Macchia Valfortore

Macchia Valfortore
Comune
Comune di Macchia Valfortore

Coat of arms
Macchia Valfortore

Location of Macchia Valfortore in Italy

Coordinates: 41°36′N 14°55′E / 41.600°N 14.917°ECoordinates: 41°36′N 14°55′E / 41.600°N 14.917°E
Country Italy
Region Molise
Province Campobasso (CB)
Government
 • Mayor Antonio Carozza (since May 2004)
Area
 • Total 25 km2 (10 sq mi)
Elevation 477 m (1,565 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 757
 • Density 30/km2 (78/sq mi)
Demonym Macchiaroli
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 86040
Dialing code 0874
Patron saint St. Nicholas
Saint day December 6

Macchia Valfortore is a town and comune in the Province of Campobasso, Molise, Italy.

History

In 216 BC, a powerful Roman army under the Roman Consul and General Varro camped in the town called Maccla, thought to be this town, prior to marching to the disastrous defeat against Hannibal at the Battle of Cannae. In 476 AD with the Western Roman Empire weakening, Maccla was occupied by the Goths, who then were defeated by the Longoboards Vandals who sacked the city. Longoboard rule lasted from 568 to 982, when they were defeated by the Byzantines – Catapani.

On September 21, 1701, Gaetano Giacomo Gambacorta, styled the Prince of Macchia, started a conspiracy (Macchia Conspiracy), against the Spanish viceroy in Naples. The revolt was quickly put down and Gaetano fled to Vienna, Austria where he died on January 27, 1703. In 1800 Joseph Bonaparte, King of Naples and Napoleon’s brother, divided Naples into new administrative orders. This created the Province of Campobasso which Macchia is located to this day. The suffix Valfortore was added in the 19th century.

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