History of Brescia







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History of Brescia                                            (Back to Brescia main information page)  

Brescia's origins can be traced to the Bronze Age, but the city's importance began latter when it was the capital of the Cenomani Gauls of Brixia. For instance, by 1200 B.C. the first settlement was made, probably by the Liguri tribe, on the Cidnean Hill and by IV century B.C. the Gallic Cenomani tribe settled at the foot of the Cidnean Hill and made the town their centre.

By 187 BC the Romans ruled the area, but it was only in 49 BC, under Julius Ceaser, that Brescia obtained full Roman citizenship.

It followed a long period of peace and economic as well as cultural splendour, in which Brescia became of the main Cisalpine centres and took on growing importance as a trading and manufacturing centre, thanks to the strength of its economy based on agriculture, trade, marble quarries and iron mines. For instance, by 27 B.C. Emperor Augustus conferred the title "Colonia Civica Augusta" to the town.

With the fall of the Roman Empire, Brescia suffered the curse of barbarian invasions with the Eruli, Ostrogoths and Byzantines.

Under the Lombards for two centuries the city was the site of one of the most important Lombard duchies. Important civil and religious centres were constructed, such as the monastic complex of San Salvatore and Santa Giulia.

Then it followed the Frankish domination of Charlemagne, which lasted until 888.

Following the disintegration of Charlemagne's empire, the city entered a dark period that left few traces.

Between the XII and XIII centuries, the city became a free comune and was a Guelph town between the two Ghibelline towns of Bergamo and Cremona. Faced by the danger of Federico Barbarossa, it joined the Lombard league. These centuries were a period of great building activity: a new circle of wall was built and the Duomo Vecchio and Broletto date from this period.

During the Period of the Signorie, XIV and XV century the city came under the domination of powerful noble families such as the Angioini, Visconti, and Malatesta.

In 1426 Brescia became part of the Venetian Republic where it remained, with short breaks, for four centuries until 1796.

Under Venice's liberal rule, the city experienced a period of splendour and economic development: Piazza della Loggia, and many churches and noble palazzi were built, together with the construction of the new fortified walls.

Towards the end of the 17th century, the city began to feel the effects of Venice's political decline as it constituted an area of easy transit for foreign troops who sacked and pillaged house, churches and antique buildings.

In 1797, Brescia rebelled against Venice and was included by Napoleon in the Cisalpine Republic.

Later, Austria incorporated Brescia into its own territory until 1859 becoming one of the centres active with revolutionary movements.

In 1849, the Brescian revolutionaries rebelled and resisted the Austrian for ten dramatic days, which won it the name of the "Lioness of Italy".

Austrian domination ended with the Wars of Independence.

Finally, in 1859, Brescia was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy and the city's history has been tied to that of united Italy.





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