Lake Como

Lake Como's upper western shore became the centre of an armed lordship in the early sixteenth century. Gian Giacomo Medici, known as the Medeghino, established himself at Musso and strengthened the fortress above the water. Defences extended from the lakeside to the rocky height, with a ditch cut into the rock protecting the rear. A fleet helped him project power across the lake and toward neighbouring Alpine approaches.

His rule ended in 1532, when forces allied with Francesco II Sforza and the Swiss and Grisons compelled his departure. Most of the fortress was destroyed. The struggle also changed the government of lakeside communities: the three parishes of Gravedona, Sorico and Dongo gained a separate judicial administration, forming the nucleus of the later Contado of Como. The lake's waters thus connected fortified shores and communities whose security and jurisdiction could be reshaped by control of a single stronghold. Boats and shore roads carried the consequences of these rivalries around the lake.