1 174, Red Beard led 8,000 troops across the Alps, destroyed Susa and surrounded Alexandria. The cities in northern Italy formed the Lombardy League, stubbornly resisting the invaders. Allied forces threatened the connection between the German army and its base, pavia. Red beard was forced to sign an armistice agreement at 1 175. 11In the winter of 76, Red Beard resumed the war, but because the most powerful vassal states, the kings of Saxony and Solingia, refused to continue to participate in the war, they did not launch a resolute attack.