Identifier: italyfromalpstom00stie (find matches)
Title: Italy from the Alps to Mount Etna
Year: 1877 (1870s)
Authors: Stieler, Karl, 1842-1885 Cavagna Sangiuliani di Gualdana, Antonio, conte, 1843-1913, former owner. IU-R Paulus, Eduard, 1837-1907 Kaden, Woldemar, 1838-1907 Trollope, Frances Eleanor, d. 1913 Trollope, Thomas Adolphus, 1810-1892
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Publisher: London : Chapman and Hall
Contributing Library: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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till under the ban ofthe Middle Ages; and, like a sentinel of those times of darkness, there rises close besideit the baronial castle of the Orsini, haughtily towering over the plain. The inhabitants,descended from the ancient Marsii, are friendly people, of a robust and pleasing aspect.But the rumour goes that they have not even yet entirely forgotten the traditions of theirsavage and ferocious ancestors, and that the knife is to this day their most trusted com-panion. This was the very centre and focus of the Marsic wars. Here the wild hordesassembled to prepare for a struggle against Rome :—rude brothers-in-arms of these in-accessible mountains, an antique confederation on the shores of this Italian lake, theMarrucini, /Equi, Peligni, Vestini! And not infrequently their rude arms were victoriousover the haughty Roman legions. Here stood Alba ; once Alba Marsorum, then an advanced post of the Romans, whokept a permanent garrison there. This was the Marsic Legion, which won Ciceros
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0/ iHE uwERSfTir of mm SHORES OF LA GO FUCINO TO THE PONTINE MARSHES. 303 brilliant eulogy, and a reward from the Roman Senate. The position of this frontier-fortress was a singularly fortunate one. It was thrust like an iron wedge into themountains, dividing Samnium from Etruria. It was surrounded by three hills, each ofwhich was surmounted by a strong castle. The remains of these fortifications may stillbe traced on two of the hills. The grey old Cyclopean constructions rise terrace-wise fromamongst the shrubs and bushes. And short stretches of well-paved roads show them-selves here and there, leading.down to the sandy plain. Within these walls,—from whosesummit a beautiful sunny view may be enjoyed of the wide valley and the brown hills,—many enemies of Rome were imprisoned in somewhat later times. Syphax, the Numidian King, lay captive here, preserved to grace the triumphal pro-cesssion of Scipio ; also the cruel Perseus, the last king of Macedonia, with his sons Philipand Ale

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