Accumoli

Its origins?

The territory of Accumoli, not far from the area that Strabo assigns to the first inhabitants, reveals traces of settlements dating back to the III-II century b.C., when the consular road Salaria, crossing the territory and leading to Ascoli Piceno, was opened. In one of these first villages, known as Predii Cosani, the emperor Vespasiano, born in the neighboring hamlet of Cittareale, was allegedly educated and trained. In 575, the territory of Accumoli belonged to the Duchy of Spoleto and the Abbey of Farfa, erected by the Dukes of Spoleto, also included the “Terre Summatine”, which embraced the territories of Accumoli, Amatrice, Capodacqua, and Arquata del Tronto. The birth of Accumoli dates back to around 1211, when a new Municipality including Grisciano, Roccasalli and Sommata was created. The history of this newly established Municipalty was quite troubled. By free choice, shortly after the mid-1200s, Accumoli gave itself to Casa D’Angiò, retaining all the municipal privileges. The Municipality actively participated in the Sicilian Vespers (1282), during which it lost several territories to the advantage of the Orsini family. In 1447, under the reign of Alfonso of Aragon, Accumoli, received various privileges from King Ferdinand, for its long loyalty. After the death of Ferdinand the Catholic (1521) the lands of Accumoli experienced the stormy period of Charles V. While the whole Abruzzo region passed to the French, the Municipality preferred to repel the commissioners who had come to demand taxes but, shortly after, the Orsini and other lords charged Orazio Baglioni to conquer those lands. Leaving from Umbria, he climbed the Apennines, conquered and burnt Roccasalli, then pushed towards Accumoli but, facing a strong resistance, he was forced to turn back. The unchanged loyalty gave rise to a second siege attempt by the barons of Amatrice, supported by the militias of Spoleto, L'Aquila and some lords of Abruzzo. In the summer of 1527 less than 5,000 soldiers gathered around Accumoli and attacked the valley of Tronto near Grisciano. The siege continued for eight months and this led the population to hunger, until the Viceroy of Naples sent for help 2,000 infantry and 100 spears. At the end of these struggles, the Municipality received the title of "Fedelissima" and was exempted from paying duties for a period of ten years. In 1643, Accumoli and all the neighboring villages, were ceded to the Medici, but later on returned to the kingdom of Naples until 1860, when the famous native patriot, Salvatore Tommasi, sent Vittorio Emanuele II, temporarily staying in Ancona, the requests for accession to the Crown of Italy by the municipalities of the Abruzzo region, thus allowing him to pass the Tronto and continue towards Naples. Accumoli thus entered into the Kingdom of Italy and was inserted into the Abruzzo Deputation, before passing to the Province of Rieti in 1927. On 24 August 2016, at 3:36, Accumoli was the epicentre of a terrible earthquake that stroke Central Italy, killing 11 people and causing serious damage to the historic centre and surrounding hamlets, definitely razed to the ground by the fatal shock of 30 October.