ORIGINS – UMBRIAN-ETRUSCAN PERIOD
Unfortunately there are no precise records about the origins of the city; according to some sources, Perugia was founded by the Acheans, other maintain it was Eulistes, the Etruscan founder of Bologna (Felsina). The latter hypothesis links the building of the cities with the expansion of the Etruscan People in the Po Valley. Finally, other sources trace the foundation of the city back to the Umbrians.
One thing is certain: Perugia rises on lands east of river Tevere, which are considered Etruscan, but are also deemed to border with the territory of the Umbrian people, for this reason its origins are considered both Umbrian and Etruscan.
During the Etruscan period Peruga was part of the “Dodecapolis”, the twelve confederate Umbrian cities of Etruria (Veio, Cerveteri, Tarquinia, Vucci, Volsini (Orvieto), Chiusi, Vetulonia, Volterra, Cortona, Arezzo, Fiesole), created in order to strengthen trade alliances.
The city stated developing mainly around the IV Century B.C., along with the surrounding territories. It is during that era that the first instances of Perugia’s road network start appearing. They will serve as blueprints for designing future main roads throughout the years.
To this day, landmarks proving the prominence of Perugia within Etruria and its links with the other great cities of the time, can still be seen. For example, the necropolies – notably the one in Palazzone, in the Ponte San Giovanni area which houses the famous Hypogeum of the Volumnus family – are evidence of the frequent relations with Chiusi.
A collection of stone inscriptions, engravings, weapons, tools and instruments of many kinds is displayed at the National Archaeological Museum of Umbria (Museo Archeologico Nazionale Dell’Umbria).
Near the beginning of the III Century B.C., the advance of Rome becomes is increasingly threatening for Etruria. The Etruscans are repeatedly defeated and finally surrender at the battle of Sentino (296 B.C.), also remembered as the Battle of the Nations (of the ancient age). Thanks to this victory, the Romans – allied with the Picentes on one side, fighting against a league of Etruscans, Umbrians, Samnites and Senones on the other – established their dominion over Central Italy.
RISE OF THE ROMANS-DECLINE OF THE ETRUSCANS
Perugia plays a central role again during the Battle of Lake Trasimeno, one of the key fights of the e Second Punic War which took place in Tuoro sul Trasimeno between Hannibal, leading the Carthaginians troops, and the Roman Army. Hannibal, showing great strategic cunning, attacked the regions of Consul Gaius Flaminius by surprise, forcing him to advance towards the Carthaginian Army crossing Etruria and heading to Rome. This ambush turned into an actual carnage where about 15,000 Roman soldiers lost their lives. It is around this time that the Monumental City Wall of Perugia was built. Erected using large blocks of travertine for approximately 3 Km (1.8 miles) of length, it encloses the Landone hill and Colle del Solo. The famous “Etruscan Arch” or “Arch of Augustus” or “Porta Pulchra”, is the only city gate still intact today. The walls are still largely visible and well-preserved, as well as the cistern, called “Etruscan Well”, resting near Piazza IV Novembre.
Complete “Romanisation” of the city is achieved with the election of the new consul Paperna in 130 B.C. who favours the alignment of Umbrian and Etruscan populations with Rome and their final annexation in 89 B.C.
Unfortunately, shortly after, Perugia is theatre of another devastating conflict, this time the Roman civil war between Marcus Antonius and Octavius. Following the battle, Perugia (Perusia), where had settled Lucius Antonius, brother of the defeated Marcus Antonius was set on fire. Octavius Augustus had it rebuilt in full Roman style, bestowing it with the title of Augusta Perusia and re-qualifying it going as far as allowing the city to expand beyond its walls.
MIDDLE AGES
The beginning of the Middle Ages meant more wars for Perugia, this time it was the turn of the Goths, lead by Totila, besieging the whole Umbrian territory, and the Byzantines. The leader of the Perugians was Bishop Ercolano, who lost his life during the conflict: the city walls were destroyed and collapsed on his body which was extracted 40 days later, legend has it, without a scratch. The battle was won by the Goths who took over Perugia, but not for long, the Byzantines managed to reconquer it only a few years later. More conflicts followed throughout the years, this time it was the Longobards who threatened the territory with violent clashes and were often close to conquering the city. They never succeed though, the Byzantine Empire managed to resist and strengthen its influence on the territory, including the periphery, until the foundation of the Duchy of Perugia.
During the VIII Century A.D. Perugia was donated to Pope Stephen II by Pipino il Breve after he liberated the city from the Longobards, responding to the pontiff’s call. Soon many surrounding Umbrian lands will will suffer the same fate, as the future State of the Church would start to take shape.
THE COMMUNE
Initially, also thanks to the its bishop, the city was administered by a group of men who are put in charge of various city matters, starting a new body called the “Board of Consuls”. This new organisational system is going to develop in order to represent the citizens (cives) outlining in a new structure of power: the Medieval Commune.
