History of Salerno

     


    Some have even hypothesized a Greek and Phoenician presence, but at the moment there is no evidence to support it. What is certain is the Etruscan presence, evidenced by the archaeological area located in the Fratte district, where the ancient town of Irna (from which the Irno river that crosses Salerno takes its name) or Marcina was located. The area of Salerno and that of the neighboring Pontecagnano represented the last outposts of the Etruscan expansion towards the south. The foundation of the Roman city in the area where the historic center is currently located took place between 197 and 194 BC, when a Roman colony was created around a permanent military detachment whose task was to intimidate and control the Picentini who had sided with Hannibal during the Second Punic War. The name of this colony was Salernum, from Salum (sea) and Irnum (Irno river that crosses the city).

    Nell'839 Salerno divenne capitale di un principato indipendente dal Ducato di Benevento e divenne molto ricca e potente grazie anche alla propria marineria commerciale e militare che competeva con la vicina repubblica amalfitana. Nel 1076 la città passò di mano e con il matrimonio tra la principessa Sichelgaita, (sorella dell'ultimo principe longobardo Gisulfo II) e Roberto il Guiscardo si sancì il definitivo passaggio dai longobardi ai normanni. I nuovi signori diedero un grande impulso alla Scuola Medica Salernitana, costruirono la reggia di Castel Terracena e il Duomo dedicato a San Matteo e consacrato nel 1084 da Papa San Gregorio VII, che vi fu anche seppellito.

    In 839 Salerno became the capital of an independent principality from the Duchy of Benevento and became very rich and powerful thanks to its commercial and military navy that competed with the nearby Amalfi Republic. In 1076 the city changed hands and with the marriage between the princess Sichelgaita (sister of the last Lombard prince Gisulfo II) and Robert the Guiscard, the definitive passage from the Lombards to the Normans was sanctioned. The new lords gave a great impetus to the Salernitan Medical School, built the Castel Terracena palace and the Cathedral dedicated to Saint Matthew and consecrated in 1084 by Pope Saint Gregory VII, who was also buried there.

    At the end of the 12th century, under the Swabian dynasty, the city experienced a considerable economic growth thanks to Manfred, son of Frederick II, who built the port that still bears his name (Manfredi pier) and established the fair of San Matteo. With the Angevins, the decline of the city began, which became significant under the rule of the Aragonese and the Spanish, culminating in the years 1656, 1688 and 1694 when plague and earthquakes caused many victims.

    The end of Spanish rule saw a slow recovery of the city, which in 1799 adhered to the Parthenopean Republic. In 1811 Gioacchino Murat issued a decree to suppress the Medical School, whose fame was already overshadowed by other institutions. On September 12, 1943, the city was the scene of the Allied landing, and from February 12 to July 17, 1944, it was the Capital of Italy and the seat of the Badoglio government.