Page 42 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

40  INTRODUCING THE IT ALIAN RIVIER A

As they conquered territory, the Romans
also colonized it, gradually establishing a
whole series of towns along the coast. The
most important of these Roman settle-
ments were: Portus Lunae (Luni), Ingaunum
(Albenga), Alba Docilia (Albisola), Genua
(Genoa), Portus Delphini (Portofino) and
Segesta Tigulliorum (Sestri Levante). Roman
Liguria, however, was never more than a
Ruined Roman villa at Alba Docilia, now Albisola backwater – the result of its distance from
the main routes of communication through
Roman Liguria Italy, and the fact that the Romans’ most
The focus of the Romans was to important ports were elsewhere.
establish landing stages for merchants
and ships, but they did not have an Barbarian Invasions
easy time establishing their presence in The armies of the Visigoths under Alaric
Liguria. Genoa was one of the few places reached Liguria from North Africa in
that fell to the Romans without conflict; AD 409, and after that the region was
it was incorporated into the Roman raided by the Goths and their allies,
empire in the 2nd century BC. the Heruli. Armies
The toughness of the Ligurians came and went,
attracted the Carthaginians (under the while both the
command of Hannibal and his brothers political and
Hasdrubal and Mago), who co-opted, military situation
as allies, the tribes of the Intumeli and in the whole
Ingauni. In 205 BC, the Carthaginians Italian peninsula
besieged and destroyed Genoa. The was in a constant
Romans prevailed, however and, once state of flux. In Rotarius, king of the Longobards,
the Carthaginians had been driven back, AD 536 Italy was who reached Liguria in 641
they continued their expansion, attacking invaded by the
Gallic tribes and extending the road forces of the Eastern Empire, under
network, which became a vital means the leadership of Justinian I. They
of communication within the empire. eventually overcame the Goths, and a
The Via Postumia reached Roman Genua fairly peaceful period under Byzantine
(Genoa) from Mediolanum (Milan) in rule followed. Bishoprics had already
148 BC, although the road of greatest started to emerge in the 5th century,
significance was the Via Julia Augusta, and continued to be created under the
which was laid along the coast – the Byzantines, including that of Albenga.
modern Via Aurelia follows its route. Liguria was given the name of Provincia

205 BC Genoa, allied to Portrait of 4th century Liguria becomes
Rome, is destroyed by Hannibal Provincia Maritima Italorum, part
the Carthaginians of the Byzantine empire
100 BC AD 400 600
AD 409 Invasion
of Visigoths 641–643
under Alaric Lombard
conquest by
Alaric’s coat troops led
of arms by Rothari

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