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History of Umbria


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Ancient Umbria 

My pages on the ancient history of the cities of modern Umbria (from the Iron age until the fall of the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD can be found via the page Key to Ancient Umbria.

Goths (410-527 AD)

For more detail, see the page on Umbria under Goths (410-527 AD).

Gothic War (527 -73 D)

For more detail, see the page on the Umbria during the Gothic War.

Lombards and Byzantines (568 - 774 AD)

For more detail, see the page on the Umbria under the Lombards and Byzantines.

Charlemagne (774 - 814 AD)

For more detail, see the page on the Umbria under Charlemagne.

9th Century

For more detail, see the page on the Umbria in the 9th Century.

Early 10th Century

For more detail, see the page on the Umbria in the Early 10th Century.

Ottonians

For more detail, see the page on the Umbria under the Ottonians.

11th Century

For more detail, see the page on the Umbria in the 11th Century.

12th Century

For more detail, see the page on the Umbria in the 12th Century.

13th Century

For more detail, see the page on the Umbria in the 13th Century.

14th Century

For more detail, see the pages on the Umbria in 1300-1350 and Umbria in 1350-1400.

15th Century

For more detail, see the page on the Umbria in the 15th Century.

Monti di Pietà

In the 15th century, banking in Italy was well-developed and mainly in the hands of Jews, Flemings and Lombards, who often charged interest rates of 30-40%.  Itinerant preachers, particularly from the Observant wing of the Franciscan Order, fulminated against this sin of usuary.   In 1460-2, Barnaba Manassei and Fortunato Coppoli, two friars at the Convento di Monteripido, Perugia persuaded the city authorities to set up what was in effect a “not for profit” provider of credit that was capitalised by charitable donations.  This initiative received the support of the papal legate to Perugia, Monsignor Ermolao Barbaro.

Similar organisations were opened at Orvieto (1463); Foligno (1465); Terni (1467); and Assisi (1468) and the concept subsequently spread throughout Italy.  The concept met with some resistance, mainly because interest was often charged, even though not for the purpose of profit.  However, Pope Leo X gave it formal approval in an encyclical letter (1519), "Inter multiplices". 

16th Century

For more detail, see the page on the Umbria in the 16th Century.

17th century

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Wars of Castro

The First War of Castro (1641-4) arose when Pope Urban VIII (1623-44) and sought to enrich his nephews, Francesco, Antonio and Taddeo Barberini.  Among other measures, he invaded and occupied Castro, which belonged to Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Ronciglione (1622-1646), in October 1641.

Farnese forged an alliance with the Grand Duke Ferdinand II of Tuscany, Venice and Francesco I d' Este, Duke of Modena in August 1642.  He defeated a papal army led by Taddeo Barbarini at Bologna in September 1642 and advanced to Acquapendente, from where he threatened Rome.  This phase of the war came to an end with the Truce of Castelgiorgio in late 1642, but tension remained.

In February 1643, Farnese tried unsuccessfully to retake Castro from the sea.  He resumed the earlier alliance in the following May.  Grand Duke Ferdinand II occupied Città della Pieve and laid siege to Castiglione del Lago in June.  He laid siege to Perugia in October.  The war ended with the return of Castro to Farnese in 1644, and Pope Urban VIII died soon after. 

Seminaries

The first Diocesan Seminary in Gubbio was established in 1601.

The first Diocesan Seminary in Spoleto was established in 1604, while at least three others were established in the diocese: at Spello, in ca. 1611; at Visso, in 1628; and at Bevagna (at an unknown date).

The first Diocesan Seminary in Città della Pieve was established in 1605.

The first Diocesan Seminary in Todi was established in 1608.

The first Diocesan Seminary in Città di Castello was established in 1635.

The first Diocesan Seminary in Foligno was established in 1649.

The first Diocesan Seminary in Terni was established in 1653.

The first Diocesan Seminary in Narni was established in 1660.

The first Diocesan Seminary in Amelia was established in 1788.

The first Diocesan Seminary in Norcia was established in 1820, the year in which it was re-established as a diocese.

Napoleon (1797- 1817)

For more detail, see the page on the Napoleon and Umbria.

Revolution and Unification (1830-60)

For more detail, see the page on the Revolution and Unification.

Later History

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