di RAFFAELE PAPALEO
Among the important moments that have marked the history of the countries of the Valle del Noce, deserves special time in which Lauria has been home to the Shire. The events which led Lauria to become home to the County took place in the period between the ninth and fourteenth centuries , to intrude in the fifteenth century . Centuries , with ups and downs policies , which were witnesses before the fighting between the Lombards and the Byzantines , then the wars between the Swabian and the Angevin family , and as a result of clashes between the Angevins and the Aragonese. Dynasties , with different motives , claiming a legitimate (or such claim ) succession on the lands of southern Italy and Sicily. An interesting question concerns the reasons that led the contenders of the time to establish Lauria at the headquarters of a vast territory that has come to also include a substantial area of the Upper Tyrrhenian Cosentino and a part of Cilento .
The countries of the Walnut Valley in 1239
To the territories bordering the Basilicata added all the countries of the Valle del Noce that already existed at the time and were quite consistent. In the records of registries Swabian Frederick II , in a document dated October 5, 1239 already contained the names of Lorie ( Lauria ) , Lacus Nigri ( Lagonegro ) , Maractie ( Maratea) , Rivelli ( Riverside ) , Tricline ( Trecchina ) , and yet we find Other: Castellucii ( Castelluccio ) , Bianelli ( Viggianello ) , Round Valley Layni (Roundabout ) , Papasideri ( Papasidero ) , Ayete ( Aieta ) , Turture ( Dove ) and Cucti Castri ( Castocucco ) . In this document, the Emperor Frederick II gives provisions that require the housing to the appointed countries and the restructuring of the castles of particular strategic importance. The document refers to the maintenance of the castle of Lagonegro and to Maratea whose territories are entrances to the Walnut Valley and inland. The countries listed in the document were all guarded by castles , forts that played a major role in control of the area and , more generally , were useful aids in the case of wars fought on a larger scale . In this context, Lauria was at the center of a vast territory and represented an important strategic position , from a military point of view and administrative purposes of the control of the territory.
Lauria , a necessary step
The lands of Lauria became a necessary step for the militias , from the Vallo di Diano , from the Val d’Agri or the Valley of Sinni wanted to go into the territories of the Valley of the crater , at Cosenza, in Calabria , and vice versa. From Lauria well you could control the penetration from the sea. Coming from the Gulf of Policastro, the quickest way to reach the hinterland Lucan was represented by the passage in the territory of Lauria. The channels used were those who followed the path of the river Noce, or stepped over the shelf of Maratea or still , coming from Acquafredda , lined the mountain Coccovello passing in the territory of Trecchina and then to Riverside . But even in this case, to go to the Valley of Sinni , or to the Valley of the Mercure and then down into the valley of the crater , the most logical path and easily passes for Lauria . The mountains surrounding the Valle del Noce represented a sort of natural defense for the countries of the Valley. Check the crossings in a mountainous area which is to the south west of Basilicata was certainly easier than planning a defense of open land and no natural barriers. Who has had the good fortune to go to the mountain Coccovello (1512 m . ) Was able to visually verify the location in which it is located Lauria and control that you can have on the territory guarding , in fact, Lauria itself.
A complex terrain
From the highest point of the Coccovello seen simultaneously throughout the Gulf of Policastro, a good part of the Valle del Noce , the group of Sirino , you can see the upper valley of Sinni and you can see even the mountains of Val d’Agri. In the background, looking south -east you see the impressive massif of Pollino and , turning his gaze to the sea , the mountains dell’Orsomarso .
With such a complex topography of the location Lauria allow easy control of the practical ways to move troops at war . Much the same can be done for the trade and for all those activities that required displacements , about seven centuries ago, were not easy. Even the visits of state officials, for administrative control or to solicit the collection of taxation , needed a crossroads where they could more easily converge men , goods and information. These considerations explain the choice of Lauria as the seat of the County in the early centuries of the second millennium .
