''Le Carte degli archivi parmensi del secolo XII'' (Parma, 1950) doc. no. 194; the genesis of the Parmesan commune is studied by R. Schumann, "Authority and the commune: Parma, 833–1033", (Parma: Deputazione di storia patria, series 2.2, VIII) 1973.</ref> After the [[Peace of Constance]] in 1183  confirmed the Italian communes' rights of self-governance, long-standing quarrels with the neighbouring communes of [[Reggio Emilia]], Piacenza and [[Cremona]] became harsher, with the aim of controlling the vital trading line over the [[Po River]].

The struggle between [[Guelphs and Ghibellines]] was a feature of Parma too. In 1213, her {{lang|it|[[podestà]]}} was the Guelph [[Rambertino Buvalelli]]. Then, after a long stance alongside the emperors, the Papist families of the city gained control in 1248. The city was besieged in 1247–48 by Emperor [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]], who was however crushed in [[Battle of Parma|the battle]] that ensued.

By 1328, [[Rolando de' Rossi]] was made ''[[signore]]'' of Parma. In 1331, the city submitted to King [[John of Bohemia]]. Parma fell under the control of [[Milan]] in 1341. After a short-lived period of independence under the Terzi family (1404–1409), the [[Sforza]] imposed their rule (1440–1449) through their associated families of [[Pallavicini family|Pallavicino]], Rossi, Sanvitale and Da Correggio. These created a kind of new [[feudalism]], building towers and castles throughout the city and the land. These fiefs evolved into truly independent states: the Landi governed the higher [[Taro (river)|Taro]]'s valley from 1257 to 1682. The Pallavicino seignory extended over the eastern part of today's province, with the capital in [[Busseto]]. Parma's territories were an exception for Northern Italy, as its feudal subdivision frequently continued until more recent years. For example, Solignano was a Pallavicino family possession until 1805, and [[San Secondo Parmense|San Secondo]] belonged to the Rossi well into the 19th century.