Trebula Balliensis
Encyclopedia
Trebula or Trebula Balliensis or Trebula Baliensis (Greek
: ), was an ancient city of Campania
, Italy
, the location of which is occupied by the modern village of Treglia in the comune
of Pontelatone
.
It was situated in the district north of the Vulturnus (modern Volturno
), in the mountain tract which extends from near Caiatia (modern Caiazzo) to the Via Latina
. Pliny
terms the citizens Trebulani cognomine Balinienses, probably to distinguish them from those of the two cities of the same name among the Sabines; but the Campanian town seems to have been the most considerable of the three, and is termed simply Trebula by Ptolemy
, as well as by Livy
.
The first mention of the name occurs in 303 BCE, when we are told that the Trebulani received the Roman
franchise at the same time with the Arpinates. There seems no doubt that the Campanian city is here meant: and this is quite certain in regard to the next notice in Livy, where he tells us that the three cities of Compulteria, Trebula, and Saticula
, which had revolted to Hannibal, were recovered by Fabius
in 215 BCE. The Trebulanus ager is mentioned also by Cicero
among the fertile districts of Campania, which Servilius Rullus
proposed to distribute among the poorer Roman citizens; and Pliny writes that it was noted for its wines, which had rapidly risen in estimation in his day. The Liber Coloniarum also mentions Trebula among the municipal towns of Campania. It appears to have received a fresh body of settlers under Augustus
, but without attaining the rank of a colony
.
The site of Trebula, which was erroneously fixed by Cluverius and some local writers to the south of the Vulturnus, appears to be correctly identified by local antiquarians with a place called Treglia or Tregghia, at the foot of the Pizzo San Salvatore, about 10 km north of the Vulturnus and 13 km northeast of Capua
. There are said to be considerable ancient remains upon the spot, which together with the resemblance of name would seem clearly to establish the position of the ancient city.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: ), was an ancient city of Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
, 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...
, the location of which is occupied by the modern village of Treglia in the comune
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:...
of Pontelatone
Pontelatone
Pontelatone is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about 40 km north of Naples and about 15 km northwest of Caserta. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,847 and an area of 30.4 km²...
.
It was situated in the district north of the Vulturnus (modern Volturno
Volturno
The Volturno is a river in south-central Italy.-Geography:It rises in the Abruzzese central Apennines of Samnium near Rocchetta a Volturno and flows southeast as far as its junction with the Calore River near Caiazzo and runs south as far as Venafro, and then turns southwest, past Capua, to...
), in the mountain tract which extends from near Caiatia (modern Caiazzo) to 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...
. Pliny
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
terms the citizens Trebulani cognomine Balinienses, probably to distinguish them from those of the two cities of the same name among the Sabines; but the Campanian town seems to have been the most considerable of the three, and is termed simply Trebula by Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
, as well as by Livy
Livy
Titus Livius — known as Livy in English — was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, "Chapters from the Foundation of the City," covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome well before the traditional foundation in 753 BC...
.
The first mention of the name occurs in 303 BCE, when we are told that the Trebulani received the Roman
Ancient 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....
franchise at the same time with the Arpinates. There seems no doubt that the Campanian city is here meant: and this is quite certain in regard to the next notice in Livy, where he tells us that the three cities of Compulteria, Trebula, and Saticula
Saticula
Saticula was a Samnite city near the frontier of Campania, southern Italy. In 343 BC, during the First Samnite War the Roman consul Cornelius attacked it during the campaign against the Samnites....
, which had revolted to Hannibal, were recovered by Fabius
Fabius Maximus
Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus Cunctator was a Roman politician and general, born in Rome around 280 BC and died in Rome in 203 BC. He was Roman Consul five times and was twice Dictator in 221 and again in 217 BC. He reached the office of Roman Censor in 230 BC...
in 215 BCE. The Trebulanus ager is mentioned also by Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
among the fertile districts of Campania, which Servilius Rullus
Servilius Rullus
Publius Servilius Rullus Roman tribune of the people in 63 BC, proposed one of the most far-reaching agrarian laws brought forward in Roman history....
proposed to distribute among the poorer Roman citizens; and Pliny writes that it was noted for its wines, which had rapidly risen in estimation in his day. The Liber Coloniarum also mentions Trebula among the municipal towns of Campania. It appears to have received a fresh body of settlers under Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
, but without attaining the rank of a 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:...
.
The site of Trebula, which was erroneously fixed by Cluverius and some local writers to the south of the Vulturnus, appears to be correctly identified by local antiquarians with a place called Treglia or Tregghia, at the foot of the Pizzo San Salvatore, about 10 km north of the Vulturnus and 13 km northeast of Capua
Capua
Capua is a city and comune in the province of Caserta, Campania, southern Italy, situated 25 km north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. Ancient Capua was situated where Santa Maria Capua Vetere is now...
. There are said to be considerable ancient remains upon the spot, which together with the resemblance of name would seem clearly to establish the position of the ancient city.