Back in time
Even going further back in time we can see that the area of the Valle del Noce has been , from time immemorial, a place of passage . It is believed that the Roman road that came from Popilia and Vallo di Diano , after crossing the Walnut Valley area until the Nemoli , to point to the current location to Lauria village and then to the Galdo , and then continue to the territory Castelluccio , Rotonda and then get in Calabria . It ‘ possible that , in the Valle del Mercure , the Popilia to join with the branch of ‘ Herculea that , from Melfi, Potenza and Grumentum , led into the Upper Val Sinni and passed not far from the present village of Seluci Lauria .
The Lombards
The strategic importance of the territory of Lauria had already noticed the Lombards, who , towards the middle of the ninth century , they fortify the castle of Lauria which was part of the defensive system of the steward of Laino which , in turn , was part of the Principality Lombard prince of Salerno governed by Sichenolfo . In the second half of the tenth century the Lombards , in constant battle against the Byzantines , they tried to maintain control of part of the territory that had seen them dominant for a long time . For this, the Lombard prince of Salerno Gisulfo did renovate the castle of Lauria, and the castles of Marsico and Balvano . Gisulfo gave the castle to his cousin Landulf Lauria . The document reveals that this particular speaks of the castle of Laurim , which some scholars interpret as Laurin and others like Lauria ( Pedius , Cartulario of Basilicata. Ed. 1988. Volume I p . 76) . The strategic importance of the castle of Lauria is confirmed by other documentation attesting to their use by the Lombards . In 982 Emperor Otto II is retreating from Calabria , where he suffered a crushing defeat by Byzantine forces at Cape Colonna . The Emperor Otto II is saved with difficulty , and in headlong retreat in the summer of 982 headed straight to the territory of Lauria and makes a stop in the castle fortified and well defended by the Lombards . Later , the same document indicates that Otto II was also stopped in the castles of Marsico and then Balvano . This episode , which involves even the young Emperor Otto II , testifies to the importance given to the area of Lauria that is deemed useful from a strategic point of view . The fact that Lauria is on a major north-south and is easily defensible , once you have installed the militias friends , made it palatable to the various factions.
Angevins and Aragonese
Even in the early centuries of the second millennium, the territory of Lauria was disputed . Angevins and Aragonese clashed in southern Italy and fought Lauria which was , even then , one of the most populous towns of Basilicata. Of these clashes was important secular character, in his time, Roger of Lauria . The fate of the battles at sea favored one or the other contender family in relation to the decisions and the favors of Admiral Lauria .
Monasteries on the territory
The presence of monasteries and religious centers testifies to the important attention to the territory of Lauria. In a document from the year 874 refers to the religious center called Santa Maria della Vite , whose headquarters is shown not far from Mount Sirino . About a century later, in 968 , Otto I confirms the privileges granted to the ” Vulturensi Monasterio .” The diploma refers to the areas subject to this monastery including: ” Lauria Sanctam Felicitatem , ubi dicitur to Turrim .” The territory of Lauria is also chosen by the monks of that rite greek , coming from the Merkurion , current Mercure Valley , settled on the site of Monte Messina , in the place now known by locals as ‘ St. Philip ‘ . Another degree , this time in 1137 , issued by Lothar III , indicates the presence of a Benedictine monastery in Lauria employee by the Abbot of Monte Cassino, which is still governed by Benedictine monks. Additional documents may clarify whether the garrison religious rite greek founded by the monks of the Benedictine monastery and refer to the same place and the same structure ( also referred to as the Abbey of St. Philip ), which over time has changed the header , as it followed the political and religious events of a broader scope . Still a bachelor , in 1145 , speaks of another abbey in Lauria , this time dedicated to St. John . Later , in 1319 Pope John XXII by permission from Minor to build a convent in Lauria .
