Pavia - San Michele Maggiore

Pavia once was the last stronghold of the Ostrogoths, but was conquered by the Lombards (aka Longobards) after a three-years-siege in 572.

From the 7th century on Pavia was the capital of the Lombard kingdom. A chapel, dedicated to Saint Michel, existed here as part of the palace, when the Lombards ruled from here.
When Frankish troops invaded Northern Italy and defeated the Lombard armee in 773, Charlemagne laid siege to Pavia. After taking the fortified town, Charlemagne crowned himself King of the Lombards.

The former palace-chapel burnt down in 1005, about a century after the Hungarians (= "Magyars") had looted Pavia.

The church seen here was begun in the 11th century and was completed by 1155. In 900 the chapel had seen the coronation of Louis III (aka "Louis the Blind", as he was blinded in 905 by Berengar). In the current church Frederick I (aka "Frederick Barbarossa") received the Iron Crown and the title of King of Italy.

The basilica´s facade was built from sandstone, what means most carvings are very weathered. This may have been a falconer on horseback. Falconry was a very prestigious sport in medieval times. Only high ranking nobles could afford it.


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