{"id":10834,"date":"2023-12-27T12:21:44","date_gmt":"2023-12-27T19:21:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/?p=10834"},"modified":"2023-11-18T12:22:48","modified_gmt":"2023-11-18T19:22:48","slug":"brundisium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/index.php\/2023\/12\/27\/brundisium\/","title":{"rendered":"Brundisium, Calabria"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Imperial<\/a>
Imperial era columns that marked the terminus of the Via Appia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most Recent Visit:<\/strong> July 2023<\/p>\n

The Roman city of Brundisium (modern Brindisi), located on the Adriatic coast of Calabria (modern Apulia) seems to have begun life as a settlement of the Messapi; though legends have the city being founded by the mythic king Diomedes of Thrace. The Messapi are thought to have originated in the Balkans before migrating to Italy, and the Thracian heritage of Diomedes may play a part in the rise of this myth. Other traditions have Greek settlers from Knossos or Taras (Roman Tarentum, modern Taranto) founding the Greek colony of Brentesion here. The name of the Greek colony seems to derive from the Messapian name Brention, which derives from the Messapian word biendos<\/em>, stag\u2019s head, which likely refers to the pronged nature of the harbor at Brundisium. The founder of Taras, Phalanthus, is said to have sought refuge in the city after he was expelled from Taras. Prior to Roman conquest in 267 BCE, not much is known about Brundisium, other than it is noted as having signed a treaty with Thurii (Roman Thurium) around 440 BCE.<\/p>\n

Roman conquest of the city in 267-66 BCE likely had to do with the excellent harbor and commanding position on the coast that would allow the Romans to control naval access to the Adriatic. It would also offer an advantageous position for the departure of military campaigns in the east; nearly every Roman campaign in the east after the acquisition of the city left Italy from Brundisium. Just a few years later in 264 BCE, the Via Appia had been extended to Brundisium, becoming the terminus of the road. During the First Punic War on August 5, 244 BCE, a Latin colony and fortress was established to bolster the Roman ability to control the Adriatic in response to Carthaginian raids. Sometime around 220 BCE, the poet Pacuvius was born in Brundisium. During the Second Punic War, Hannibal attempted to take the city in 212 BCE, as it would have been a vital port for Carthaginian reinforcements and supplies, but it remained loyal to the Romans. It is further noted by Livy as being commended by the Senate a few years later as one of eighteen colonies that continued to provide invaluable aid in the war.<\/p>\n

\"Area<\/a>
Area Archeologica di San Pietro degli Schiavoni with the bathing complex in the foreground.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As Roman actions in the east increased after the Second Punic War, necessitating the frequent departure of Roman armies through Brundisium, the city grew in importance and prospered. Following the Social War in 88 BCE, Brundisium, like many other colonies received municipium<\/em> and the citizens were enrolled as part of the Maecia tribe. The city would play a role in a number of the civil conflicts that plagued Rome in the 1st<\/sup> century BCE. Not only a departure point to the east, it was also an arrival point, as Sulla landed there in 83 BCE as he marched to Rome. During the Caesarean Civil War, Pompey the Great had control of Brudisium and sought to evacuate his forces from Italy to Illyricum in 50-49 BCE. Despite being able to sail some forces across the Adriatic, Caesar besieged the remaining forces in the city. Though he had no navy to enforce a naval blockade, Caesar did attempt to trap Pompey\u2019s ships by blocking up the choke point of the harbor. Pompey was able to wait out the terrestrial siege and escape with the rest of his forces when his navy returned to Brundisium, though.<\/p>\n

Following Caesar\u2019s assassination, Octavian took the mantle of Caesar while in Brundisium to draw from the large funds that Caesar had amassed there for his planned campaign against Parthia. As tensions flared between Octavian and Marcus Antonius, Brundisium came under siege by the latter in 40 BCE. Octavian attempted to break the siege militarily, but was unsuccessful. An agreement was eventually reached, resulting in the Treaty of Brundisium, which essentially carved Roman territory up into spheres of influence between the members of the Second Triumvirate. The poet Vergil died in the city in 19 BCE after falling ill while traveling from Greece back to Italy. Brundisium continued to prosper and play an important role as a trade and military port through the imperial period. It is noted as being the place that the poisoner Martina, part of the plot to kill Germanicus, met her own end in Brundisium, being poisoned herself. It was apparently known for its oysters, wine, bees, fruit, and wool according to Pliny the Elder and Strabo. The Via Traiana was constructed about 109 CE from Beneventum to Brindisium, effectively replacing the Via Appia. In the 6th<\/sup> century CE, the city began a decline in importance, being somewhat supplanted by Hydruntum (modern Otranto) farther south along the coast.<\/p>\n