Spoleto (, also , , ; ) is an ancient city in the Italian province of Perugia in east-central Umbria on a foothill of the Apennines.
It is south of Trevi, north of Terni, southeast of Perugia; southeast of Florence; and north of Rome.
Founded by the Umbri in the 10th century BC and later taken by the Etruscans, it became a Roman colony in 241 BC.
Under Lombard rule, Spoleto became the seat of the Duchy of Spoleto in 576, controlling much of central Italy.
Etymology In classical sources Spoleto appears as Spoletium (Σπωλήτιον), with the later form Spoletum.
Spoleto was founded by the Umbrians, who called it Pola, meaning a place of pilgrims; the name later became Spoleti, then Spoleto.
History Antiquity Spoleto was founded by the Umbri in the 10th century BC and was taken by the Etruscans in the 7th century BC.
The first historical mention of is the notice of the foundation of a Roman colony there,Liv. Epit. xx ; Vell. Pat. i.14. in the year , shortly after the end of the First Punic War. In this period the city underwent major expansion and was heavily fortified, with polygonal city walls.
Spoleto is frequently mentioned during the Second Punic War. In 217 BC, immediately after the Battle of Lake Trasimene, Hannibal advanced to the walls of Spoleto and attacked the city, which was vigorously defended by the colonists, forcing him to withdraw and retreat into Picenum.Livy xxii.9. A few years later, in 209 BC, Spoleto distinguished itself among the colonies for its fidelity to its alliance with Rome at a critical moment in the war.
After this period, Spoleto is less frequently mentioned, though it is understood to have been a flourishing municipium. In 167 BC the Roman Senate selected the city as the place of confinement for Gentius, king of Illyria, after his defeat, but the inhabitants refused, and Iguvium was chosen instead.
The city suffered greatly during Sulla's civil war. In 82 BC a battle took place in the Spoletan valley between Pompey and Crassus, generals of Sulla, and a lieutenant of Carbo, who was defeated and forced to take refuge in the city. Following Sulla's victory, Spoleto was among the cities most severely punished, with its territory confiscated under the pretext of establishing a military colony.
Despite this, the city retained importance. Augustus held the consulship there, and Cicero referred to it as a most firm and illustrious Latin colony.(Pro Balbo) It later became a municipality along with other Latin colonies under the Lex Julia and belonged to the Horatian tribe. The city is again mentioned during the Perusine War in 41 BC, when it provided refuge to Munatius Plancus after his defeat by Octavian. Thereafter it appears only rarely in historical accounts, though it continued under the Empire as a flourishing municipality.
Near Spoleto, the emperor Aemilianus encamped after the deaths of Gallus and Volusianus, briefly held imperial power, and was subsequently killed by his own soldiers after a reign of three months.
Imperial rescripts were issued at Spoleto by Constantine in 326 and by Julian in 362.
Spoleto was not situated directly on the Via Flaminia, which passed nearby along the line from Narnia to Mevania, leaving Spoleto and Interamna to the right. This route remained in use until the time of Vespasian, after which a new line passing through Interamna and Spoleto was preferred, as attested by later itineraries.
The territory of Spoleto was fertile even in antiquity, and its wine was praised by Martial. The river Nera separated it from the Sabine territory.
In the 4th century Spoleto became an episcopal seat, with a stronger church organization. This period was associated with the presence of churches and monasteries both in the town and on the slopes of Monteluco.
Gothic wars In the 5th century Spoleto experienced barbarian invasions connected with Theodoric, Belisarius, Totila, and Narses.
During the time of Odoacer, the province of Tuscia became nearly deserted due to devastation and depopulation. Flooding from the Marroggia river and other neglected streams caused stagnant waters to inundate the lower parts of the Spoletan territory, and the city itself became desolate, filled with ruins and decaying buildings.
During the war between Odoacer and Theodoric, the inhabitants appear to have supported the Ostrogothic king. Theodoric took measures to restore the city, allocating an annual sum from royal revenues and commissioning additional funds to repair the ancient baths. The poet and physician Rusticus Elpidius, who resided in Spoleto, contributed to these improvements and adorned the city with a portico and a public square. A palace attributed to Theodoric is associated with remains of a portico or atrium with double rows of pillars visible beneath a house near the northern side of the Piazza del Mercato.
One of the most significant works of this period was the drainage of marshy lands in the lower territory. This project was undertaken by Speranza and Domizio, who received the reclaimed lands in return. Around this time, Isaac of Syria, fleeing persecution, came to Spoleto and founded the monastery of San Giuliano and hermitages on Monte Luco.
Spoleto is mentioned by Procopius during the Gothic Wars. Totila captured the city and partially destroyed its fortifications.Procopius, de Bello Gothico iii. 12.
In 536 Belisarius entered Italy, captured Naples, and advanced toward Rome. His general Bessas occupied Narni, while Constantine, tasked with recovering Tuscia, crossed the Nera and took Spoleto, Perugia, and other places. The Gothic king Vitiges attempted to recover these territories but was defeated near Perugia. During this period, an incident occurred involving Presidio, a noble refugee who settled near the church of San Pietro outside the walls. His valuable arms were seized by Constantine, leading to conflict with Belisarius, who ultimately had Constantine executed.
