History of Assisi

Assisi is situated on the slopes of Mount Subasio, and it is well known worldwide for being the birthplace of St. Francis; the Romans called it "Asisium" and "Asis" (Propertius [50-15 BC]). But, apparently, "Asisium” was the Romanization of a most ancient name, because Assisi, as has been proved by archaeological studies, pre-existed the Roman conquest. Since it is situated in a location where many people came together from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds (Umbrian, Etruscan and Picenes), it seems unlikely that we can establish the original root of the name "Assisi." In this sense, some scholars have rightly said that the investigation about the etymology of Assisi, at present, “seems stranded in the ‘Limbo’ of postulates.”

In the past, things were much clearer; for example, Domenico Bruschelli wrote with almost absolute certainty that "[...] Assisi, at the Ancients 'Asisium', 'Aesisium' and also 'Assisium', took its name from the mountain 'Asi' or 'Asio', which dominates it. Multiple and repeated tests are in the writers of our claim; 'Asisium' cui super incumbit Mons Asius dictus, a quo traxisse nomen videtur '(Assisi, upon which lies the Mount Asio, which seems that it has derived its name "), says John Blaeu. Raffaele Volterra ... [says]: 'Huic Mons imminet Asis, qui oppido dedit nomen' [...] ("This [Assisi] is dominated by the hill 'Asis', which gave its name to the fortified city") (See D. Bruschelli, “Asisi. [sic] Città Serafica e Santuari che la Decorano” ["Assisi. The City and Seraphic shrines that decorate it"], Orvieto, 1824, p. 6).

Today, with the advance of studies, the question, although not resolved beyond all doubt and uncertainty, marked a step forward. Meanwhile, it was established that "Asisium" is a typical Umbrian linguistic form, together with another older form, "Asis", which is indicated by a line of Propertius. R. Rossi writes: "[...] It’s to hold, however, seriously consider the plausibility of linguistic form' Asis', certified by Propertius, contemporarily to the common form 'Asisium'. 'Asis' thus constitutes the oldest form of the Umbrian town name of Mount Subasio (the pre-Roman origin of which no doubt), while 'Asisium' is the Romanisation of Umbrian name 'Asis' ... The data that defines Assisi as an Umbrian city are: a) the name of city, b) the language used in official documents, c) the institutions observed until beginning of first century BC [...]" (See R . Rossi, “Storia Illustrata delle città dell'Umbria” ["Illustrated History of the towns of Umbria"], Sellino, 1997, p. 9, p. 261).

Starting from this basis generally accepted, and knowing that the place-names refer to geographical features of the site, such as rivers, streams, mountains and hills, the assumptions, essentially, would be reduced to two. "Asisium" could come from the mountain "Asio", as Bruschelli thought, or from the “Assino” River. Everything has been resolved, thus? No! Recently a third option was proposed, that, as we saw, now it enjoys a considerable fortune and consideration. The issue had been set, indeed, already several years ago, but it had gone unnoticed. According to this hypothesis, "Assisi" means "the city of ‘astore’[meaning "hawk", "bird of prey"].” G. Bonfante writes: "[...]  Kretschmer in 'Glotta', XXII, 1934, No 162 has already noted that the name of Assisi, in Latin 'Asisium', belongs to the category of  Illyrians names formed with the suffix '-isio' (or '-usio'). Now, these names are usually derived from an animal name, and we have, indeed, 'Brund-isium' and 'Brund-usium', today 'Brindisi' from 'Brund a' ('caput-cervi' [' deer head ']... The character of  Illyrian name 'Asisium' is confirmed - if any were needed - from 'Asusìa', the name of Illyrian town ... called by the Latin authors ‘Asseria’ or ‘Aserie’ [...]" (See G. Bonfante, “I nomi di Assisi e di Capua” ["The names of Assisi and Capua,"] in "Italica", Vol 20, No. 4 (Dec. 1943), pp. 189-196, “American Association of Teachers of English”, and http://www.jstor.org/stable/476476 footnote 1).

The possible "Hawk City" has very ancient origins; in fact, the archaeological finds of Assisi site refer to "a pre-Indo-European layer", “the place-names evidences of which in Umbria  are many: Arna, Amelia, Assisi, Bevagna", in close proximity to the Etruscans. In fact, "the prehistoric definition of Umbria is different from the historical Roman antiquity ... In the Prehistory it corresponds to a kind of channel between the Piceno in East Adriatic and  Tyrrhenian Sea to the West, not unlike what it occurs today, with an Umbria intermediate between Tuscany and the Marches "(See G. Buti-G . Devoto, “Preistoria e Storia delle Regioni d'Italia” [“Prehistory and history of the regions of Italy”], Florence, Sansoni, 1974, p. 93). Assisi came into contact with the Romans after the so-called "Social War" and it became a "Municipium", title that it held until the time of Augustus. The Roman evidences in Assisi are substantial, such as walls, increase in the Middle Ages, the façade of Temple of Minerva, Amphitheatre, remains of the "Forum" and a painted house, believed to Propertius. After the fall of Roman Empire, Assisi suffered several damages of the barbarian invasions (Totila, 545) and, in the Lombard period, it was part of the Duchy of Spoleto.

The development of Christianity in Assisi is linked to the name of Bishop Rufino (III century), to whom the city has dedicated the Cathedral. Around the year One Thousand, its territory was a considerable increase of monastic orders, particularly the Benedictines. It was in this context, of fervent development of the religious spirit, and of training of free municipal institutions, which saw the development of a strong middle class and wealthy merchant, that, in 1182, St. Francis was born, son of “Ser Bernardone”, one of the wealthiest merchants of Assisi, who had business relations with France. Francis, in his name ("Franciscus"), recalls father's relations with the markets of France and his mother, of French origin. Francis, after a youth in which practically he lived "like a noble," and after the experience of soldiers and prisoners, had a "Mystic shock," which led him to abandon the old way of life, devoting himself to an absolute poverty .

The experiment of St. Francis was dazzling for many who lived next him too, and who followed him in his "revolutionary" way of life, then giving life to the Franciscan order, which made many converts in Italy and abroad. The sanctity of Francis was almost immediately recognized by the Church, in 1228, just two years after his death. In parallel, and always with regard to religious sentiment, the name of Assisi is also linked to St. Clare (1193-1253), who wished to imitate the Franciscan style, founding the order of "Poor Clares." Assisi, like all Italian towns of the time, was torn by fierce wars between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, which led to the supremacy of the Guelphs, and thus a clear dependence of Assisi on Church State. In the fourteenth and fifteenth century, a period of substantial economic and urban growth, Assisi was the center of aims of greatest soldiers of fortune, like the Visconti,  Bracceschi, Sforza and Piccinino. Around the mid-sixteenth century, Assisi returned to the Church State, until the Unification of Italy (1861).