European Kingdoms

Marsi / Marruvii
9th - 1st Century BC

Located in central Italy, to the east of Latium and south of Etruria, the Marsi (or Marruvii or Marrubii as used by Virgil) were a warlike Italic people. They lived in the region of Lake Fucino (modern Marsica), centred on Marruvium (now called San Benedetto dei Marsi). The ancient stream called the Pitonius is nearby (now known as Giovenco).

The Marsi were a tough, enduring mountain folk (and should not be confused with the later Germanic tribe of the Marsi). Their chief divinity was Angitia, an ancient snake goddess, with snakes forming a symbol of wisdom throughout their culture.

c.800 - c.580 BC

The Marsi are subjects of the Etruscans.

c.580 - 325 BC

The Marsi are subjects of the Samnites.

325 - 309 BC

The Marsi ally themselves with the Romans. It is in this period that the Marsi are first documented, during the Second Samnite War of 325 BC, when they are recorded as being confederates of the Marrucini, Paeligni and Vestini tribes.

309 - 304 BC

The Marsi revolt against Roman control in 309 BC and realign themselves to the Samnites.

304 - 90 BC

Following the defeat of the Samnites and the Marsi in their anti-Roman revolt, Roman influence is reaccepted. The penalty for the revolt is a loss of some Marsi territory.

90 - 89 BC

Along with the Frentani, Hirpini, Marrucini, Paeligni, Picentes, Samnites, and Vestini, the Marsi and Etruscans fight the Social War (Italian War, or Marsic War) against Rome during which the Marsi warriors are regarded as some of the best of Rome's opponents. The war is the result of increasing inequality in Roman land ownership, and the spark for conflict is delivered by the assassination of the reforming Marcus Livius Drusus.

A silver denarius issued by the Marsic Confederation to support its cause against Rome

90 - 89 BC

Quintius Poppaedius Silo

Led the Marsi in the Social War. Killed in battle.

89 BC

The Romans take direct control of the Marsi region. Its people are granted Roman citizenship soon afterwards (the withholding of this being one of their main causes of complaint before the war). They retain their identity well into the Roman empire period, during which their chief town flourishes under the name Civitas Marsorum.

AD 570 - 776

The Lombards invade northern Italy and the Marsi tribal territory becomes a county that is subject to the authority of the duchy of Spoleto in the south.

Duchy of Marsi (Colonna)
AD 1459 - 1528

Marsi, located in central Italy, and former home to the tribe of the Marsi, became a duchy for a branch of the Italian noble family of Colonna in the fifteenth century, although it was short-lived. The main town in the region was known as Civitas Marsicana by the Middle Ages, although this was destroyed in 1340 when the Angevin Normans were fighting for the control of Naples, and had to be rebuilt.

Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna

Lord of Cave and count of Alba.

1459

Lorenzo's domains are divided between his six children, with Odoardo gaining Marsi.

1459 - 1485

Odoardo / Edward

Son. Former count of Alba and Celano.

1485 - ?

Giordano

Son.

? - 1528

Prospero / Prosperetto

Son.

1528

Prospero is imprisoned in Civita Lavinia. Both his offspring are daughters so ownership of the duchy passes away from the Colonnas. In the seventeenth century, the archbishop of Amasia (from 1643) and patriarch of Jerusalem (from 1638), Don Carlo, is termed the duke of Marsi. He is able to trace his origins back to Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna, albeit via a different branch of the family.