Roccasecca (FR)
Encyclopedia
Roccasecca is a town and comune
in the province of Frosinone
, in the Lazio region of central Italy
. It is the birthplace of St. Thomas Aquinas.
" at the entrance to two narrow defiles that give access to the Valle di Comino
, below the slopes of Monte Asprano (553 m.), which provides a natural position to control the wide Valle del Liri. Remains of archaic perimeter walling attest to early fortified presence around the site. Roccasecca served as a way station for Roman legions and invading armies crossing the River Melfa
, spanned by three ancient bridges here, of which remains persist, but the commune
had its real beginnings in the early Middle Ages
.
It is commonly remembered that Thomas Aquinas
was born at Roccasecca, in the family castle, an important defensive structure that had been erected by Manso, abbot of Monte Cassino
in 994, as part of the outward defenses of the abbey, some kilometres distant. The Abbot placed in charge of the fortified rocca
a collateral branch of the counts of Aquino, whose main seat at Aquino
lies eight km. to the south; they retained their hold on the place through numerous battles, through the centuries.
After the mid-sixteenth century some of the inhabitants descended to the valley to set up permanent housing there, giving rise to the frazioni Roccasecca Centro, Castello and Caprile. In the ensuing centuries the rocca of Roccasecca passed between the Angevin kings of Naples or the Aragonese, in intermittent contention with the Papal States
for the resulting power over the Valle del Liri. Only in 1583 did Roccasecca gain some permanent security, when the counts of Aquino sold the rights to Giacomo Boncompagni
, duke of Sora
, the illegitimate son of Pope Gregory XIII
(born Ugo Boncompagni), who made of it for the first time a papal fief. In the seventeenth century Roccasecca fell with the rest of southern Italy into Spanish Habsburg hands; in the eighteenth century, droughts, disease and excessive fiscal pressures served to drastically reduce the number of inhabitants. In the nineteenth century the illusory Napoleonic promises of liberty were dissolved in Carbonari
a and brigandage.
With the unification of Italy in 1860 and the arrival in 1902 of a railroad line to Avezzano
that linked Roccasecca with the larger world, emigration to the industrial north or farther abroad became easier, and the agricultural life of Roccasecca remained unbroken until World War II
. The war was a dark episode, when Roccasecca was chosen for its rail station and railroad bridge across the Melfa, as the headquarters for the 14th Panzerkorps
under General Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin, with as a consequence repeated Allied bombing, which fell heavily upon the commune's population, and culminated in a ferocious attack upon the rail station.
In the post-war period reconstruction brought some industry for the first time and modern redevelopment in the demolished area round the renewed railroad station. The seventh centennial of Thomas Aquinas' birth brought a visit by Pope Paul VI
, 14 September 1974.
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 Frosinone
Province of Frosinone
The Province of Frosinone is a province in the Lazio region of Italy, with 91 comuni . Its capital is the city of Frosinone. It has an area of 3,244 km², and a total population of 489,042 .The Province was established by Royal Decree on 6 December 1926 with territories belonging to Lazio...
, in the Lazio region of 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...
. It is the birthplace of St. Thomas Aquinas.
History
The history of Roccasecca is tightly bound to its strategic position, a "dry roccaRocca (architecture)
Rocca is an Italian term meaning a high, fortifiable stronghold, usually located in smaller towns, beneath or on which the village or town clustered, within which its inhabitants might take refuge at times of trouble; under its owners' patronage the settlement might hope to find prosperity in...
" at the entrance to two narrow defiles that give access to the Valle di Comino
Comino Valley
The Comino Valley, or Valle di Comino, is a valley located in the province of Frosinone, in central Italy. It runs from San Biagio Saracinisco to Vicalvi and is adjacent to the Abruzzi mountains...
, below the slopes of Monte Asprano (553 m.), which provides a natural position to control the wide Valle del Liri. Remains of archaic perimeter walling attest to early fortified presence around the site. Roccasecca served as a way station for Roman legions and invading armies crossing the River Melfa
River Melfa
River Melfa is a river of Italy that waters Lazio over a distance of about 40 km. before debouching in the Liri, one of the principal rivers of central Italy....
, spanned by three ancient bridges here, of which remains persist, but the commune
Medieval commune
Medieval communes in the European Middle Ages had sworn allegiances of mutual defense among the citizens of a town or city. They took many forms, and varied widely in organization and makeup. Communes are first recorded in the late 11th and early 12th centuries, thereafter becoming a widespread...
had its real beginnings in the early Middle Ages
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
.
