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The first historical mention of Spoleto is the notice of the foundation of a colony there in 241 BC. (Liv. Epit. xx; Vell. Pat. i.14), and it was still, according to Cicero (Pro Balbo) colonia latina in primis firma et illustris: a Latin colony in 95 BC. After the battle of Trasimenus ( 217 BC) Spoletium was attacked by Hannibal, who was repulsed by the inhabitants (Liv. xxii.9). During the Second Punic War the city was a useful ally to Rome. It suffered greatly during the civil wars of Marius and Sulla. The latter, after his victory over Crassus, confiscated the territory of Spoletium ( 82 BCCenturies: 2nd century BC 1st century BC 1st century Decades: 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC 60s BC 50s BC 40s BC 30s BC Years: 87 BC 86 BC 85 BC 84 BC 83 BC 82 BC 81 BC 80 BC 79 BC 78 BC 77 BC Events Sulla defeats Samnite allies of). From this time forth it was a municipiumA municipium was a class of Roman city which was inferior in status to a colonia''. Unlike the latter, its citizens were not full Roman citizens (but its magistrates could become so), but they partook of the duties of full citizens in terms of their liabi.
Under the empire it seems to have flourished once again, but is not often mentioned in history. It was situated on a branch of the Via FlaminiaThe Via Flaminia was a Roman road leading from Rome to Ariminum ( Rimini), and was the most important route to the north. History It was constructed by Gaius Flaminius during his censorship ( 220 BC). We hear of frequent improvements being made to it duri, which left the main road at NarniaNarnia was the Roman name for the modern town of Narni in the Umbrian region of Italy. Narnia began as an Umbrian city by the name of Nequinum mentioned as early as 600 BC. In the 4th century BC, it was conquered by the Romans, who renamed it Narnia after and rejoined it at Forum Flaminii . An ancient road also ran hence to Nursia . MartialMartial (Marcus Valerius Martialis Latin epigrammatist, was born in one of the years AD 38 41, for, in book x. of which the poems were composed in the years 95 98, he is found celebrating his fifty-seventh birthday (x. Our knowledge of his career is deriv speaks of its wine. AemilianusMarcus Aemilius Aemilianus (ca. 207 253), was Roman emperor for about three months in 253. Aemilianus was born into an obscure family from the Roman province of Africa. He was married to a Cornelia Supra but other details of his early life are unknown., who had been proclaimed emperor by his soldiers in MoesiaIn ancient geography, Moesia was a district inhabited by a Thracian people. It was bounded on the south by the mountain ranges of Haemus and Scardus (Scordus, Scodrus), on the west by the Drinus, on the north by the Danube and on the east by the Euxine., was slain by them here on his way to Rome ( 253For the book see 253 (book . Events Pope Lucius I succeeds Pope Cornelius. Aemilianus becomes Roman emperor. Valerian I becomes Roman emperor. He appoints his son Gallienus as his junior colleague. Births Deaths Pope Cornelius Aemilianus, Roman emperor Tr), after a reign of three or four months. Rescripts of Constantine ( 326) and Julian ( 362) are dated from Spoleto. The foundation of the episcopal see dates from the 4th century. Owing to its elevated position it was an important stronghold during the Vandal and Gothic wars; its walls were dismantled by Totila (Procopius, de Bello Gothico iii. 12).
Under the Lombards, Spoleto became the capital of an independent duchy (from 570), and its dukes ruled a considerable part of central Italy. Together with other fiefs, it was bequeathed to Pope Gregory VII by the empress Matilda, but for some time struggled to maintain its independence. In 1155 it was destroyed by Frederick Barbarossa. In 1213 it was definitely occupied by Pope Gregory IX. During the absence of the papal court in Avignon, it was a prey to the struggles between Guelphs and Ghibellines, until in 1354 Cardinal Albornoz brought it once more under the authority of the Church.
In 1809 it became capital of the short-lived French department of Trasimene, returning to the Papal State within five years. In 1860, after a gallant defence, Spoleto was taken by the troops fighting for the unification of Italy. Giovanni Pontano , founder of the Accademia Pontaniana of Naples, was born here.
In 1958, because Spoleto was a small town, at the time relatively inexpensive, yet fairly close to Rome with good rail connections, it was chosen by Gian-Carlo Menotti as the venue for an arts festival. The Spoleto Festival has developed into the most important cultural manifestation in Umbria, with a three-week schedule of music, theater and dance performances; it is usually held in July.