Brindisi (anc Brundisium) (BR): a port city in Puglia, on the Adriatic coast. Area: 328.48 km². Population: 90,439 (2006e); 89,081 (2001); 95,383 (1991); 89,786 (1981).
The ancient name appears to derive from the Illyrian word brento or bretto (= deer).
>History>: Ancient Brundisium derives its name from either the Illyrian word brento or bretto (= deer), or an Italic word related to the Latin term bruna (=antlers). This was likely inspired by the double-branched bay, although some sources believe it may have been due to the abundance of deer which once roamed here. Ancient tradition names the Greek hero Diomedes as the city’s founder. Historically, however, the place was founded by the Messapii (q.v.), an ancient people linked with the Illyrians. There is also some evidence that shows that a Minoan trading colony once existed on the site. Although Greeks from the city of Taras (mod. Taranto) established a colony here, the town’s culture remained essentially Messapian until the arrival of the Romans in the 3rd century BC. Capturing the place in 266 BC, the Romans planted a Latin colony here in 246 BC. Two years later, an important naval base was established here. In 220 BC, the noted Roman playwright, poet and painter Pacuvius (q.v.) was born here. During the 2nd Punic War, Brundisium remained loyal to Rome after the disaster at Cannae. In the 1st century BC, the population became divided during the Social War, forming two hostile factions, one pro-Roman and the other pro-Italian. This led to civil strife until the Romans finally crushed the rebels. Brundisium benefited in the aftermath of that conflict, being raised in status to a municipium. Further troubles arose during the Roman Civil Wars. In 49 BC, Caesar occupied Brundisium in an unsuccessful attempt to block Pompey from escaping from Italy. Later, in 40 BC, the city was besieged by Marc Antony during his conflict with Octavian. Later that same year, Brundisium served as the site where the Second Triumvirate renewed itself with a new treaty.
>Throughout its history, Brundisium owed its both its good fortune and ill-luck to its fine harbor and port facility. Thanks to its geographical position on the Adriatic, it was a vital strategic and commercial prize. The Romans recognized this, making it the eastern terminus to the Via Appia (Appian Way) in c264 BC. The Roman legions who conquered Greece and the eastern Mediterranean set sail, for the most part, from Brundisium. Merchants and other travelers also used Brundisium as their principal connection to and from the east. In 19 BC, the great Roman poet Virgil died here on his way home from Greece.
>Brundisium was the site of one of the first diocese established in Italy. Established sometime between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD, it is now the seat of an archbishop.
>After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, control of the city changed a number of times. Part of the 6th century Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy, it was captured by the Byzantine general John who established his base of operations here. In AD 668, it fell to Romoald, who incorporated it into his duchy of Benevento. Brindisi’s position on the coast also made it vulnerable to attacks from the sea. It suffered several times from Saracen raids, the one in AD 838 being particularly destructive. Thirty years later, in AD 868, it was again sacked, this time by the Holy Roman Emperor Louis II. Eventually, by the end of the 10th century, the Byzantines were once more in possession of the city. They established an archbishop here, subject to the patriarch of Constantinople.
>The 11th and 12th centuries brought more strife as Lombards, Byzantines and Normans fought one another for control of Apulia. In 1071, Brindisi fell to the Norman leader Robert Guiscard, but was soon recovered by the Byzantines. They would continue to hold it until the middle of the 12th century.
>The expulsion of the Byzantines from Apulia meant that Brindisi’s archdiocese was transferred to the control of the Pope. This, however, did not end Greek rites in Brindisi. Greek influence and culture remained so strong that both Latin and Greek rites were practiced in the Cathedral for decades after. Brindisi was also welcoming to the Jews. A sizeable Jewish population thrived there under the Norman and Swabian dynasties.