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History
An ancient village controlled by Samnites was on the hill that dominated the modern town. The name "Campobasso" maybe comes from the phrase "campus vassorum", that is the place where vassals lived. According to historians, Campobasso was settled during Longobard domination in Italy. There is a document of 878 in which a monk of the Benedictine abbey of Santa Sofia in Benevento mentioned Campobasso, actually it was Campibassi. This document is called "Chronicon Sancte Sophie" and was written in the period in which Adelchi was the prince of Benevento. During Longobard and Norman period, Campobasso became very important and it became the "capital" of the county, ruled by di Molisio family (the first exponent was Ugone di Molisio, son-in-law of Ruggero the Norman). Among the historical documents of the period between 1000 and 1300 there is one called "Pancarta Campobassana" of 1277 in which 32 inhabitants denounced to Charles I of Anjou the abuses of Roberto di Molise. In 1400 Campobasso was a very rich town thanks to Monforte family who were the new feudatories of the town (there was also the creation of the local coin, made of bronze and called ‘tornese’). According to historians, Monforte family came from Monfort family from France and England, arrived in Italy with Charles of Anjou. The most important person of the family was Count Cola, called also "Campobasso". Also Benedetto Croce mentioned him. He had great military skills and he showed them during the fights between Angevins and Aragons. At the end of 1400, Angevins were defeated. Monforte family had supported them. The town passed to Aragons and then to De Capoa family. On 1st March 1383 Amedeo VI di Savoia, called Conte Verde, died. At the beginning of 1500 De Capoa family became the feudatory of the town. In 1530 the town was ruled by Gonzaga family, then by Vitagliano and Carafa families. In town there were various confraternities: two of them, ‘Crociati’ and ‘Trinitari' were always fighting. Each of them wanted to be the most powerful. The violently fought spreading a lot of blood. The fight ended in 1587 thanks to the intervention of Fra Geronimo da Sorbo. During these difficult years there was also a tragic love story. Delicata Civerra (from Crociati confraternity) and Fonzo Mastrangelo (from Trinitari confraternity) fell in love. The families didn’t accept that. Fonzo escaped and became a soldier. Delicata died for the sorrow she felt when he left. And she died just when the confraternities agreed to "sign the peace". Fonzo learnt that his beloved was dead and abandoned his life and became a Franciscan friar. Between 1728 and 1735 the middle class tried to get the control of the town. Many rebellions were organised to free the town from the feudatories. In 1739 the citizens could ransom the town and chose Count Salvatore Romano as their ruler. He was a farmer and had many children. In 1755 Charles of Bourbon, king of Naples, proclaimed Campobasso "a model town". With the Parthenopean Revolution of 1799 the town was given to the department of Sangro. In 1806 it became the most important town of the region and later the capital of the Province of Molise. In 1814 Murat authorized the building of new palaces and houses outside the Middle Ages walls. The town grew fast. In 1860 the town entered the Reign of Italy. During the Second World War it was occupied by Canadian troops, in fact it was called "Canada Town" or "Maple Leaf City". The territory was cleared from bombs between 1945 and 1948: many people died for this reason. This is why the President of the Republic, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro with a decree of 28th April 1995 gave to the town the Bronze Medal for Civil Value.
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Written by Stefania Maffeo
Translation by Linda Liguori |
