Amatrice
Encyclopedia
Amatrice is a town and comune
in the province of Rieti
, in northern Lazio (central Italy
). The city is seat of the food-agricultural base of "Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park
".
, the area became part of the Lombard
Duchy of Spoleto
, included in the comitate of Ascoli
. The town of Matrice is mentioned in the papers of the Abbey of Farfa
in 1012 as commanding the confluence of the Tronto
and Castellano rivers.
In 1265, during the reign of Manfred of Sicily
, Amatrice became part of the Kingdom of Naples
. After the capture of the latter by the Angevines
, Amatrice rebelled but was suppressed by Charles I of Anjou in 1274, although it maintained some sort of autonomy as Universitas. In the 14th and 15th century it was frequently in conflict with the neighbouring cities of Norcia
, Arquata
and L'Aquila
, and its troops took part in the siege of the latter under Braccio da Montone
. In the course of the conflict between Angevines and the Aragonese
for the conquest of the Kingdom of Naples, Amatrice chose the latter side. In 1529 it was stormed by the troops of Philibert of Chalon
, general of Emperor Charles V
, who gave it to its general Alessandro Vitelli.
Later Amatrice was held by the Orsini and the Medici of Florence, who kept it until 1737. It was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1639. After the unification of Italy, it became part of Abruzzo
, being annexed to the Lazio in 1927.
pasta
sauce
. Numerous cooks of the Popes came from Amatrice, according to some urban legends.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the province of Rieti
Province of Rieti
The Province of Rieti is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Rieti.It has an area of 2,749 km², and a total population of 153,258 . There are 73 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Rieti.It was founded in 1927.-External links:*...
, in northern Lazio (central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
). The city is seat of the food-agricultural base of "Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park
Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park
The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park is a natural park in Italy, which was established in 1991. It has an area of 2,014 square kilometres...
".
History
Archaeological remains have shown human presence in the area of Amatrice since prehistorical times, and also remain of Roman edifices and tombs have been found. After the fall of the Western Roman EmpireWestern Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
, the area became part of the Lombard
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
Duchy of Spoleto
Duchy of Spoleto
The independent Duchy of Spoleto was a Lombard territory founded about 570 in central Italy by the Lombard dux Faroald.- Lombards :The Lombards, a Germanic people, had invaded Italy in 568 and conquered much of it, establishing a Kingdom divided between several dukes dependent on the King, who had...
, included in the comitate of Ascoli
Ascoli Piceno
Ascoli Piceno is a town and comune in the Marche region of Italy, capital of the province of the same name. Its population is c. 51,400.-Geography:...
. The town of Matrice is mentioned in the papers of the Abbey of Farfa
Abbey of Farfa
Farfa Abbey is a territorial abbey in northern Lazio, central Italy. It is one of the most famous abbeys of Europe. It belongs to the Benedictine Order and is located about 60 km from Rome, in the commune of Fara Sabina, not far from the Fara Sabina railway station.-History:A legend in the...
in 1012 as commanding the confluence of the Tronto
Tronto
The Tronto is a 115 km-long Italian river that arises at Monte della Laghetta and ends in the Adriatic Sea at Porto d'Ascoli, San Benedetto del Tronto. Anciently the Truentus, it traverses the Lazio, Marche, and Abruzzo regions....
and Castellano rivers.
In 1265, during the reign of Manfred of Sicily
Manfred of Sicily
Manfred was the King of Sicily from 1258 to 1266. He was a natural son of the emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen but his mother, Bianca Lancia , is reported by Matthew of Paris to have been married to the emperor while on her deathbed.-Background:Manfred was born in Venosa...
, Amatrice became part of the Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
. After the capture of the latter by the Angevines
Capetian House of Anjou
The Capetian House of Anjou, also known as the House of Anjou-Sicily and House of Anjou-Naples, was a royal house and cadet branch of the direct House of Capet. Founded by Charles I of Sicily, a son of Louis VIII of France, the Capetian king first ruled the Kingdom of Sicily during the 13th century...
, Amatrice rebelled but was suppressed by Charles I of Anjou in 1274, although it maintained some sort of autonomy as Universitas. In the 14th and 15th century it was frequently in conflict with the neighbouring cities of Norcia
Norcia
Norcia is a town and comune in the province of Perugia in southeastern Umbria, located in a wide plain abutting the Monti Sibillini, a subrange of the Apennines with some of its highest peaks, near the Sordo River, a small stream that eventually flows into the Nera...
, Arquata
Arquata del Tronto
Arquata del Tronto is a comune in the Province of Ascoli Piceno in the Italian region Marche, located about 100 km south of Ancona and about 25 km southwest of Ascoli Piceno...
and L'Aquila
L'Aquila
L'Aquila is a city and comune in central Italy, both the capital city of the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila. , it has a population of 73,150 inhabitants, but has a daily presence in the territory of 100,000 people for study, tertiary activities, jobs and tourism...
, and its troops took part in the siege of the latter under Braccio da Montone
Braccio da Montone
frame|Braccio da Montone.Braccio da Montone , born Andrea Fortebracci, and also known as Braccio Fortebraccio, was an Italian condottiero.-Biography:...
. In the course of the conflict between Angevines and the Aragonese
House of Aragon
The House of Aragon is the name given several royal houses that ruled the County, the Kingdom or the Crown of Aragon.Some historiansGuillermo Fatás y Guillermo Redondo, Alberto Montaner Frutos, Faustino Menéndez Pidal de Navascués...
for the conquest of the Kingdom of Naples, Amatrice chose the latter side. In 1529 it was stormed by the troops of Philibert of Chalon
Philibert of Châlon
Philibert de Châlon was the last prince of Orange from the house of Châlon.Born at Nozeroy to John IV of Chalon-Arlay, Philibert served Emperor Charles V as commander in Italy, fighting in the War of the League of Cognac. He took part in the Sack of Rome and was killed during the final stages of...
, general of Emperor Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, who gave it to its general Alessandro Vitelli.
Later Amatrice was held by the Orsini and the Medici of Florence, who kept it until 1737. It was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1639. After the unification of Italy, it became part of Abruzzo
Abruzzo
Abruzzo is a region in Italy, its western border lying less than due east of Rome. Abruzzo borders the region of Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east, and the Adriatic Sea to the east...
, being annexed to the Lazio in 1927.
Cuisine
Amatrice is especially famous for the Sugo all'amatricianaSugo all'amatriciana
-External links:*** in Italian and English* and in Italian* and in English ***...
pasta
Pasta
Pasta is a staple food of traditional Italian cuisine, now of worldwide renown. It takes the form of unleavened dough, made in Italy, mostly of durum wheat , water and sometimes eggs. Pasta comes in a variety of different shapes that serve for both decoration and to act as a carrier for the...
sauce
Sauce
In cooking, a sauce is liquid, creaming or semi-solid food served on or used in preparing other foods. Sauces are not normally consumed by themselves; they add flavor, moisture, and visual appeal to another dish. Sauce is a French word taken from the Latin salsus, meaning salted...
. Numerous cooks of the Popes came from Amatrice, according to some urban legends.