Roccabianca
Welcome to Roccabianca: the story of a small municipality
Hello everyone! Are you ready to discover the history of Roccabianca, a municipality of just under 3000 inhabitants located in the province of Parma? Let's get started!
From origins to the 15th century
The first traces of life within the current territory of Roccabianca date back to 894, when the King of Italy Arnolfo of Carinthia assigned the lands of Fossa and Stagno to the Diocese of Parma. In 1058, on the other hand, a document from Emperor Henry IV of Franconia mentions the villages of Stagno and Tolarolo, which at the time belonged to the Borgi family of Cremona.
But let's get to the most interesting facts. The original nucleus of Roccabianca, then called Rezinoldo or Arzenoldo, was first mentioned in a diploma issued by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1189, who invested the Marquis Oberto Pallavicino with the fief.
The era of the Rossi: the construction of the fortress
Towards the end of the 14th century, the Rossi family of Parma became interested in the lands of Rezinoldo. In 1375, Rolando Rossi bought the entire area from Cabrino da Borgo, while the Pallavicino family acquired the possessions of Rodoldengo da Borgo. In 1416, Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg attested to the ownership of Rezinoldo by the brothers Giacomo de' Rossi and Pier Maria I de' Rossi.
The rivalry between the two families became increasingly acute and, to resolve it, in 1449 the Duke of Milan Francesco Sforza officially granted the fief to the Rossi family. The following year, Pier Maria II de' Rossi began the construction of the magnificent Rocca dei Rossi, which was completed in 1465 and, following the conquest of the castle, was donated to the lover Bianca Pellegrini in 1467.
The end of the Rossi and the conquest of the Pallavicino
Unfortunately for the Rossi family, the political climate changed radically during the 15th century. With the rise to power of Ludovico il Moro in the Duchy of Milan, the Rossi family gradually lost their prosperous power in favor of the Pallavicino and Sanvitale families.
In 1480, the inhabitants of the villages of Stagno and Tolarolo had to abandon their homes to take refuge in the Rocca dei Rossi, but despite the strong support from the San Secondo count, the conquest of the castle by the Pallavicino was inevitable after twenty days of siege.
The descendants of the Pallavicino family remained in control of Roccabianca until 1523, despite the claims of the Rossi family.
Conclusion
And so ends the story of Roccabianca: a municipality that has seen political and power changes but has preserved the beauty of its artistic and cultural heritage. If you have the opportunity to visit this city, don't miss it!
