Mediolanum
Mediolanum, known today as Milan, is a historical city located in northern Italy, originally established by the Insubres, a Gallic tribe, around 396 BCE. The city became significant during Roman times, gaining permanent control in 194 BCE and achieving Latin rights in 89 BCE. It evolved into a key political and military center, particularly during the third century, when it played a crucial role in defending against Germanic invasions. Under the rule of Gallienus, Mediolanum became the headquarters of a cavalry-based reserve army, further solidifying its military importance.
By the late Roman Empire, Mediolanum had transitioned into the western capital, especially after the establishment of its fortifications by Emperor Maximian. The city is also notable for its early Christian community and as the site where the "Edict of Milan" was issued in 313 CE, granting religious freedom. Mediolanum served as the episcopal seat of prominent figures such as St. Ambrose, who was influential in the Christian church's development. Despite its decline following invasions by Attila the Hun and Odoacer, the remnants of Mediolanum’s Roman architecture, including walls and churches, reflect its historical significance and rich cultural heritage.
Subject Terms
Mediolanum
(Milano, Milan)
A city of Cisalpine Gaul (northern Italy), situated on the Olonna (Olona), a small northern tributary of the Padus (Po) near the center of what is now the Lombard plain. The Etruscan outpost of Melpum (Melzo) had been a short distance to the east, near another tributary the Addus (Adda). The earliest settlement known on the site of Mediolanum was founded by the Insubres (c 396), a Gallic tribe which gave Mediolanum its Celtic name, meaning `plain.’
The town first came under Roman control for a brief spell in 222 and permanently in 194, after which Romanization followed. It obtained Latin rights (granting Roman citizenship to its annually elected officials) in 89 and the rank of municipium in 49 when the fertile, prosperous, populous Transpadane region obtained the Roman franchise. The city's colonial status may date from Hadrian (AD 117–38); it was the birthplace of the emperors Didius Julianus (193) and Geta (211/12).
Mediolanum was the principal city of north Italy, and a major communications junction where roads from Gaul, Raetia and Illyricum met. During the third century it became one of the greatest political and military centers of the west, as the growing menace of German invaders invested the region with increased significance. A decisive step occurred when Gallienus, during his sole reign (260–68), set up a mobile, cavalry-based group of reserve armies with its headquarters at Mediolanum, which thus became a focal point of the new defensive system; although the commander of the new force, Aureolus, led a revolt against Gallienus (which after the latter's assassination was overcome by Claudius II Gothicus). Mediolanum was now endowed with an imperial mint—which henceforward fulfilled a massive role—and shortly afterward became the capital of the province or district of Aemilia-Liguria. Then Diocletian's colleague Maximian (286–305) completed the city's fortifications, and made it not only the capital of the administrative diocese of Italia Annonaria but the main imperial residence of the western empire, supplanting Rome. It also became the seat of one of the praetorian prefects (usually four in number) who acted as the rulers' deputies throughout the empire.
Already possessing a Christian community, as inscriptions have confirmed, from the third century onward, it became famous for the `Edict of Milan’ by which Constantine I the Great and Licinius accorded the faith official recognition (313). In the following year a bishop of Mediolanum, Mirocles, attended the church Council of Arelate (Arles); and subsequently the place became an ecclesiastical headquarters of the highest importance. When Valentinian I and Valens created a more or less permanent division between the western and eastern empires (364), Mediolanum became the western imperial capital. It was also the scene of the episcopate of St. Ambrose, who led the Catholic struggle against the Arian heresy and paganism, acting independently not only of the Roman papacy but of the emperor Theodosius I (379–95), with whom he conducted a historic trial of strength. In 404, however, Theodosius' son Honorius moved his residence to the more easily defensible Ravenna. Mediolanum fell to Attila the Hun in 452 and to Odoacer the Herulian in 476.
The rectangular plan of the Roman city can be detected, and there are traces of a theater and amphitheater; remains from the first century BC have now been found in the Piazza del Duomo at a depth of twelve feet. A Gallienic reconstruction remains largely hypothetical, but from the time of Maximian there remains a stretch of the city wall, which, together with a twenty-four-sided brick-faced tower (the Torre di Ansperto), was constructed to bring within the fortifications a new palace quarter, including baths and an adjoining circus: it is hoped to uncover the palace itself as part of a projected Archaeological Park. Another bathing establishment seems to be of Constantinian date. Ausonius (c 388) also refers to temples, but in his own epoch the major constructions were churches. These—succeeding a cult center with floor mosaics going back to the third century—still convey a unique impression of the magnificent ecclesiastical architecture of the age, and the leading position of Mediolanum in this development. This preeminence is dislayed by five very large early churches—the Church of the Apostles (later San Nazaro), San Giovanni in Conca, the Duomo (cathedral, on the site of an earlier building dedicated to Santa Tecla), San Lorenzo (which was probably the palace church) and San Simpliciano (named after its founder, who was Ambrose's successor).