 It was destroyed during the barbaric invasions, and later rebuilt, flourishing as a trade center under the Aragonese dynasty of the Kingdom of Naples.On the 5th of June 1498, Frederick of Naples granted the permission for the Mastro Mercato to the town of Santa Maria a Vico; before that date this privilege was only reserved to Bari, Cosenza, Lucera, Reggio and Taranto.This event brought to a further development of the town, which reached its commercial peak under the Aragonese dynasty.