Todi (; Tuder in antiquity) is a town and comune (municipality) of the province of Perugia (region of Umbria) in central Italy.
It is perched on a tall two-crested hill overlooking the east bank of the river Tiber, commanding distant views in every direction. It was founded in antiquity by the Umbri, at the border with Etruria; the gens Ulpia of Roman emperor Trajan came from Todi.
Etymology Todi was founded by the Umbri, in the 8th-7th century BC, with the name of Tutere.J. Poultney, The Bronze Tables of Iguvium, 1959 The name means "border", the city being located on the frontier with the Etruscan dominions.
History Mythical founding Todi has a legendary foundation sometimes placed as early as 2707 BC and linked to a Veii-Umbri tribe. According to one foundation legend, the first furrow was traced under the guidance of an eagle, in the area behind what is now the cathedral district. Another tradition connects the town's early development to environmental change: after the Tiber broke through the Forello gorges and the marshy valley drained, settlement is said to have expanded.
Antiquity Todi, ancient Tuder (Greek Τοῦδερ), was one of the most important Umbrian cities and minted its own coinage bearing the ancient name Tutere. Its name does not appear before the Roman conquest.
Todi was situated on the frontier between Umbrian and Etruscan areas, and had a strong Etruscan cultural influence before Roman conquest. The Roman conquest is placed in the 3rd century BC, after which Roman customs replaced the earlier Umbrian-Etruscan culture.
The earliest historical notices concern a prodigy occurring at the time of the invasion of the Cimbri and Teutons. Shortly thereafter it was taken by Crassus during Sulla's civil war. Under Augustus it received the name Colonia Julia Fida Tuder, and its colonists were soldiers of the 41st legion (Legio XXXXI). Inscriptions attest that it was a flourishing and important city in the imperial period, and it is mentioned by the principal geographers among the cities of Umbria.
Todi, as shown in the Tabula Peutingeriana, lay on the Via Amerina between Amelia and Perugia. Silius Italicus records it as a place renowned for the cult of Mars and provides details of its location. Todi was enrolled in the Clustumina tribe.
The first city walls are dated to the 2nd–1st century BC. In the late Roman period a second ring of walls was built.
Early Middle Ages The elevated position of Todi made it a strong and important place during the Gothic War and after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. During the barbarian invasions it shared the fate of other Italian cities, although chronicles relate that it was spared slaughter and fire through the care and zeal of Saint Fortunatus, bishop of the city. This event is commemorated annually on 30 June with mention in the liturgical offices.
In 552 Narses won a victory near Todi against the Goths, and Totila lost his life there. In 590 the exarch of Ravenna, Romanus, occupied the city along with other places in the Duchy of Rome; it then passed to the Lombards and was repeatedly contested among their dukes.
Todi was sacked by the Lombards, although it avoided full-scale devastation. Christianity was spread through Saint Terentian. Over time the bishop's authority came to be recognized, and diocesan boundaries are described as following earlier Roman civic structures.
After the excommunication of Leo III the Isaurian in 726, Pope Gregory II brought the Duchy of Rome, including Todi, under the authority of the Church. Disputes arose between Desiderius, king of the Lombards, and Pope Paul I over the boundaries of the territory of Todi, and these were settled in 757 with a formal act preserved in the local archive.
In 773, at the request of Pope Adrian I, Charlemagne defeated Desiderius and ended the Lombard kingdom, confirming and enlarging the temporal power of the Church. Louis I confirmed to Pope Paschal I in 817 the dominion over Rome, its duchy, and other territories including Todi. In 1002 Pope Sylvester II and Emperor Otto III were in Todi, where they celebrated Christmas; the following day a council of Italian and German bishops was held to resolve a dispute concerning Thangmar and the bishop of Hildesheim.
High Middle Ages
In the 11th century Todi established a free commune with two consuls responsible for administration and justice. In 1054, during war between Perugia and Assisi, Todi and Foligno supported Assisi, which had placed itself under imperial authority. Violent conflicts followed. Two years later the Assisians, Todians, and Folignates marched against Orvieto over territorial disputes near a mountain; the Orvietans, with strong forces, advanced toward Marsciano, then held by the counts of Burgundy, and with the aid of Perugia entered Todi, devastating it by fire and sword before withdrawing.
Toward the end of the 11th century Todi was under the rule of the countess Matilda. In the 12th century it was torn, like other Italian cities, by the factions of Guelphs and Ghibellines. Among the notable families identified are the Atti family, associated with the Guelph side, and the Chiaravalle family, associated with the Ghibellines.
Frederick I and Henry VI occupied the Duchy of Spoleto and the county of Assisi and took possession of Todi. In 1198 Innocent III recovered these territories, personally visited Todi, confirmed his authority, received oaths from the barons, and consecrated altars in churches.
In 1204 Todi appointed its first podestà, Spagliagrano da Bologna, who was required to be an outsider; the podestà held judicial authority. Administrative power was attributed to decurions, and from 1250 a people's captain operated alongside the podestà. The municipal system included ten priors, a general council, a secret council, auditors, and two district heads.
In 1208 Amelia and in 1224 Terni submitted to Todi, paying annual tribute. Todi also subjected Giove in 1220, Messenano in 1234, and Firenzola in 1256.
In the mid-13th century a third ring of walls was built. From 1237 Todi belonged to a league of Guelph Umbrian cities, aligned more closely with Perugia, and it resisted Frederick II.
