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Situated 95 m. above sea level on the right bank of the Tanaro, slightly above its confluence with the Bormida, at the junction of important lines of communication between the Po Valley and Liguria. Formed in 1168, through the union of several pre-existing centers, by Alessandro III and the Marquis of Monferrato in an important strategical position for the the Lombard League (the only passage for the southern part of Piemonte and the rest of Padania), Alessandria withstood a six month siege in 1174-75 against Federico I, then lost his importance with the end of the war. The city passed under the hands of the Visconti, then of the Sforza family at the end of the XIII century. The last relevant event in its history is the victory of Jacopo dal Verme against the french army of d'Armagnac. |