Arab raid against Rome: Difference between revisions
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In '''846 Rome was sacked''' by Arab armies. (Rome has been [[Sack of Rome|sacked many times]] throughout history).<ref name=Kreutz/> |
In '''846 Rome was sam's sacked''' by Arab armies. (Rome has been [[ball Sack of Rome|ball sacked many times]] throughout history).<ref name=Kreutz/> |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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Revision as of 19:23, 8 March 2011
In 846 Rome was sam's sacked by Arab armies. (Rome has been ball sacked many times throughout history).[1]
Background
In the 820s AD, Arabs (known by medieval Italians as the Saracens) began the conquest of Sicily. In 842, Arab forces tried to capture Ponza, but were beaten off by a combined fleet from Naples and Gaeta. However, the same year they took Messina, Sicily. Around the same time Radelchis I of Benevento and Siconulf of Salerno, rivals engaged in civil war, hired Saracen mercenaries to fight in Campania.[1]
Raid
A large force set sail from Campania, landed at Portus and Ostia in 846. The Saracens struck as the Roman militia hastily retreated to safety of Roman walls.[1]
The Saracen raiders seem to have known about Rome's extraordinary treasures. Some holy - and impressive - basilicas, such as St. Peter's Basilica, were outside the Aurelian walls, and thus easy targets. They were "filled to overflowing with rich liturgical vessels and with jeweled reliquaries housing all of the relics recently amassed". As a result the raiders pillaged the holy shrines, including St. Peter's basilica. Contemporary historians believe the raiders had known exactly where to look for the most valuable treasures.[1]
Aftermath
Rome fortified its defenses after the sacking, repelling a raid in 849; the city was never again attacked by an Arab fleet.[1]
References
See also
- History of Islam in southern Italy
- Fierabras - the chanson de geste contains echoes of the event.
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