Barbatus, St.: (b. AD 612; d. Feb. 29, 682 at Benevento). Ecclesiastic. Sent to Benevento as a missionary, he made many converts among the still largely pagan population. In AD 663, when the Byzantine emperor Constans II was besieging Benevento, Barbatus correctly predicted that the assault would fail. After the withdrawal of the Byzantines, the Beneventans elected Barbatus as their bishop. He attended the Council of Constantinople in AD 680. Feast Day: Feb. 19.
Barbary Coast: a geographical term formerly used for the Mediterranean coast of North Africa. The “Barbary corsairs” derived their name from this term.
Barbolani Dei Conti De Montauto, Francesco: (fl. 1590). Navigator. A member of the Knights of St. Stephen, he was active along the Barbary Coast against the Muslim corsairs.
Barbolani Dei Conti De Montauto, Giulio: (d. 1619). Navigator. A Knight of St. Stephen, he operated against the Barbary Corsairs.
Barbula, Lucius Aemilius: (fl. 1st half of the 3rd Century BC). Roman politician and military leader. Consul in 281 BC, he led the Roman army against the Tarentines, Samnites, and Salentines.
Barbula, Quintus Aemilius: (fl. second half of the 44th Century BC). Roman politician and military leader. As Consul in 317 BC, he conquered Apulia for Rome. Elected to a second consulship in 311 BC, he campaigned against the Etruscans.
barca: A typical boat of Sicily. They are generally painted with brightly colored stripes. Traditionally, each district had its own distinctive styles. Most had eyes painted on their bows, a feature common to Mediterranean boats since the time of the ancient Greeks. The barcas of Siracusa are constructed with beaks, a survival from the bronze beaks used for ramming on ancient Greek warships, as well as tall bow-posts used to determine the safe height for any passenger’s head when passing under a bridge. The barcas of Trapani have been compared in shape to lifeboats, but with very elaborate decoration. They are fitted with a jib and a spritted mainsail.
Barca: The surname of an important family of ancient Carthage. It derived from the epithet given to Hamilcar, the Carthaginian commander in Sicily during the 1st Punic War. It was attached to other members of his family, including his famous son Hannibal, who terrorized Roman Italy during the 2nd Punic War. The family was known collectively as the Barcines, as was the democratic political faction of Carthage which formed their support base.
Barcellona (-Pozzo di Gotto) (ME): A commune in the province of Messina. Population: 41,129 (2006e).
A manufacturing town in E Sicily, situated on the river Longano between Messina and Milazzo. It was here, in 269 BC, that Hieron II, ruler of Syracuse defeated the Mamertines, an event which led, ultimately to the First Punic War and the occupation of Sicily by Rome.
Bardellino, Pietro: (b. 1731 from Naples; d. 1806). Painter.
Bardi, Gualterotti: (c1616). Navigator. A Knight of Malta, he was active in Mediterranean Sea.
Bardulum: (mod. Barletta [BA]). A maritime town of ancient Apulia, situated on the Via Frentana, between the rivers Aufidus and Aveldius.
Barentus, River: Ancient name for the river Busento.
Barete (AQ): A commune in the province of L‘Aquila. Population: 664 (2006e).
Bari, Province of: Area: 513,830 km².
Bari (anc. Barium) (BA): Port city and capital of the region of Puglia, provincial capital of the province of Bari, situated on the Adriatic coast. Area: 116.20 km². Population: 325,052 (2007e); 326,915 (2006e); 316,532 (2001); 342,309 (1991); 371,022 (1981).
Bari, Roberto di: (fl. 1266). Grand Protonotary of the kingdom of Naples in 1266 under Charles I of Anjou. Although involved in many legal affairs for that king, he is probably best known for issuing the sentence on the unfortunate Conradin in 1268.
Bari-Bitonto, Metropolitan Archdiocese of:
Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese.
Rite: Latin/Roman
History: Established in the 4th century as the Diocese of Bari.
Promoted to a Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bari-Canosa in 6th century.