The City of Todi |
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 La
storia della cittą
Founded in about 2700 b.C. by the Umbrians on the homonym hill. Its ancient name "Tuderte" meant border and stands to indicate the border with the Etruscans, whom it underwent a remarkable influence. Centre of the Umbrians, Todi underwent the influences and then Etruscan dominion, became one of the centres of great interest between the Vth and IVth century b.C. Conquered by Rome about the 340's b.C., it took part with its contingent at the Ticino battle against Hannibal an 218 b.C. The city consecrated to god Mars was-denomianted "Marzia" (confirmed the recovery in the territory, in 1837, of the famous statue of Mars now preserved in the Vaticans museums). Successively, in b.C., the Romans transformed it in their colony with the name "Romana Tuder", with the authority to make own coins. In christian ages first churches and abbeys rose, whilst with gothic Longobardic invasions it suffers destruction and plundering. It became Roman municipality in 89 b.C. For its position and the strong defensive system, it was in great part saved from the invasions, in the XIIth century it constituted itself in a free commune. Internally involved in the fights between guelfic and ghibelline villages and externally against the neighbouring communes of Orvieto, Narni and Spoleto, in 1237, it enters in the league of the umbrian-guelfic cities,withstanding,the troops of Federico IInd in 1240. In the XlVth century, Todi's decay began. It was subjected to various seigniors, among whom the family Atti predominated. In 1329, Ranieri Atti was appointed Vicar of Ludovico from Bavaria and strengthened so the Ghibelline fraction in the city. But soon: Todi went under papal dominion and the Atti became papal Vicars. Todi gave natives to many illustrious personages. Among them the city must greater lustre to Jacopo Benedetti, the most representative religious poet from the thirteenth century. Doctor of Laws, after the sudden death of his wife, entered so, with the name Fra Jacopone from Todi, in the Franciscan Order. Sided for the spiritual current, meanwhile he hindered the Pope, Bonifacio VIIlth, who excommunicated him and had him incarcerated for about six years. Latin poet and vulgar, numerous are his lauds and among his writings from remarkable importance, there are "il pianto della Madonna" (the tears of Our Lady) and the "inno Stabat Mater" (hymn Stabat Mater). |
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