The Goths later regained strength, and Totila recaptured Spoleto after it was treacherously handed over by Herodian. Totila damaged the city’s walls extensively and converted the amphitheater at the base of the hill into a fortified stronghold by closing its arches and stationing a mixed garrison of Goths and deserters. Many inhabitants fled to nearby settlements.
The Goths killed Bishop Saint John II, who had governed the see for 50 years. His remains were later rediscovered and translated to a monastery church, where he became venerated as a co-patron of the city and was depicted on medieval coinage.
Through stratagem, the Byzantines later regained Spoleto when a man named Marziano infiltrated the Gothic garrison, persuaded part of it to defect, and facilitated the capture of the fortress. Narses subsequently defeated the Goths decisively and, in 552, restored the walls of Spoleto and reestablished a garrison, encouraging the return of the inhabitants.
The administrative system that followed, governed by military commanders, laid the foundation for the later duchies.
Lombard and Frankish period
In 576 Faroald I made Spoleto the seat of the Duchy of Spoleto, a key Lombard duchy. The Duchy of Spoleto included Umbria, Sabina, Picenum as far as Pescara, and the regions of the Marrucini, Marsi, and Peligni. It was divided into districts governed by officials.
Faroald I was succeeded in 591 by Ariulf, who further extended its territory and is believed to have embraced Catholicism later in life. Conflicts followed between Lombard rulers and the papacy. During periods of instability, the duchy was sometimes governed directly by the Lombard king.
In the mid-8th century, local nobles elected Alboin as duke, aligning with the papacy under the protection of Pepin. This led to retaliation by King Desiderius, who invaded and devastated the duchy, capturing Alboin.
Desiderius later mobilized forces against the papacy, prompting appeals to Charlemagne. After the defeat of Desiderius and the end of Lombard power, the donation of Charlemagne, which also included the Duchy of Spoleto, is understood to have had effect only in terms of supreme authority rather than actual governance, leaving the dukes of Spoleto in effective control of their territory for a long time as supreme rulers and legislators.
In 774 Spoleto became a Frankish fief. After 788 or 789, the Lombard duke Hildeprand is no longer mentioned, marking the end of the Lombard dukes in Spoleto and the beginning of Frankish and German rule. Charlemagne appointed Winigis, a Frank, as duke.
In his testament, Charlemagne left the Duchy of Spoleto to his sons, as he had not ceded full sovereignty of the duchy to Pope Adrian I but only granted the pensions and annual tribute previously paid to the Lombard royal palace. The beginning of effective Church dominion over the lands of Umbria and the Sabina is placed in the 10th century.
Destruction under Frederick Barbarossa In 1155, Frederick Barbarossa ordered the destruction of Spoleto. After traveling to Rome, where he was crowned emperor by Pope Adrian IV, he received tribute from the province of Ancona and from several other Umbrian cities; however, the Duchy of Spoleto refused to provide this tribute. The emperor reacted by initiating military action, particularly after the inhabitants of Spoleto carried out hostile acts against his envoy, Guido Guerra. The city was captured, and subsequently burned and destroyed.
Frederick reported to Otto of Freising that he advanced on Spoleto because it was in rebellion and was holding Count Guido Guerra and other envoys in captivity; that the city, strongly fortified and provided with about 100 towers, was extensively plundered, and reduced to devastation down to its foundations.
Afterward Frederick sought reconciliation with the city and appointed Conrad of Swabia, lord of Urslingen, as duke. He granted possessions to the monastery of San Pietro of Monte Martano and, in 1185, through the intercession of the duke, donated valuable relics to the cathedral, which were received by the citizens as pledges of restored peace. A plaque in the municipal palace commemorates the destruction carried out by Frederick.
Beginning of Papal rule With the death of Henry VI, son of Frederick Barbarossa, the line of dukes came to an end. In his testament he ordered that the Duchy of Spoleto, along with other dominions, be restored to the Holy See. Pope Innocent III moved to reclaim these territories, expelling Conrad of Swabia. Conrad restored the duchy, as well as Rieti, Assisi, Foligno, and Nocera, to avoid excommunication.
In 1198 Innocent III personally visited Spoleto. On 25 August, returning from Rieti, he promised the inhabitants protection and assistance before proceeding to Perugia. Cardinal Giovanni Colonna the Younger was appointed rector of the duchy and governed it for three years. Emperor Otto IV, claiming lands of the Church, appointed Dipold as duke of Spoleto, followed by Rainald, who continued usurpations of Church property and was imprisoned by Frederick II.
In 1223 Cardinal Raniero Capocci served as rector or legate of the March of Ancona and the Duchy of Spoleto. He faced opposition from Berthold, son of Duke Conrad, whose actions led to papal excommunication. Frederick II, hostile to the Church and in conflict with Pope Honorius III, levied troops in the duchy in 1226, but the Spoletans refused to assist. In that same year Berthold assumed the title of duke, supported by Frederick II. Tancredi of Campello, one of his principal supporters, blocked the roads leading to Rome, disrupted commerce, and imprisoned papal officials.