In the meantime, the city of Perugia was becoming increasingly autonomous and its independence was officially granted by Henry VI in 1186 and later by Pope Innocent III who would recognise the power of the consulate, although annexing it under its protection.
The structure of the Commune keeps morphing until all powers are concentrated in the hands of an allegedly impartial functionary called “Podestà”, chosen by the milites (nobles) of the city, flanked by the Board.
Many years of order and prosperity come to an end between the XIII and XIV Century, as Perugia faces a political crisis, also due to its war with Foligno. The fiscal measures imposed by the Art Consuls, spark widespread discontent in the city causing a phase of instability between the “popolo grasso” (meaning fat people, wealthy class representing the more prestigious professions) and the “poplo minuto” (puny people, the poorer workers). In the end, the “popolo minuto” gets the upper hand and the Magistracy of Art Consuls is replaced by the Art Priors. This represents a key change, since the Priors will remain in charge until the beginning of the XIX Century (save a small interruption during the XVI Century), meeting in the “Palace of Priors”, Palazzo Dei Priori, today home to the National Gallery of Umbria.
The following years are characterised by a succession of new rulers and different distributions of power. The first internal clashes are between two parties: Raspanti and Beccherini, the first is a reincarnation of the former “popolo grasso”, the latter represents the aristocracy fighting to regain their former power. Those years of instability did not spare the Pope, whose domination had constantly been questioned throughout the whole history of Perugia in its strive for Autonomy.
VARIOUS POWERS AND AUTHORITIES
At the end of the XIV century Perugia is involved in a much larger conflict. Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, wants to extend his dominion to Central Italy and Perugia is the ideal outpost for expanding southwards. The Church does not like this idea one bit. On the other hand, the Council of Priors, on the 19th of January 1400, deliberates in favour of the Duke in exchange for aids and economic promises.
However, soon after Visconti passes away and Perugia falls back in the hands of the Pope, but also his dominance will be short-lived. A few years later, the warlord Braccio Fortebracci da Montone appears on the scene. For quite a while, he had been wandering around Umbrian territories plundering and conquering them and now he was ready to take over Perugia. Although, an alliance between the People’s Government of Perugia and the King of Naples Ladislao D’Angiò Durazzo – who is appointed Lord of the city after swearing to defend it from invaders – make things difficult for Braccio. Not one to give up easily, he keeps roaming around the area, waiting for his chance, that would finally come in 1414. The death of Ladislao gives Braccio enough time to reorganise and successfully take over Perugia in 1416. From that moment on, although without upsetting the institutional balance of the city, Braccio will rule until his death in 1424. This event will allow Baglioni to rise to power.
Soon after Fortebracci‘s death the Church seizes power again and – with the help of local families, in particular the Baglioni – tries to restore order without overturning the institutional structure, but simply by strengthening its grip. A Papal Representative and an arbitration body are appointed, as a sort of allegedly supra-partes magistrature. This is a very favourable environment for the Baglioni family and their climb to power: they manage to sneak into various supervisory bodies and become increasingly prominent. Another key aspect is their fellowship with the Medici, especially Lorenzo the Magnificent. The power of the Baglioni is constantly challenged by the endless rivalry with another local noble family, the Oddi, who are also trying to rise to power, but any attempt of revolt is repressed.
At the beginning of the XVI Century, the Church attempts to re-assert its power upon Peugia –which tries to resist with the remaining members of the Baglioni family – and between 1530 and 1540 the city even refuses to pay some of the taxes imposed by the Pope (like the infamous duty on salt). As a result the Pontiff excommunicates Perugia. It follows a period of tension during which the city tries to stand up to the Pope who – with the help of the Farnese – regains control. In order to showcase his power, Paul III orders the construction of the overwhelming Rocca Paolina (1540-1543) symbolising the papal rule being imposed upon the citizens in general and the Baglioni family in particular.
The Church ruled through the following centuries, with a brief interruption in the early eighteen hundreds when Napoleon’s Army seized power. These were periods of stagnation, without any particular economic growth or relevant progress, except for construction of various noble palaces across the city. During these centuries, especially after the Church took power back from Napoleon, public opinion was very critical and striving for change.
RISORGIMENTO
From the second half of the XVIII Century’s thirties discontent is growing in Perugia and the first clandestine organisations in the wake of National Revolutionary Movements start to develop. The Citizens of Perugia are the protagonists of the first Independence War and especially the second, when a group of volunteers decided to join the Piedmontese army leaving Perugia undefended after it disobeyed the State of the Church. This allows the pope to infiltrate a contingent of the Swiss Army through the gates of Perugia. The soldiers viciously attacked and brutally massacred the Perugian citiziens – poorly armed and unorganized – who remained to defend the city (the fight saw about 2000 Swiss soldiers against 1000 Perugian civilians). This happened on June 20, 1859 and it is remembered with the name “massacres of Perugia”.
On September 14, 1860 Perugia is freed by the Piedmontese army who forced the Swiss to seek refuge in the Rocca Paolina. Perugia is annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia, which will later become the Kingdom of Italy.