Lucera

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Lucera-Stemma.png official_name = Comune di Lucera
name=Lucera
region = Puglia
province = Foggia (FG)
elevation_m = 250
area_total_km2 = 338
population_as_of = 2005
population_total = 34911
population_density_km2 = 103
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|41|30|N|15|20|E
mapx=41.300
mapy=15.335
frazioni =Reggente, San Giusto
telephone = 0881
postalcode = 71036
gentilic = Lucerini
saint = Santa Maria
day = august 15
mayor =
website = [http://www.comune.lucera.fg.it/ www.comune.lucera.fg.it]

Lucera is a town and "comune" in the Province of Foggia, in the Apulia region of Italy.

Early history

Lucera is an ancient city founded in Daunia, the centre of Dauni territory (in present day Apulia). Archeological excavations show the presence of a bronze age village inside the city boundaries. Lucera was probably named after either Lucius, a mythical Dauno king, or a temple dedicated to the goddess Lux Cereris. A third possibility is that the city was founded and named by the Etruscans, in which case the name probably means Holy Wood (luc = wood, eri = holy).

In 321 BC the Roman army was deceived into thinking Lucera was under siege by the Samnites. Hurrying to relieve their allies the army walked into an ambush and were defeated at the famous Battle of the Caudine Forks. The Samnites occupied Lucera but were thrown out after a revolt. The city sought Roman protection and in 320 BC was granted the status of Colonia Togata, which meant it was ruled by the Roman Senate. 2500 Romans moved to Lucera in order to strengthen the ties between the two cities. From then on Lucera was known as a steadfast supporter of Rome.

During the civil wars of the late Republic Pompey set up his headquarters in Lucera, but abandoned the city when Julius Caesar approached. Lucera quickly switched its allegiance and Caesar's clemency spared it from harm. In the next civil war between Octavian and Mark Anthony the city did not escape as lightly. After the war Octavian settled many veteran soldiers on the lands of the ruined city. This helped Lucera recover quickly and marked an era of renewed prosperity. Many of the surviving Roman landmarks hail from this Augustan period, among them the Luceran amphitheatre.

With the fall of the Western Roman Empire the city of Lucera entered into a state of decline. In 663 AD it was captured from the Lombards and destroyed by the Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II.

Islamic period

In 1224 AD, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, responding to religious uprisings in Sicily, expelled all Muslims from the island, transferring many to Lucera over the next two decades. In this controlled environment, they couldn't challenge royal authority and they benefited the crown in taxes and military service. Their numbers eventually reached between 15,000 and 20,000, leading Lucera to be called "Lucaera Saracenorum" because it represented the last stronghold of Islamic presence in Italy. Muslims in Lucera were predominately farmers. They grew durum wheat, barley, legumes, grapes and other fruits. Muslims also kept bees for honey. [Taylor, p.99]

The colony thrived for 75 years until it was sacked in 1300 by Christian forces under the command of Charles II of Naples. The city's Muslim inhabitants were exiled or sold into slavery, [Julie Taylor. [http://www.umd.umich.edu/univ/ur/press_releases/nov03/taylorbook_pr.html Muslims in Medieval Italy: The Colony at Lucera] . Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books. 2003.] with many finding asylum in Albania across the Adriatic Sea. [Ataullah Bogdan Kopanski. [http://www.iiu.edu.my/deed/quran/albanian/Albchapt.htm Islamization of Shqeptaret: The clas of Religions in Medieval Albania.] ] Their abandoned mosques were demolished, and churches were usually built in their place, including the cathedral S. Maria della Vittoria. [Taylor, p.187]

After the Muslims were removed from Lucera, Charles tried to settle Christians in the city. Those Muslims that converted to Christianity got part of their property back, but none was restored his former position of political or economic influence. As time progressed, grain production fell in the city, and in 1339 the city was hit by a famine. While Christians were allowed to farm as the Muslims, the loss of Muslim farmers may have been a cause of the famine. [Taylor, p.190-4]

Main sights

It hosts several important monuments from different ages:
*the Roman Amphitheater
*the medieval Castle
*the Church of S. Francesco
*the Cathedral, built in 1300 on the grounds of the last standing medieval mosque in Italy, which had been destroyed the same year.

ee also

*Bishopric of Lucera–Troia

Footnotes

ources and references

* Aalulbayt Library, [http://www.al-shia.com/html/eng/books/spread-of-islam/04.html "An Introduction to the Spread of Islam"]
*Taylor, Julie. "Muslims in Medieval Italy: The Colony at Lucera". Lexington Books, 2005.
* University of Michigan-Dearborn, [http://www.umd.umich.edu/univ/ur/press_releases/nov03/taylorbook_pr.html "UM-Dearborn professor publishes history of Muslim community in medieval Italy"] (press release), 20 November 2003