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ROME
(ROMA)
Falling under the tutelage
of the Dukes of Spoleto, who intervened by defending the City
after the Saracene raid (846), Rome was continually troubled
by feuds between the nobility and the clergy (9th-10th Centuries).
All in all, notwithstanding imperial attempts, the aristocracy
continued the feud for political supremacy, which brought
about a division between the Papacy and the Emperor during
the feud for investiture.
Occupied by Henry VIth (1084) who
had to immediately abandon the City due to the arrival of
the Normans of Roberto il Guiscardo, who pillaged the City,
whilst the opposing population were massacred and banished.
Once again prey to the feuds of the nobility, after the communal
experiment of Arnaldo of Brescia (1144-55), the City returned
to the hands of the Papacy (Pontificate) (1188). Renewed under
Innocenzo III (1198-1216), the City experienced a period of
particular cultural and economic splendour with the Jubilee
of 1300 (the first in the history of the Church) promoted
by Bonifacio VIII. But the political feuds and decline recommenced
with the capture of the Avignonese (1309-77) despite the efforts
of Cola di Rienzo (1347; 1353-54) to restore order by leading
the City back under the protection of the Emperor. The Plague
of 1348 and earthquake of 1349 devastated the City and depopulated
it until the beginning of the 15th Century. After the return
of Pontificate Gregorio XI of Avignone, the City began to
reassume the role of capital of the State of the Church, under
Martino V.
Despite the pillage of the lanzichenecchi or Imperial mercenary
troops (1527), the City began its rise during the 16th Century
which transformed it into one of the major artistic and cultural
centres in the world, whilst the Papal authority was consolidated
after the ecumenical council of Trento (1545-63) and the beginning
of the counter-reformation. At the threshold of the Pontificate,
succession of members of the powerful aristocracy was orderly,
whilst State territory amplified with the acquisition of Ferrara
(1598) and Urbino (1631).
Prosperity and balance proceeded, apart from a brief moment
during the Spanish war of succession (1701-14), until the
French occupation in 1808, following the attempts of revolt
of the neighbouring Giocobini. Returned to the Pope, it was
reoccupied by the French (1809) who tried to reorganize the
administrative and economic markets, whilst Pope Pio VII was
forced into exile to Savona. After the fall of Napoleon (1814)
and the Restoration (1815), the first Carbonare Associations
were active in the City and in legation. In 1849, after the
escape of Pio IX to Gaeta, G. Mazzini constituted the Roman
Republic, which had fallen due the intervention of the French
Army. French protection delayed Rome being occupied and its
annexation to the New Kindom of Italy. After the attempts
of the Garibaldini of Aspromonte (1862) and Mentana (1867),
it was taken by Italian troops on 20.9.1870 (breccia di porta
Pia – breach in the wall), becoming the effective capital
(in 1861 it was proclaimed symbolic capital). In 1871, the
Court transferred its residence to the Quirinale.
During the years between the end of the 19th Century and the
beginning of the 20th Century, there was a rapid development
of the City, characterized by speculative construction, subjected
to the brief experience of a committee led by E. Nathan (1907-13)
who introduced the town planning. After the 1st World War,
it became the centre for attempts of a Fascist reign (March
on Rome, 28.10.1922) which took B. Mussolini into power. During
the Fascist regime the City suffered grand demolishment, needed
to celebrate the capital of the Empire. During the Second
World War, the City was occupied by the Germans (September
1943) and finally liberated (4.6.1944). After the war, a phenomenal
incivility of vast areas of central-southern Italy accentuated,
which was also accompanied by foolish political town planning
carried out by the local administration.
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| ROME
Art City
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EXHIBITIONS' PALACE |
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