Busento River

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The Busento River, as seen in Cosenza's historical centre
The Busento River, as seen in Cosenza's historical centre

The Busento River is a left side tributary of the Crathis (Crati in Italian) River. It flows about 95 kilometers in Calabria, a region of southern Italy, from the Apennines to the Ionian Sea. The Busento River joins the Crathis 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, king of the Goths, died during the siege of the town. According to the legend, his body was buried under the riverbed, 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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