Amalfi (1 of 3)
by
Bill Austin, Barry Nelson, Jon Kaiser
Ital333, Prof. Barbara
Nucci, March 1999 |
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Of all the places one can choose to
explore in Italy, Amalfi is certainly one of the most interesting, if not
the most beautiful. According to myth, the god Hercules built the
city on the spot where he buried the nymph Melphe, whom he loved (Matonti,
18). More likely, Amalfi was the settlement of Romans who were
shipwrecked during a journey to Constantinople in the 4th Century AD while
escaping Barbarian attacks on Rome (Converso, 114).
In this respect, Amalfi is truly a product of the decline and disintegration
of the Western Roman Empire. Amalfi is a medieval city, and its historical
pinnacle was during this era.
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A Chronology
of
Events in Italy
60,000
BC - 1300 AD
1300
AD - 1998 AD |
|
Amalfi comes to our attention for several
reasons, not the least of which is its shear beauty. It was the first
of the four Maritime Republics of Italy (De Vero, 40). It was through
Amalfi that paper is introduced to Europe (De Vero,
64; Senzanonna, 2). Through its prowess of the seas and dominance
in international trade, Amalfi drafted the most effective code of maritime
law of the time, the ‘Tabula Amalphitana’, which was adopted by all the
maritime powers of the area. The compass was reportedly first used
by Amalfi ships and invented by Flavio Gioia of Amalfi, whose statue can
be seen between the sea and the entrance to the city (Matonti,
28) |
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From its beginning, Amalfi was
economically strong (Matonti, 18), a testament
to what a community can do if left to its own design. Although officially
ruled by the Byzantine Empire for three centuries from 533 AD, it was in
practice autonomous, even electing its own leaders. The Longobards
in Salerno captured Amalfi in 838 and transported much of the population
back to Salerno, but they rebelled and with the help of Arab mercenaries,
regained their freedom the next year and returned to Amalfi, but not before
burning Salerno to the ground and killing their leader (Converso,
116). From 850 to the 11th Century, Amalfi was an independent
republic with control of a vast territory adjoining the Duchy of Naples
(Matonti, 18). |
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In 849, the Amalfi fleet
was instrumental in the defeat of an Arab invasion moving toward Rome,
and in 872 the fleet rescued the Bishop of Naples whom Duke Sergio had
imprisoned in Castel dell’ Ovo (Converso, 117).
In 1039 internal disputes gave Salerno an excuse to invade Amalfi again.
They regained their independence 15 years later, however, with the help
of the Normans, who were only too happy to march into the city, ostensibly
as allies. Not surprisingly, in 1131 the Normans took their turn
at dominating Amalfi, and it was never again to be an independent state
(Converso, 118; De Vero, 48). The town
was attacked and looted by Pisans in 1135 and 1137. Even the sea,
the conduit of Amalfi’s commerce and wealth, ravaged the town in 1013,
1270, and 1343, washing away perhaps as much as half of the town.
Finally, with the close of the Middle Ages and by now a part of the all
powerful Kingdom of Naples, The King of Naples, Ferdinand I, gave Amalfi
away as a dowry to his daughter, Maria (Converso
118).
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