THE STOLEN BUCKET​

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Greetings, my name is Cleto and I am a man who lived in the city of Modena during the 1200s. I would like to tell you a very old story, one where the inhabitants of Modena and those of Bologna came into conflict because of an incursion by the people of Bologna. It was 1248. I was nothing more than a young boy, but I clearly remember what happened. The conflict led to the battle of Zappolino in 1249.

There was a short battle but in the end my people, the inhabitants of Modena,  managed to chase the attackers back to their city. Once they got back to Modena, I found out that they had brought a prize with them, an old bucket they had stolen from a well near Bologna. After Modena refused to give the bucket back to Bologna, they decided to declare war on us.

This war, however, has been going on for a long time. I've heard  that even the Gods participated in it. Apollo and Minerva were on Bologna's side and Mars, Venus and Bacchus were on Modena's. Did you know that women also took part in this battle? That's right! An army of women led by Ranoppia helped fight against Bologna. Are you curious to know who won?

There was never a real winner, but a draw between the two cities. The conflict ended thanks to an agreement, which established the following conditions: Bologna could keep King Enzo, who had been taken as a prisoner during the Battle of Fossalta, while Modena could keep the bucket.