MESSINA
The City developed around
an amphitheatre at the foot of the Monti Peloritani (hills),
in the interior and south of a roadstead well protected by
an alluvial peninsula, shaped like a scythe (the San Ranieri
peninsula) ending at the point of San Leonardo), constructed
by the debris transported from the numerous coastal furnaces
and accumulated by sea waves. It was then lengthened and amplified
towards the South.
Founded with the name Zancle (in Greek Zànklpiattoe,
scythe, due to the shape of the peninsula which enclosed the
harbour) from Calcidesi of Cuma, Nasso and Eubea (around 725
BC), it developed quickly, founding its colonies one at a
time: Mylài (Milazzo), between the end of the 8th Century
BC and the beginning of the 7th, and that of Imera, in approximately
648. Around 493, the Sami and Milesi refugees who had found
shelter in Zancle, took over the City with the support of
Anassila of Reggio. Shortly afterwards, Zancle fell into the
hands of the same Anassila, who instead of the Sami and Milesi,
installed numerous Esuli Messeni. The City then became known
as Messàna or Messpiatacuenpiattoe and took on a prevalent
Doric characteristic. Regardless of internal feuds, the City
arrived at a high level of prosperity until it was destroyed
by the Carthaginians in 396. It was then rebuilt almost immediately
by Dionigi il Vecchio of Siracusa, then became a subject of
Dione, Ippone, Timoleonte and finally of Agatocle, which after
his death, then passed hands to the Mamertini (around 288).
In approximately 265 it was defeated by Gerone II of Siracusa,
and then asked for help, first from the Carthaginians and
then the Romans, who freed the City from further siege by
Gerone II and the Carthaginians. This conflict was the origins
of the First Punic Wars (264-241), at the end of which, Messana
was proclaimed a free and federate City. After the splendour
of the Roman era, the City continued to have great importance
under the Byzantines. It was then taken by the Saracens (83)
who ruled the City for another two centuries, until the arrival
of the Normans (1061). From that moment, Messina began a period
of prosperity as a commercial emporium. When Sicily passed
on the dominion of the Svevi around the end of the 12th Century,
Messina rebelled many times in an attempt to keep its free
development. After having played a notable part in the Vespri
Siciliani (Sicilian Vespers), the City was besieged by the
King of Sicily Carlo I d’Angiò (July-September
1282), who though, was unsuccessful in conquering it, due
to the addition of the Aragonese (Aragone’s) mercantile
fleet. During the 14th Century, it was given the honour of
becoming the capital of the Aragonese. But the ample municipal
freedom, which Messina enjoyed, wasn’t looked upon favourably
by the Spanish, who attempted to suppress her. This provocated
a rebellion against them (1674); the Messinese, helped by
King Luigi 14th, who sent a fleet under the command of Admiral
Duquesne, resisted for four years and capitulated in 1678.
Following this, Messina lost its importance for many years,
then slowly began to flourish again, yet at the same time
hit by various calamities: in 1743 by the Plague and in 1783
damaged by an earthquake. Messina was strongly oppressed by
the government of the Bourbons, who turned it into a military
centre; it then participated in the insurrectional revolts
of 1820-1821 and 1847-1848; in September 1848 the City was
occupied by the Bourbonic troops led by C. Filangieri after
a heavy bombardment, which was ordered by King Ferdinando
II. It was liberated only in July 1860 by the Garibaldine
forces led by General Giacomo Medici.
After undergoing serious damage by a further earthquake in
1894, it was completely destroyed by an even more devastating
one on 28 December 1908. It was then rebuilt, only to be seriously
damaged again during the course of the Second World War, after
heavy aerial and land bombing. It was occupied by the allied
troops on 17th August 1943.
|
