Siponto

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Siponto (Latin: Sipontum) was an ancient city and port in Apulia, Italy, located c. 3 km south of today's Manfredonia.

According to the legend, it was founded by the Homeric hero Diomedes's son, called with the same name. Probably Siponto was a village of the Dauni, becoming later a flourishing Greek colony and then being conquered by the Samnites.

In 335 BC it was captured by Alexander I, King of Epirus and uncle of Alexander the Great. In 189 it became a Roman colony.

According to another legend, Siponto was one of the first episcopal see in Italy, its bishop being named directly by St. Peter. The first known bishop of the city is however a Felice, appointed in 465 AD.

In the 9th century the city was occupied for a while by the Saracens, while in 1042 the Italo-Normans made it the seat of a county.

In 1223 the city was damaged by a violent earthquake, followed by another in 1255 which largely destroyed it. King Manfred of Sicily established therefore that it would be rebuilt in a new position, founding the modern Manfredonia.