Fregellae
Encyclopedia
Fregellae was an ancient town of Latium adiectum
, situated on the Via Latina
between Aquinum (modern Aquino
) and Frusino
(now in central Italy
), near the left branch of the Liris.
It is said to have been founded in early times by the Opici or Oscans, near the modern Arce
, and later to have belonged the Volsci
. It was apparently destroyed by the Samnites a little before 330 BC; in that year the people of Fabrateria Vetus (modern Ceccano
) sought the help of Rome
against them and in 328 BC
a Latin colony
was established there. The place was taken in 320 BC
by the Samnites, but re-established by the Romans in 313 BC
. It continued henceforward to be faithful to Rome; by breaking the bridges over the Liris, it interposed an obstacle to the advance of Hannibal on Rome in 212 BC
and it was a native of Fregellae who headed the deputation of the 18 non-revolting colonies in 209 BC
to the Roman Senate
, when in course of the Hannibalian war 12 colonies had revolted.
Fregellae appears to have been a very important and flourishing place owing to its command of the crossing of the Liris and to its position in a fertile territory. It was here that after the rejection of the proposals of M. Fulvius Flaccus for the extension of Roman burgess-rights in 125 BC
, a revolt against Rome broke out. It was captured by treachery in the same year and destroyed by the praetor Lucius Opimius
; its place was taken in the following year by the colony of Fabrateria Nova, 3 miles to the S.E. on the opposite bank of the Liris. A post station Fregellanum (modern Ceprano
) is mentioned in the itineraries; Fregellae itself however continued to exist as a village even under the empire.
The site is clearly traceable in the territory of Arce
, in the frazione called Isoletta di Arce, that is not far from the border with the municipality of Ceprano
and San Giovanni Incarico
: remains excavated starting from 1978 include items from the Republican age and a large temple of Aesculapius. Some of the items are in the museum of Ceprano.
Latium adiectum
Latium adiectum or Latium Novum is an ancient Roman geographical term used at least as early as the 1st century BC, when mention of it occurs in Pliny in conjunction with Latium antiquum, the original territory of the Latini tribe...
, situated on the Via Latina
Via Latina
The Via Latina was a Roman road of Italy, running southeast from Rome for about 200 kilometers.It led from the Porta Latina in the Aurelian walls of Rome to the pass of Mons Algidus; it was important in the early military history of Rome...
between Aquinum (modern 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...
) and Frusino
Frosinone
Frosinone is a town and comune in Lazio, central Italy, the administrative seat of the Province of Frosinone. It is located about 75 km south-east of Rome close to the Rome-Naples Autostrada A1...
(now in 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...
), near the left branch of the Liris.
It is said to have been founded in early times by the Opici or Oscans, near the modern Arce
Arce
Arce is a comune in the province of Frosinone, in the region of Lazio, Italy. it is an agricultural center located on a hill overlooking the Via Casilina, in the middle valley of the Liri.-History:...
, and later to have belonged the Volsci
Volsci
The Volsci were an ancient Italic people, well known in the history of the first century of the Roman Republic. They then inhabited the partly hilly, partly marshy district of the south of Latium, bounded by the Aurunci and Samnites on the south, the Hernici on the east, and stretching roughly from...
. It was apparently destroyed by the Samnites a little before 330 BC; in that year the people of Fabrateria Vetus (modern Ceccano
Ceccano
Ceccano is a town and comune in the province of Frosinone, Lazio, central Italy.-History:The town had its origins as an ancient Volscian citadel that surrendered to the Romans in 424 BC...
) sought the help of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
against them and in 328 BC
328 BC
Year 328 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Proculus and Scapula or Decianus and Barbatus...
a Latin colony
Colonia (Roman)
A Roman colonia was originally a Roman outpost established in conquered territory to secure it. Eventually, however, the term came to denote the highest status of Roman city.-History:...
was established there. The place was taken in 320 BC
320 BC
Year 320 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cursor and Philo...
by the Samnites, but re-established by the Romans in 313 BC
313 BC
Year 313 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cursor and Brutus...
. It continued henceforward to be faithful to Rome; by breaking the bridges over the Liris, it interposed an obstacle to the advance of Hannibal on Rome in 212 BC
212 BC
Year 212 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Flaccus and Pulcher...
and it was a native of Fregellae who headed the deputation of the 18 non-revolting colonies in 209 BC
209 BC
Year 209 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Verrucosus and Flaccus...
to the Roman Senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
, when in course of the Hannibalian war 12 colonies had revolted.
Fregellae appears to have been a very important and flourishing place owing to its command of the crossing of the Liris and to its position in a fertile territory. It was here that after the rejection of the proposals of M. Fulvius Flaccus for the extension of Roman burgess-rights in 125 BC
125 BC
Year 125 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Hypsaeus and Flaccus...
, a revolt against Rome broke out. It was captured by treachery in the same year and destroyed by the praetor Lucius Opimius
Lucius Opimius
Lucius Opimius was Roman consul in 121 BC, known for ordering the execution of 3,000 supporters of popular leader Gaius Gracchus without trial, using as pretext the state of emergency declared after Gracchus's recent and turbulent death....
; its place was taken in the following year by the colony of Fabrateria Nova, 3 miles to the S.E. on the opposite bank of the Liris. A post station Fregellanum (modern Ceprano
Ceprano
Ceprano is a town and comune in the province of Frosinone, in Ciociaria traditional area, part of the Lazio region of central Italy.It is located south of Rome, and c. 127 km north of Naples.-History:...
) is mentioned in the itineraries; Fregellae itself however continued to exist as a village even under the empire.
The site is clearly traceable in the territory of Arce
Arce
Arce is a comune in the province of Frosinone, in the region of Lazio, Italy. it is an agricultural center located on a hill overlooking the Via Casilina, in the middle valley of the Liri.-History:...
, in the frazione called Isoletta di Arce, that is not far from the border with the municipality of Ceprano
Ceprano
Ceprano is a town and comune in the province of Frosinone, in Ciociaria traditional area, part of the Lazio region of central Italy.It is located south of Rome, and c. 127 km north of Naples.-History:...
and San Giovanni Incarico
San Giovanni Incarico
San Giovanni Incarico is a comune in the Province of Frosinone in the Italian region Lazio, located about 100 km southeast of Rome and about 20 km southeast of Frosinone...
: remains excavated starting from 1978 include items from the Republican age and a large temple of Aesculapius. Some of the items are in the museum of Ceprano.