A city of Lombardy, the main town of the homonymous province, Pavia is a very ancient centre, maybe founded by the Ligurians. It was first a colony and then a Roman municipality, called Ticinum. In 569 Alboino besieged Pavia and, after taking it after three years, he constituted the seat of his government. Under Autari, Pavia became the permanent capital of the Longobards’ kingdom and here its successors resided; the city remained the historical seat of the kings of Italy both with Frankish’s domination and with the Roman German Empire when both Arduino and Berengario were elected. Beginning from XII century, Pavia took part in fights between the municipalities and the Empire; during the XIV century was part of Duchy of Milan territory, thanks to the Viscontis.