Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume I Part 1.djvu/463

 BRUNDUSIUM. 4o liaTB been in very early times one of the chief towns of the Sallentines : hence tradition generally ascribed its foundation to a colony from Crete, the same sonroe from whence the origin of the Sallen- tines themselves was derived. (Strab. I. c. ; Lucan, ii. 610.) An obscare and confused tale related by Justin (xlL 2) represents it as founded by the Aetolians under Diomed, who were, however, expelled by the native inhabitants of the country, whom he calls Apulians. Both legends point to the fact that it was in existence as a Mcsttapian or Sallentine city before the settlement of the Greek colonies in its neighbourhood. According to Strabo, it had long been governed by its own kings, at the time of the foundation of Tarentum by Phalanthus, and af- forded a place of refuge to that chieftain himself when expelled by civil dissensions from his newly founded city. Hence the monument of the hero was shown at Brundusium. (Strab. h c. ; Justin, iii. 4.) We have very little information concerning its his- tory prior to the Roman conquest; but it seems to have been a pkce of comparatively little import- ance, being obscured by the greatness of its neigh- bour Tarentum, which, at this period, engrossed the whole commerce of this part of Italy. (Pol. x. 1.) Brundusium, however, appears to have retained its independence, and never received a Greek colony. Hence Scylax, though he notices Hydruntum, makes no mention of Brundusium, and Scymnus Chins terms it the port or emporium of the Mesgapians, (Scyl. § 14; Scymn. Ch. 363.) The name is only once mentioned incidentally by Herodotus (iv. 99), but in a manner that shows it to have been familiar to the Greeks of his day. But the excellence of its port, and its advantageous situatiMi for the purpose of commanding the Adriatic, both in a commercial and naval point of view, ap- pear to have early attracted the attention of the Romans ; and the possession of this important port is said to have been one of the chief objects which led them to turn their arms against the Sallentines in K. c. 267. (Zonar. viii. 7.) But though the city fell into their hands on that occasion, it was not till B. a 244 that they proceeded to secure its possession by the establishment there of a Roman colony. (Liv. £pU. xix. ; Veil. Pat. i. 14 ; Flor. i. 20.) It is from this period that the importance of Brundusium must he dated: the new colony appears to have risen ra- pidly to wealth and prosperity, for which it was in- debted partly to the fertility of its territory, but still more to its commercial advantages; and its import- ance continually increased, as the Roman arms were carried in succession, first to the opposite shores of >Iaoedonia and Greece, and afterwards to those of Asia. Its admirable port, capable of sheltering the largest fleets in perfect safety, caused it to be selected MS the chief naval station of the Romans in these seas. As early as the First Illyrian War, b. c. 229, it was here that the Romans assembled their fleet and army finr the campugn (Pol. ii. 11); and during the Second Punic War it was again selected as the naval station for the operations against Philip, king of Macedonia. (Liv. xxili. 48, xxiv. 10, 11.) Han- nibal, on one occasion, made a vain attempt to sur- prize it; but the citizens continued faithftil to the Roman cause, and at the most trying period of the war Brundusium was one of the eighteen cobnies was Brendon or Brenda (see Hesych. «. v. BpcrSov), whence Festus tells us (p. 33) that Brenda was used by some writers us a poetic form for Brundnsium. BRUNDUSIUM. 445 which came forward readily to furnish the supplies required of them. (Id. xxv. 22, xxvii. 10.) During the subsequent wars of the Romans with Macedonia, Greece, and Asia, the name of Brundusium con- tinually recurs : it was almost mvariably the point where the Roman generals assembled the fleets and armies with which they crossed the Adriatic ; and where, likewise, they landed on their return in triumph. (Id. xxxi. 14, xxxiv. 52, xxxvii. 4, xliv. 1, xlv. 14, &c.) After the Roman donnnion had been permanently established over the provinces beyond the Adriatic, the constant passage to and fro for peaceful purposes added still more to the trade and prosperity of Brundusium, which tlins rose into one of the most flourishing and considerable cities of Southern Italy. The position of Brundusium as the point of direct communication between Italy and the eastern pro- vinces, naturally rendered it the scene of namerous historical incidents during the later ages of the republic, and under the Roman empire, of which a few only can be here noticed. In b. a 83 Sulla landed here with his army, on his return from the Mithridatic war to make head against his enemies at Rome: the citizens of Brundusium opened to him their gates and their port, a service of the highest importance, which he rewarded by bestowing on them an immunity from all taxation, a privilege they continued to enjoy during a long period. (Appian, B. C. i. 79) In b. c. 57 they witnessed the peaceful return of Cicero from his exile, who landed here on the anniversary of the foundation of the colony {natali BrundUkuie colorUae dUy Cic ad Alt. iv. I), a day which was thus rendered the occasion of double rejoicing. During the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, Brundusium became the scene of important military operations. Pompey had here gathered his forces together with the view of crossing the Adriatic, and a part of them had already sailed, when Caesar arrived, and after in- vesting the town on the land side endeavoured to prevent the departure of the rest. For this purpose, having no fleet of his own, he attempted to block up the narrow entrance of the port, by driving in piles and sinking vessels in the centre dt the channel. Pompey however succeeded in frustrating his en- deavours until the return of his fleet enabled him to make his escape to Illyricum. (Caes. B. C. L 24 — 28; Cic odAU. ix. 3, 13, 14, 15; Lucan. ii. 609— 735 ; Dum Cass. xH. 12 ; Appian, B. C. ii. 40.) After the death of the dictator, it was at Brundusium that the youthful Octavius first assumed the name of Caesar ; and the veteran cohorts in garrison there were the first that declared in his favour. (Appian, B. C, iii. 11.) Four years later (b.c. 40) it was again besieged by Antony and Domilius Ahenobarbus, and Octavian in vain attempted to raise the siege: but its fall was averted by the intervention of common friends, who effected a reconciliation between the two triumvirs (Id. v. 66, 57 — 60; Dion Cass, xlviii. 27 — 30). The peace thus concluded was of short duration, and in b. c. 41 Antony having agun threatened Brundusium with a fleet of 300 sail, Maecenas and Cocceius proceeded thither in haste from Rome, and succeeded once more in concluding an amicable arrangement It was on this last oc- casion that they were accompanied by, Horace, who has inmiortalised in a well-known satire his journey firom Rome to Brundusium. (Hor. ScA. i. 5; Pint. Ant, 35; Appian, B, C, v. 93.) In b.c. 19, Virgil died at Brundusium on his return from Greece.