 Thomas, who had married a Visconti, was a Ghibelline and Manfred a Guelf with the support of the Angevin King Robert of Naples.Robert therefore, to reduce Ghibelline (and Visconti) power in the north, advanced on Saluzzo and besieged it.He succeeded in taking it and sacking it, setting the city on fire and imprisoning Thomas, who had to pay a ransom.