Busento River

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Busento River, as seen from the Cosenza's historical centre
Busento River, as seen from the Cosenza's historical centre

Busento River is a left side tributary of Crathis River, that flows about 95 kilometers in Calabria, a region of southern Italy, from the Apennines to the Ionian Sea. The Busento River joins the Crati in the centre of Cosenza.

Death of Alaric I, buried in the bed of the Busento River
Death of Alaric I, buried in the bed of the Busento River

Its fame is due to an historic event occurred in 412, when Alaric, the king of Goths, died during the siege of the town. According to a legend, his body was buried under the river-bed, the stream being temporarily turned aside from its course while the grave was dug. The king's grave and its fabulous treasure has never been found. The German poet August Graf von Platen-Hallermünde celebrated this event with his poem "Das Grab im Busento".

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