Apulia was one of the most important lands for the populations which were in Italy. Since the very early years of the history age we had traces of human presence in Apulia because of the characteristics of the land: The territory is really flat and the ground is productive. Carsism made easier to the local populations to establish themselves in caves and grottos.

Romans invaded this land in the 3^rd 4^th century b.C., fighting against the Sanniti population and against Pirro. They founded, at that age, some colonies like Luceria (the actual Lucera), Venusia (the actual Venosa in Basilicata, near Potenza) and Brundisium (the actual Brindisi). Under emperor Augusto Apulia was integrated in the 2^nd region of the Roman Empire and, because of the position between Rome and the Oriental world, it was focal in commercial exchanges. Brundisium (Brindisi) was connected with Rome with the Consular Appia road (The actual SS7).

Centuries after with the expansion of the Christianity, the Apulia was interested from a proliferation of dioceses. These dioceses was soon annexed to Costantinopoli. Despite the barbaric invasions of the 5^th century the Costantinopoli’s dominium was not cancelled. The oriental empire was use, during this age, to put Apulia under an enormous tax pressure.

The sunset for the oriental empire took place during the period across the 7^th and the 9^th century, while Italic populations took over the power in all the country except the Salento area (The actual Lecce province). The Longobards population occupied the area around the actual Gargano and Canosa and later on Brundisium, Barium (the actual Bari) and Taranto.

In the same time, the Saracens population started to attack Apulia from the sea, taking over the complete region in short time. During the Saracens Age, Barium was an independent emirate, dealing with Greeks, Longobards, French and Saracens. Barium was helped keeping this autonomy from the Venetians (1002).

This age around the 10^th-11^th century was really confusing. Again the Oriental empire took over the power, investing in this area and all the cities knew a significative growth: Lecce became and important site for religion and culture and the exchanges with the oriental world, grown up in an unexpected measure.

The logical evolution of this wellness was the conquest of the autonomy. In this fighting against Bisanzio the shape of Melo da Bari, a leader for the mass, grown. Melo da Bari promoted an Alliance with Enrico II and with the help of four cities (Trani, Bitetto, Bitonto e Bari) was able to stop the Oriental dominance (1009-1016). in the second part of this resistance Melo da Bari was helped from Norman mercenaries. This situation created some internal problems to the region.

This period ended with the battle of Civitate,  where The Altavilla family, beaten the Pope Leone IX army, taking over the power in the region. Six years later, "Roberto il Guiscardo" was designed as Apulia and Calabria's duke. He, then, conquered Bari and Brindisi in 1071, unifying the region. The Altavilla family was, at this point, accepted as dominant in the Apulia's territory by Leone IX and Enrico III.

Around the 1130 the story of the region started to mix up with the Kingdom of the two Scillies. In this age the territory started to know a big economical improvement that will stand for two centuries. What really gave a definitive footprint to the modern Apulia was Fredric II of Swabia.

Fredric II born from Enry Vi and Costance d'Altavilla in Jesi in the Marche region. It's grandfathers were Federico Barbarossa and Ruggero II. Fredric Hohenstaufen born in the main square of Jesi, because there were rumours about the possibility that Costance d'Altavilla, his mother, simulated the pregnancy in order to guarantee a successor to the two Sicily kingdom.

 

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