Duchy of Spoleto: Map & History
The Duchy of Spoleto was a duchy in central Italy that existed from the late 6th century until the early 13th century.
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The Duchy of Spoleto was a duchy in central Italy that existed from the late 6th century until the early 13th century. Centered on the city of Spoleto, it controlled much of the mountainous interior of central Italy, including parts of modern Umbria, Abruzzo, Marche, and Lazio.
Modern Countries Once Part of Duchy of Spoleto
At its mapped extent, Duchy of Spoleto covered territory in 3 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Duchy of Spoleto's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Duchy of Spoleto in Depth
History
The Duchy of Spoleto emerged during the Lombard expansion into central Italy in the late 6th century. Its origins are traditionally placed during the reign of Alboin, around 571. An alternative chronology places the foundation of the duchy after the failed Byzantine offensive of 575–576 led by Baduarius. Following this defeat Faroald I and associated Lombard groups established control, placing the foundation of the duchy a few years later.
From Spoleto, Lombard expansion advanced toward the central Apennines. The valleys of the Vigi, Nera, and Corno were progressively occupied.
The conquest divided central Italy into two main spheres: the Tuscia Romanorum, corresponding to the Byzantine-held Duchy of Perugia, and the Tuscia Longobardorum, or Duchy of Spoleto.
Lombard-era government
Within the Lombard kingdom, the Duchy of Spoleto formed part of the southern grouping of territories commonly referred to as Tuscia, which included Tuscany, Spoleto, and Benevento.
The duchy was ruled by a duke, described with the title Summus et Gloriosus Dux Langobardorum. In large duchies such as Spoleto, the duke exercised substantial authority, while acknowledging the higher sovereignty of the Lombard king.
Subordinate officials operated within the duchy. Among them were gastalds, who governed territorial districts and administered revenues connected with ducal authority. These officials exercised both civil and military functions.
At the local level, settlements were supervised by officials called sculdasci or centenarii.
Geography
The Duchy of Spoleto comprised much of the mountainous interior of central Italy. Its territory included the old regions of the Sabines, the Aequi, the Vestini, southern Umbria, and the coastal land of Picenum.
To the east, the Adriatic Sea formed the boundary of the duchy. To the south it bordered the territory of Benevento, while to the north it met the Byzantine-held Pentapolis. The cities of Camerino and Fermo also appear to have belonged to Spoleto.
In the west the duchy was separated from Lombard Tuscia by the Byzantine Corridor, a narrow strip of Byzantine territory containing the cities of Polimarzo, Ameria, and Bleda; these places were only briefly attached to Spoleto in the final period of Byzantine rule. Narni likewise appears to have been incorporated for a short time.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Duchy of Spoleto (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Duchy of Spoleto: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Duchy of Spoleto exist?
Duchy of Spoleto is dated to 577 CE – 898 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Duchy of Spoleto?
The capital of Duchy of Spoleto was Spoleto.
How large was Duchy of Spoleto at its peak?
At its peak in 898 AD Duchy of Spoleto covered about 119,645 km².
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