Ostiglia
Encyclopedia
Ostiglia is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Mantua
in the Italian region Lombardy
, located about 160 km (99 mi) southeast of Milan
and about 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Mantua
.
Ostiglia borders the following municipalities: Borgofranco sul Po
, Casaleone
, Cerea
, Gazzo Veronese
, Melara
, Revere, Serravalle a Po
.
, Hostilia was a trade hub from Emilia
to northern Europe, as it was located on the Via Claudia Augusta
Padana. In the 1st century BC it was the birthplace of writer Cornelius Nepos
. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire
, it was ruled by the Ostrogoths, the Byzantines
and, from the 6th century, by the Lombards
. Since 774 it was part of the Frankish Empire
.
In the Middle Ages
it was a stronghold of Verona
, which built here a castle in 1151. In 1308 it was a fief of the Scaliger
, who were succeeded by the Visconti in 1381 and the Gonzaga
in 1391. Ostiglia's history was subsequently connected with that of Mantua, losing its strategical importance; its castle was demolished by order of emperor Charles VI
in 1717.
Arnoldo Mondadori Editore
, the largest publisher in Italy, was founded at Ostiglia in 1907. During World War II, it was liberated by the Anglo-British forces on 25 April 1945.
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:...
(municipality) in the Province of Mantua
Province of Mantua
The Province of Mantua is a province in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. Its capital is the city of Mantua.-Communes:It includes 70 comuni , ranging in area from Viadana, with 102.19 km², to Mariana Mantovana, with 8.81 km²....
in the Italian region Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, located about 160 km (99 mi) southeast of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and about 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Mantua
Mantua
Mantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
.
Ostiglia borders the following municipalities: Borgofranco sul Po
Borgofranco sul Po
Borgofranco sul Po is a comune in the Province of Mantua in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 170 km southeast of Milan and about 35 km southeast of Mantua....
, Casaleone
Casaleone
Casaleone is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 90 km southwest of Venice and about 35 km southeast of Verona.-External links:* *...
, Cerea
Cerea
Cerea is a town and comune in the province of Verona, Veneto, northern Italy.-History:From 923 AD until 1223 Cerea was a castrum . On 1223 Cerea it became a "comune" but, a year after, it was plundered because of the war between Mantua and Verona. A period of decadence followed, also because of the...
, Gazzo Veronese
Gazzo Veronese
Gazzo Veronese is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 100 km southwest of Venice and about 30 km south of Verona....
, Melara
Melara
Melara is a comune in the Province of Rovigo in the Italian region Veneto, located about 100 km southwest of Venice and about 45 km west of Rovigo...
, Revere, Serravalle a Po
Serravalle a Po
Serravalle a Po is a comune in the Province of Mantua in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 150 km east of Milan and about 20 km east of Mantua....
.
History
In Roman timesAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, Hostilia was a trade hub from Emilia
Emilia (region of Italy)
Emilia is a historical region of northern Italy which approximately corresponds to the western and north-eastern portions of today’s Emilia-Romagna region...
to northern Europe, as it was located on the Via Claudia Augusta
Via Claudia Augusta
The Via Claudia Augusta is an ancient Roman road, which linked the valley of the Po River with Rhaetia across the Alps. Since 2007, the Giontech Archeological Site, in Mezzocorona/Kronmetz serves as the Via Claudia Augusta International Research Center, directed by Prof...
Padana. In the 1st century BC it was the birthplace of writer Cornelius Nepos
Cornelius Nepos
Cornelius Nepos was a Roman biographer. He was born at Hostilia, a village in Cisalpine Gaul not far from Verona. His Gallic origin is attested by Ausonius, and Pliny the Elder calls him Padi accola...
. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire
Western 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....
, it was ruled by the Ostrogoths, the Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
and, from the 6th century, by the Lombards
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...
. Since 774 it was part of the Frankish Empire
Frankish Empire
Francia or Frankia, later also called the Frankish Empire , Frankish Kingdom , Frankish Realm or occasionally Frankland, was the territory inhabited and ruled by the Franks from the 3rd to the 10th century...
.
In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
it was a stronghold of Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
, which built here a castle in 1151. In 1308 it was a fief of the Scaliger
Scaliger
The noble family of the Scaliger were Lords of Verona. When Ezzelino III was elected podestà of the commune in 1226, he was able to convert the office into a permanent lordship...
, who were succeeded by the Visconti in 1381 and the Gonzaga
House of Gonzaga
The Gonzaga family ruled Mantua in Northern Italy from 1328 to 1708.-History:In 1433, Gianfrancesco I assumed the title of Marquis of Mantua, and in 1530 Federico II received the title of Duke of Mantua. In 1531, the family acquired the Duchy of Monferrato through marriage...
in 1391. Ostiglia's history was subsequently connected with that of Mantua, losing its strategical importance; its castle was demolished by order of emperor Charles VI
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
in 1717.
Arnoldo Mondadori Editore
Arnoldo Mondadori Editore
Arnoldo Mondadori Editore is the biggest publishing company in Italy.-History:Founded by the 18-year-old Arnoldo Mondadori in 1907 to publish the magazine titled Luce!, it soon became an important publisher. Its headquarters are in Milan....
, the largest publisher in Italy, was founded at Ostiglia in 1907. During World War II, it was liberated by the Anglo-British forces on 25 April 1945.