TARANTO
The Taranto population frequently
asked help from the Greek sovereigns: firstly, from Archidamo
III of Sparta, who was defeated by Messapi and Lucani at Manduria
(338 BC), then from Alessandro I, the Molosso, King of the
Epiro, and later from Cleonimo of Spart (303,302).
Help from
the foreign armies, repeated in major proportions with Pirro,
King of the Epiro, when the City came into conflict with Rome.
The intervention failed with the defeat of Maelventum (Benevento,
275 BC), which induced Pirro to return to his homeland and
leave a garrison at Taranto; which after a long siege, saw
the City’s surrender, then its being counted amongst
the federal cities. It remained faithful during the first
Punic War, siding with Annibale during the second (213), and
then re-conquered in 209 by Fabio Massimo, who abandoned it
to pillage. In Taranto during 37BC C. Ottaviano and Antonio,
through the intercession of Ottavia, renewed the second triumvirate.
The invasion by the Barbarians didn’t exclude Taranto,
who suffered destruction and pillage numerous times. The City
gave itself over immediately to Belisario (546), who promoted
its repopulation and fortification. Nevertheless, it was once
again conquered by Totila in 549 and only in 552, could be
liberated by Narsete. From that time on, it remained almost
stable in the hands of the Eastern Empire.
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