any member of a political party in medieval Italy that supported the authority of the German emperors in Italy in opposition to the papal party of the Guelphs
adjective
of this party
See Ghibelline in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(gĭbˈə-lēnˌ, -līnˌ, -lĭn)
noun
A member of the aristocratic political faction who fought during the Middle Ages for German imperial control of Italy, in opposition to the Guelphs and the papacy.