The City of Perugia |
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 La
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Founded by the Umbrians in prehistoric epoch. The Etruscans in expansion towards the Tyrrene arrived between the VIth and Vth century b.C. From etruscan epoch are the walls which fence it and a recent discovery of the tomb of the Gutu is an evident example. Well connected with the other etruscan centres, enters into an alliance with the Etruscans from the other places, on the thread of a spiritual inheritance never extinguished. Its politics undulate: friend or contraries of Rome until the unavoidable submission. Perugia is unavoidably involved in the agitations, the rivalry and internal wars with the neighbouring metropolis. Ottaviano besieged it and conquered it in 40 b.C. Perugia was called Augusta. With the battle of Sentino in 295 b.C. they were subjected to the Romans, who after the tragic battle of the Trasimeno, took refuge increasing the Populat. In the middle of the third century a.C. the emperor Vibio Treboniano Gallo gave himself the "ius colonige" and from this moment the city, already municipality, took the name Colonia Vibia Augusta Perusia. With the dissolution of the Roman Empire, Barbarian invasions follow frequently, the most heavy is the one of Totila in 547. After the battle of Totila in which its bishop Ercolano lost his life. In 1308 the University rose. Perugia is constituted in commune with popular government. Perugia in the 300's had already spread its dominions to a good slice of territory. The commune, nearly always in Guelfic hands, accepted protection, but not the Papal seigniory. However, the Popes, sojourned many times at Perugia. To begin with Innocenzo IIIrd, who died in the city. His richly dressed mortal remains, were exposed in the cathedral. But in the night some unknowns plundered the remains from all its richnesses. Going forward, there were five the conclaves held in the city, simbolize the consideration which Rome must have. In 1369, Urbano Vth went down in war with the city and naturally won it for the disproportion of the army in the battle field. Perugia was forced to accept the papal legates. But fire was smouldering in its ashes and the rebellion was in the air: broke out for the overbearingness of the Abbot of Cluny called Monmaggiore. The people took to the streets, furious, swept off every defence, the abbot took hurriedly his luggage and fled; the fortress which he had build near Porta Sole was razed to the ground. All this happened in 1375 and these had been years dense of passions, intestine battles, treasons, reconcilments, unsheathe daggers and smiles, marriages to tie families and prompt assaults left behind. At Perugia, terrible was the contention between the Raspanti and the Becherini, or between populars and nobles. Truce they had under Biordo Michelotti. But it didn't last long, because he was killed in 1398. Tumultuous events with the power which changes vortically hands: in 1400 it is in Gian Galeazzo Visconti's hands, three years later it passes to the Pope, then to Ladislao from Naples and successively to Braccio Fortebraccio to Montone. War burst out between the Oddi and the Baglioni. The victory fell to the Baglioni, them too overwhelmed by a frightful domestic vengeance. The most of them were killed by a conspiracy put to sign by some relatives, among the victims the beautiful Grifonetto, successively immortalized by Raffaello in a most celebrated deposition ordered to the artist by the mother Atlanta. The supremacy of the Baglioni remained until 1531, with the death of Malatesta IV, the Pope's troops of Paolo III took possession of the city. The war was originated by a new tax on the salt, for this "Salt war" was called. The Pope let soon feel his heavy hands: the Paolina fortress rose, massive fortress which deranged the urban order and ruined treasures, kept in the houses of the Baglioni. In 1789 french troops occupied Perugia. Fallen Napoleon, the city returns to be part of the Church States. In 1859, the Perugians drove out the Papal legates and established a provisional governement. The year after signs the return to idependence. |
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