Information
History
Piacenza in the ancient times
Although a number of documents prove that the first settlements in Piacenza date back to prehistoric times, it is generally accepted that the town was founded in the year 218 BC, when the Romans established a military outpost against the Gauls on the right bank of the river Po, and called it Placentia. It was one of the oldest Roman colonies in the north of Italy. In a short time, thanks to major public works undertaken by the Roman settlers, such as the deforestation and the reclaiming of the surrounding land, as well as the construction of the Via Aemilia, the main road going the full length of the Po Valley to the Adriatic sea, Piacenza became increasingly important as the centre of the Roman road system, so much so that, for a short time, Julius Caesar himself chose the town as his headquarters.
Piacenza in medieval times
During the Middle Ages the town was ravaged by Germanic invaders, fell under the power of Byzantines and Goths, and finally became the administrative centre of a Longobard duchy. In full Christian era, it came under the rule of the bishops.
Around the year 1000, Piacenza, like many other towns in northern Italy, entered a period of great demographic, political and economical development. Thanks to its strategic location, it soon played a major role in the exchange of goods and manpower. In 1126 it became a free city, and, at the apogee of its economic splendour, it took sides with the Lombard League against Barbarossa and defeated him. The emperor signed here the preliminary agreements for the Peace of Constance of 1183.
Piacenza and its lords
As a consequence of a crisis in the free city and its institutions, Piacenza lived through a hard time of political feuding amongst some of the richest families who struggled for power. During this turbulent period, Piacenza was ruled in turn by the Scotti, Pallavicino, Scoto, Visconti and Sforza families.
The house of Farnese in Piacenza
After many years of struggles and diatribes between State and Church, Piacenza, together with Parma, came under the rule of the Pope. The newly-created Duchy of Parma and Piacenza was conferred on the Farnese family, who ruled it for nearly two centuries.
The house of Bourbon in Piacenza and the defeat of Napoleone
When the House of Farnese died out with the last duke, a long, tormented period of 18 years followed during which the town came under six different governments. This period of uncertainty came to an end when the duchy came under the rule of the House of Bourbon of Spain. The town enjoyed fifty years of peace, but it was then conquered by Napoleon's army.
French rule lasted only 14 years, up to the defeat of Bonaparte and the Vienna Conference of 1814, which redesigned boundaries and redistributed political power in Europe.
Maria Luigia of Austria
Once the new Europe was redesigned, the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza was given to Maria Luigia of Austria. An enlightened ruler much loved by her subjects, Maria Luigia gave patronage to the arts as no one had done before in Piacenza.
On her death, Piacenza, first amongst all Italian cities, decided to join the Kingdom of Piedmont and Sardinia, and for this reason, it was given the title of "Primogenita" (first born).
Freedom of Austrian rule
After the defeat at the battle of Custoza, the town fell again under Austrian rule, whose hallmark was the strong repression of any liberal movement. All this created deep discontent among the population and led to the second independence war. As a consequence of the risings of 1848, Piacenza broke free from Austrian rule and joined the Kingdom of Sardinia, later to become the Kingdom of Italy.
The rise of industry in Piacenza
For many years Piacenza did not take part in the economic development which was sweeping through Italy. It was only at the end of the 19th century that the first industries were established in this area, and a new social class, the workers, emerged. From then on, Piacenza joined the rest of northern Italy in a newly-found prosperity.
The First World War
The First World War brought jobs, and therefore money, to Piacenza, seat of an important arsenal, but the price that was to be paid proved too high: over 600 soldiers died on the battlefields.
Fascism in Piacenza
The economic situation did not change much in Piacenza during Fascism. However, the social scene became increasingly tense, until the Fascists were finally defeated on 28 April 1945, when the Allied Forces brought an end to the atrocities and the bombardments of the Second World War.
The post-war period
In the Fifties, Piacenza lived through an extraordinary period of economic boom in the fields of transports, industry and agriculture. The population increased dramatically and the town experienced a building boom.
