Ermanno della Torre

Ermanno della Torre, also called Alemanno, was the eldest son of Pagano della Torre and elder brother of Napoleone, ruler of Milan. He made his career as a foreign podestà: in 1253 the Bolognese chose him to replace Pietro Grillo, and he made peace with Ravenna.

He was podestà of Florence from 1255 to 1256, leading the Guelph cause in Tuscany: he forced Count Guido Guerra to readmit the exiles of Arezzo, marched against the Pisans and routed them on the Serchio, and in 1256 helped relieve famine in Florence and Lucca.

Of his sons, Lombardo perished in the iron cage of Castel Baradello in 1280 after the Torriani defeat at Desio in 1277, while Erreco and Goffredo took refuge with their uncle the patriarch. His descendants carried the family into Friuli as the Duino line. His death is placed in 1265, though his Milan tomb inscription gave 1272.