In 1264 Urban IV was received there returning from Orvieto, where he had instituted the feast of Corpus Christi. In 1266 the Guelphs of Perugia fought against Todi and Amelia, ravaging their territory.
In 1268 Todi was ruled by Ugolino of the counts of Baschi, a powerful lord possessing numerous fiefs. In 1292 it subjected Giano. Boniface VIII increased the wealth of the churches of Todi, especially enlarging the capitular revenues, and granted honors and privileges to the city.
Late Middle Ages In 1311, during the absence of the pope from Italy, Todi reorganized its militia, fixing it at 10,000 cavalry and 3,000 infantry, and built fortifications and strongholds throughout its territory. Ugolino was succeeded by Bindo, leader of the Ghibelline faction, who in 1313 received envoys from Henry VII seeking military aid. Todi also provided assistance to several neighboring cities.
In 1323 Todi, besieged by Vico dei Prefetti, was aided by Uguccione Ricci, gonfaloniere of Florence. In 1319 Orazio di Egidio Astancolli held power but soon relinquished it due to rivalries. In 1328 the antipope Nicholas V took refuge in Todi and, joined by Louis of Bavaria who had elevated him, despoiled the church of San Fortunato of its treasures before departing for Pisa.
Under John XXII, Todi occupied Orvieto and made it tributary; the pope placed the city under interdict from Avignon. Innocent VI later absolved it after it renounced control of Orvieto, restoring its privileges. During the period of Cola di Rienzo, Todi received a banner from Rome and sent an embassy in thanks. In 1327 the municipality lost its autonomy, coming under direct Church rule through agreements associated with Cardinal Albornoz.
The local Monte di Pietà was founded in 1351.
Urban V sought to restore papal authority, including over Todi, which resisted but ultimately submitted while retaining exemptions and privileges. Under Gregory XI, Todi joined revolts and supported the antipope Clement VII before returning to obedience in 1387.
In 1392 Boniface IX granted Todi to Malatesta of Rimini for ten years at an annual tribute. After rebellion, the grant passed to Andrea Malatesta, though unrest led to his withdrawal. In 1416 Braccio Fortebracci entered Todi, received its submission, and reinstated exiles, causing concern in Perugia. Peace followed the election of Martin V in 1417. In 1428 Perugians and Todians were reconciled.
In 1432 Eugene IV granted Todi to Francesco Sforza with conditions; Sforza later seized territories of the Church. In 1433 he invaded Todi and neighboring cities. He was recognized as vicar general, and Todi secured confirmation of its laws and statutes. Subsequent conflicts led to its occupation by Niccolò Piccinino, and in 1444 Sforza recovered it.
Todi hosted Pope Nicholas V in 1449 during a plague in Rome and Pope Pius II in 1459 for about a month. Emperor Frederick III, returning from Rome, was honored by an embassy from Todi and granted the city the right to adorn its coat of arms with the imperial crown. Paul II rebuilt the fortress.
In 1474 internal conflicts between factions led to violence and destruction. Intervention by Perugia and papal forces followed. Further factional struggles occurred in 1488 and afterward, with devastation of the countryside and severe reprisals.
Early Modern and contemporary period
A plague in the 16th century killed more than two thirds of the population.
A period of prosperity is placed between 1566 and 1606 under Bishop Angelo Cesi. During the pontificates of Urban VIII and Innocent X it remained loyal to Rome despite wider conflicts.
In the 17th century the town entered a phase of decline, attributed to plagues, wars, and famines, with a marked drop in population.
In 1809, during the Napoleonic period, the Papal States were annexed to the Napoleonic Empire and the Trasimeno Department was created; Todi received district-seat status together with Spoleto, Perugia, and Foligno. In 1814 Papal administration was restored. From 1860 Todi joined the Kingdom of Sardinia and subsequently the Kingdom of Italy.
In the mid-19th century, Todi had a population of 14,263: 4,606 within the city and 9,657 in 36 frazioni and rural dwellings.
Geography Todi stands on a high hill at an elevation of above sea level, on the left bank of the Tiber, about from Perugia and from Spoleto. The town stands between the streams Rivo and Naia, which flow on the left into the Tiber irrigating the plain below. The climate is described as temperate.
The city has a triple circuit of walls. The highest and smallest, enclosing the entire city, is built of large regular blocks of travertine without mortar and is attributed to the Etruscans; Roman inscriptions are visible. The second circuit, also of travertine, was constructed by the Romans centuries later. The third was built around the 13th century and extends for about .
Subdivisions The municipality includes the localities of Aproli, Brusco, Cacciano, Camerata, Casaciottoli, Case Basse, Casemasce, Cecanibbi, Chiesa Lorgnano, Chiesa San Sisto, Chioano, Colvalenza, Colvalenza Palombara, Due Santi, Fiore, Frontignano, Ilci, Izzalini, La Foca, Loreto, Monte Latrone, Montelupino, Montemolino, Montenero, Monticello, Pantalla, Pesciano, Pian di San Martino, Pontecuti, Pontecuti Nuovo, Pontenaia, Ponterio-Pian di Porto, Porchiano, Porzone, Quadro, Ripaioli, Romazzano, Rosceto, San Benigno, San Damiano, San Valentino, Stazione Ponte Rio, Todi, Torrececcona, Torrerosa, Torresquadrata, Torrevecchia, Torriola, Vasciano.
In 2021, 3,878 people lived in rural dispersed dwellings not assigned to any named locality. At the time, the most populous localities were Todi proper (5,159), and Ponterio-Pian di Porto (1,755).
Economy