It is commonly remembered that Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, O.P. , also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis...
was born at Roccasecca, in the family castle, an important defensive structure that had been erected by Manso, abbot of Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino is a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, Italy, c. to the west of the town of Cassino and altitude. St. Benedict of Nursia established his first monastery, the source of the Benedictine Order, here around 529. It was the site of Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944...
in 994, as part of the outward defenses of the abbey, some kilometres distant. The Abbot placed in charge of the fortified rocca
Rocca (architecture)
Rocca is an Italian term meaning a high, fortifiable stronghold, usually located in smaller towns, beneath or on which the village or town clustered, within which its inhabitants might take refuge at times of trouble; under its owners' patronage the settlement might hope to find prosperity in...
a collateral branch of the counts of Aquino, whose main seat at Aquino
Aquino
Aquino is a town and comune in the province of Frosinone, in the Lazio region of Italy, 12 km northwest of Cassino.-History:The ancient Aquinum was a municipium in the time of Cicero, and made a colony by the Triumviri...
lies eight km. to the south; they retained their hold on the place through numerous battles, through the centuries.
After the mid-sixteenth century some of the inhabitants descended to the valley to set up permanent housing there, giving rise to the frazioni Roccasecca Centro, Castello and Caprile. In the ensuing centuries the rocca of Roccasecca passed between the Angevin kings of Naples or the Aragonese, in intermittent contention with the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
for the resulting power over the Valle del Liri. Only in 1583 did Roccasecca gain some permanent security, when the counts of Aquino sold the rights to Giacomo Boncompagni
Giacomo Boncompagni
Giacomo Boncompagni was an Italian feudal lord of the 16th century, the illegitimate son of Pope Gregory XIII . He was also Duke of Sora, Aquino, Arce and Arpino, and Marquess of Vignola.A member of the Boncompagni family, he was a patron of arts and culture...
, duke of Sora
Duchy of Sora
The Duchy of Sora was a semi-independent state in Italy, created in 1443 by King Alfonso I of Naples and dissolved in 1796. It occupied the south-eastern part of what is today Lazio, bordering what is now Abruzzo...
, the illegitimate son of Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII , born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585. He is best known for commissioning and being the namesake for the Gregorian calendar, which remains the internationally-accepted civil calendar to this date.-Youth:He was born the son of Cristoforo Boncompagni and wife Angela...
(born Ugo Boncompagni), who made of it for the first time a papal fief. In the seventeenth century Roccasecca fell with the rest of southern Italy into Spanish Habsburg hands; in the eighteenth century, droughts, disease and excessive fiscal pressures served to drastically reduce the number of inhabitants. In the nineteenth century the illusory Napoleonic promises of liberty were dissolved in Carbonari
Carbonari
The Carbonari were groups of secret revolutionary societies founded in early 19th-century Italy. The Italian Carbonari may have further influenced other revolutionary groups in Spain, France, Portugal and possibly Russia. Although their goals often had a patriotic and liberal focus, they lacked a...
a and brigandage.
With the unification of Italy in 1860 and the arrival in 1902 of a railroad line to Avezzano
Avezzano
Avezzano is a town and comune in the Abruzzo region, province of L'Aquila. It is the main commercial, industrial and agricultural centre of the Marsica area, with high-tech industries such as a Micron Technology semi-conductor plant, and a large Telespazio satellite farm.-History:There are two...
that linked Roccasecca with the larger world, emigration to the industrial north or farther abroad became easier, and the agricultural life of Roccasecca remained unbroken until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The war was a dark episode, when Roccasecca was chosen for its rail station and railroad bridge across the Melfa, as the headquarters for the 14th Panzerkorps
Panzerkorps
A panzer corps was a military formation type in the German Wehrmacht during World War II. The name was introduced in 1942, when the motorised corps were renamed to panzer corps. Panzer corps were created throughout the war, and existed in all service arms of the Wehrmacht except the Navy...
under General Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin, with as a consequence repeated Allied bombing, which fell heavily upon the commune's population, and culminated in a ferocious attack upon the rail station.
In the post-war period reconstruction brought some industry for the first time and modern redevelopment in the demolished area round the renewed railroad station. The seventh centennial of Thomas Aquinas' birth brought a visit by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
, 14 September 1974.