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History of Naples Timeline
(c. 600 BCE – Present)Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, founded by Greek colonists around 600 BCE. Throughout its history, it has been ruled by Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese, Spaniards, and Bourbons, serving as the capital of the Kingdom of Naples and later the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The city played a key role in Italian unification in 1861 and remains a major cultural and economic center of southern Italy. More Less
Ancient and Classical Era
Foundation of Parthenope by Cumae
700 BC
The city of Parthenope was founded by Cumae, the earliest Greek city on mainland Italy, at the end of the 8th century BC. Little archaeology for Parthenope has come to light, but a necropolis of the 7th century BC was discovered in via Nicotera.
Athletic games held alongside the Panathenaic Games
566 BC
These athletic events occurred in conjunction with the Panathenaic Games, which were held in Athens and began in 566 BC. The games continued for several centuries, as evidenced by names recorded on the portico and temple associated with the games, revealed by modern construction excavations.
Refounding as Neapolis
550 BC
During the end of the Greek Dark Ages a larger mainland colony – initially known as Parthenope – developed on the Pizzofalcone hill in the 8th century BC, and was refounded as Neapolis in the 6th century BC: it held an important role in Magna Graecia.
Strong walls, odeon, theatre and temple of the Dioscuri built
450 BC
Neapolis eventually had strong walls (5th century), an odeon, a theatre and the temple of the city's patron gods, the Dioscuri.
Samnite expansion threatens Neapolis
400 BC
At the end of the 5th century BC the political and social equilibrium of Neapolis was severely threatened by the Samnites, an Oscan-speaking tribe expanding towards the more fertile plains.
Image source: History of Naples
Neapolis allies with Samnites against Rome
350 BC
In the second half of the 4th century, during the First Samnite War, Neapolis made an alliance with the Samnites against Rome, which had already taken Capua.
Image source: Samnite Wars
Martyrdom of Saint Januarius at Pozzuoli
305
Saint Januarius, patron saint of Naples, was decapitated in nearby Pozzuoli in 305. Since the 5th century he has been commemorated by the basilica of San Gennaro extra Moenia.
Image source: Januarius
Medieval Naples
Duchy of Naples established as capital
661 - 1139
Naples served as the capital of the Duchy of Naples from 661 to 1139, one of the independent southern Italian states that emerged after the fall of Roman authority in the region.
Image source: Duchy of Naples
Dukes of Naples rise under Athanasius
878
Neapolitan dukes rose to prominence under the Duke-Bishop Athanasius and his successors; among these, Gregory IV and John II participated at the Battle of the Garigliano in 915. Naples then declined in importance in the 10th century until it was captured by its traditional rival, Pandulf IV of Capua.
Sergius IV donates county of Aversa to Normans
1027
In 1027, duke Sergius IV donated the county of Aversa to a band of Norman mercenaries led by Rainulf Drengot, whose support he had needed in the war with the principality of Capua.
Image source: Rainulf Drengot
Key Facts
- Naples was founded by Greek colonists from Cumae around 600 BCE as Neapolis, meaning 'New City.'
- Under the Angevins and later the Aragonese in the 13th–15th centuries, Naples flourished as a capital and major Renaissance center.
- The city was ruled by Spain for over two centuries (1503–1734), during which it became one of Europe's largest cities.
- In 1861, Naples became part of the unified Kingdom of Italy following Giuseppe Garibaldi's Expedition of the Thousand.
- Naples' historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains one of the highest concentrations of historic monuments in Europe.
Source
This History of Naples timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
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