The fortifications of Cancello were constructed to defend the passage, sited along the old Roman road (Via Sferracavali). This divided the territory of San Benedetto from the State of\u00a0Alvito. There was a gateway with an iron gate which at one time was used as a customs point. Later it became part of a very strong defense system consisting of the arched gateway and tall fortified walls with two towers. and can be seen on many maps of the early Middle Ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1140 the Norman King Roger II entered Atina during the military campaign for the re-conquest of the Kingdom of Naples. He granted Atina special privileges and redefined the boundaries. He entrusted the government of Atina to Francesco and Andrea of the family of Aquino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1195, Henry VI of Swabia, of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, took possession of the Kingdom of Naples. He donated Atina to Roffredo, Abbot of Montecassino. In March of the same year, the Abbot granted the people of Atina a privilege, a royal Charta Libertatium of the the town. However in 1229, following disputes between Emperor Frederick II and the Papacy, Atina was removed from Montecassino. In 1231 a severe earthquake struck the area causing considerable damage to the church of Santa Maria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1248 Frederick gave the\u00a0castrum<\/em>\u00a0of Atina to his loyal subject Adenolfo d\u2019Aquino.\u00a0Following the fall of the Swabian dynasty and the conquest of the French King Charles I of Anjou and granted the town of Atina to Giacomo di Capua. It was then inherited by the Counts of Cantelmo and became\u00a0 part of the Duchy of Alvito, however in various ways it maintained a certain degree of autonomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to Louise Shapcott<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The fortifications of Cancello were constructed to defend the passage, sited along the old Roman road (Via Sferracavali). This divided the territory of San Benedetto from the State of\u00a0Alvito. There was a gateway with an iron gate which at one time was used as a customs point. Later it became part of a very strong […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized-en"],"yoast_head":"\n
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