| Velletri stands on a peak, a branch
of the Monte Artemisio, towering over the Pontine land. According
to a legend, it was founded by Atlante Italo, great-grandchild
of Noah. It belonged to the population of the Volsci, with the
name of Velester, and it was powerful and proud of its freedom,
thus struggled against Rome's expansion till 338 B.C., when
it was completely conquered. During the imperial and the republican
age numerous villas were built in this area, and in that of the
Octavii, the Roman emperor Ottaviano Augusto spent the years of
his youth. Autonomy and welfare characterized this town for a
long period determining the construction of numerous villas and
of an amphitheatre. With the decay of the Roman Empire, the destiny
of Velletri was similar to that of other towns, in 455 B.C. it
was invaded by the Vandali of Genserico; with the diffusion of
the Christian doctrine, it became Episcopal see, and in the 6th
century it was controlled by the Pope.
After 1183 it was declared municipality and were issued the
Statutes. During the Middle Ages, although it was linked to
the papacy, it preserved its freedom, it was never controlled
by a feudal baron but it was governed by the citizens. Velletri
took part to the struggles for the Pope's supremacy and
therefore it was devastated by the municipality of Rome and
of Colonna, but the town always succeeded in recovering from
damages. The Vatican control became always stricter, so that
its freedom was reduced. During the 15th century a pawnshop
was opened, which went to bankrupt in 1527, and it was the first
of this sort of institution.
In 1774 Velletri and its surroundings were the theatre of a
battle between the Spanish and the Austrian Army, during the
war between the Ausburgo and the Borboni. After the French Revolution,
Velletri rebelled and it was proclaimed a Republic. The Republic
lasted till 1814. It was again proclaimed a Republic in 1849.
During the second world war the bombardments destroyed Velletri,
not only deleting the historical monuments but also killing
a lot of people.
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