The presence of religious communities in Lauria has made further important territory and was cause for cultural stimulus and also of religious progress , civil and economic . The monastic communities gave impetus to agriculture, improved water use , rationalized the use of the forests and laid the foundations for the development of crafts . For this reason, Lauria has gained momentum in population. The number of inhabitants increased because many families who pre-existed throughout the area , mostly dedicated to agriculture and pastoralism , they found advantageous to move into the town , partly because better protected against the incursions of bandits and outlaws.
Feudal lords in Lauria
At the end of the twelfth century Lauria already has its feudal lord that scholars locate in Gibel Loria , probably father of Richard of Lauria and thus grandfather of Ruggiero di Lauria , the famous Grand Admiral . With Gibel and his descendants Lauria was at the center of major political decisions that riguardarono a large area. Richard of Lauria had been appointed Grand Executioner of Basilicata by Frederick II. The feudal lord or baron , Lauria was able to remain faithful to the Swabian family . In fact, he died in Grain February 26th 1266 in the famous battle of Benevento. Battle in which he lost his life also Manfredi , son and heir of Frederick II. This battle was fought against the Swabians Angevins to Charles of Anjou.
Towards the end of the thirteenth century to the soldier James Lauria was confirmed the role of guardian of the sea of Maratea.
In September 1270 Robert Lauria was commissioned as a ” guardian of the steps and streets on the Tyrrhenian coast of Basilicata Giustizierato and then all the roads of the same Giustizierato .” Once again, the task of supervising the area was entrusted to a member of the family who owned the lands of Lauria. Confirming the strategic importance of its territory .
Lauria ‘s County in 1339
Ilaria Lauria , daughter of Admiral Ruggiero di Lauria , married the Count of Marsico Henry Sanseverino, who became , therefore, lord of the lands brought as a dowry from his wife and then also the land of Lauria. In 1324 , Henry Sanseverino, was appointed captain of arms with the task of supervising and defend the Tyrrhenian coast that runs from the Gulf of Policastro to the Gulf of Salerno. Five years earlier, in 1320 , Policastro had been besieged by the troops and placed in lots of Corrado Doria , in the service of the Sicilians , and created inconvenience caused distuzioni , along the Tyrrhenian coast , the lands and cities loyal to the Angevins . With the marriage of Henry with Ilaria Lauria Lauria Sanseverino lands assume the title of County and reach their maximum extension coming to realize that a large area on the coastal slope , running from the mouth of the Lao and reaches up to Policastro and beyond. Inland County Lauria included throughout the Valley of Walnut, across the valley at the Mercure and came up to the mountains dell’Orsomarso : comprising the lands of Papasidero and Orsomarso .
Lauria officially becomes the County to 1339 , when Queen Giovanna I confirmed the donation of the Barony of Ilaria Lauria of Lauria , who, ” in 1340, gives to his son Thomas Lauria of the castles , of Riverside , Lagonegro in Giustizierato of Basilicata and feuds that she possessed the neighboring Principality of Giustizierati Citra and Jordan Valley the crater and Earth ” (Room , Annals , II, p.383 ff.) .
Sanseverino seems to start with , apparently, for the lands of Lauria a favorable time under the government of one of the most powerful families and lived in southern Italy. The history of the centuries following favorable periods will alternate with moments of reflux . Are lurking between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries : dynastic wars , invasions , plagues , famines , earthquakes and adverse weather conditions but the feudal shows no sign of slowing .
Remain insurmountable distances between ‘ noble ‘ and the masses. Only the ecclesiastical career offers some hope for improvement of the welfare state .
However, in Lauria gradually takes consistency craft that is perfected to the point to allow the export of manufactured products and procedures . Meanwhile , the news also report cases of rebellion against the ‘ Gentlemen ‘ who , pressed by the populace and the artisan class , are forced to give up some privileges sometimes hateful . As happened in 1453 in Wenceslas Sanseverino, who , among other things, finally abolishes the ‘ ius first seigneur ‘ . But this and other events can be investigated and told at another time if the page has just ended is considered of some use.
Raffaele Papaleo
The Castle Ruggero di Lauria restored by the Lombards in the ninth century and the Church of the Assumption