If it really refers to them, as Sbaralea thinks, with all those who have interested themselves in the question to M.Mueller inclusively--but which, it appears, might be contested--it is because in 1221 they had made appeal to the pope against the podestas of Faenza and the neighboring cities.
This evidently supposes an association not recently born.
Sbaralea, _Bull.

fr._, 1, p.

8; Horoy, vol.iv., col.

49; Potthast, 6736.
[20] Bull _Supra montem_ of August 17, 1289, Potthast.23044.

M.
Mueller has made a luminous study of the origin of this bull; it may be considered final in all essential points (_Anfaenge_, pp.
117-171).