|
History of
Perugia
(Back to
Perugia main information page)
The hills of Perugia were inhabited since
prehistoric times, being first a settlement of the Umbrians,
then the Etruscans, becoming one of the most important cities in
the High Tiber Valley in the VI century.
Conquered by the Romans in 319 B.C. Perugia
was deeply involved in the civil war between Antonio and
Ottaviano. It was given the name of ?August?and then of
?Perusi?
After the fall of the Roman Empire Perugia
was destroyed again by Totila in 547, then it belonged to the
Byzantine dominions, and finally it became a powerful
independent city-state allied to the Papal State when in the IX
century, with the consent of Charles the Great and Louis the
Pious, it passed under the Popes.
However, for many centuries the city
continued to maintain an independent life, warring against many
of the neighbouring lands and cities, like Foligno, Assisi,
Spoleto, Todi, Siena, and Arezzo. Beside, the city legacy was
linked to the Guelphs.
The XIV century was characterised by violent
struggles, between the Nobles and the Populars, and by the war
against the Pope rule which ended with the Peace of Bologna in
1370, when Perugia was forced to recognise the Papal authority.
In the XV century the power of the city was
concentrated in the Baglioni family but in 1540 Perugia was
placed again under the direct control of the Papal State.
The papal rule continued, excepted during the
French occupation and the Roman Republic, until the formation of
the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
(Back to
Perugia main information page)
|
