Castelforte is a town and ''
comune'' in the
province of Latina, in the
Lazio region of central
Italy. It is located at the feet of the
Monti Aurunci massif.
History
Castelforte was founded most likely before the year 1000 AD. According to some scholars, it occupies the ruins of the ancient
Auruncan town of Vescia, destroyed by the
Romans in 340 BC (the commune includes the ruins of the large ''Terme Vescinae'' baths, in what is now the ''frazione'' of Suio).
The medieval town (Castrum Forte, meaning "Strong Castle") was a typical stronghold (probably built to counter the
Saracen presence at the
Garigliano) with a line of wall and rounded towers; the nearby Suio was defended by a castle. Castrum Forte's population was increased in 1320 when people from Suio moved here to flee
malaria.
People from Castelforte formed two companies which fought alongside
Fra' Diavolo
Fra Diavolo (lit. Brother Devil; 7 April 1771–11 November 1806), is the popular name given to Michele Pezza, a famous guerrilla leader who resisted the French occupation of Naples, proving an "inspirational practitioner of popular insurrect ...
in resistance against the
French Napoleonic troops in 1798–99. This caused them to besiege and storm the town in the latter year. In 1807 Suio, now nearly depopulated, was aggregated to the municipality.
During the
battles of Cassino
The Battle of Monte Cassino, also known as the Battle for Rome and the Battle for Cassino, was a series of four assaults made by the Allies against German forces in Italy during the Italian Campaign of World War II. The ultimate objective was ...
of World War II, Castelforte, part of the
German Gustav Line, was heavily bombed by Allied troops (1943–44). The city suffered hundreds of casualties in the event.
See also
*
Suio
References
External links
Cities and towns in Lazio
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