Valenza ( pms, Valensa) is a '' comune'' (municipality) in the

Province of Alessandria The Province of Alessandria ( it, Provincia di Alessandria; pms, Provincia ëd Lissandria; in Piedmontese of Alessandria: ''Provinsa ëd Lissändria'') is an Italian province, with a population of some 425,000, which forms the southeastern part ...

in the Italian region Piedmont, located about east of Turin and about north of

Alessandria Alessandria (; pms, Lissandria ) is a city and '' comune'' in Piedmont, Italy, and the capital of the Province of Alessandria. The city is sited on the alluvial plain between the Tanaro and the Bormida rivers, about east of Turin. Alessandria ...

History

A stronghold of the Ligures, it was conquered by the

Romans Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

in the 2nd century BC, and became a forum as Forum Fulvii Valentinum, having law jurisdiction and a market. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, most of the population moved from the hills of the previous settlement to live where the current town is. It was ravaged by the

Burgundians The Burgundians ( la, Burgundes, Burgundiōnes, Burgundī; on, Burgundar; ang, Burgendas; grc-gre, Βούργουνδοι) were an early Germanic tribe or group of tribes. They appeared in the middle Rhine region, near the Roman Empire, and ...

and ruled by the Lombards. After the Frank conquest of northern Italy, it became part of the mark of Montferrat. Overshadowed by the power of the nearby

, it attracted the attentions of Galeazzo I Visconti, duke of Milan, but his plot to capture the city failed. The Viscount were however able to conquer Valenza in 1370. Later the town was sacked by the French troops (1499 and 1515), reconquered by the Spaniards (1521) under

Charles V Charles V may refer to: * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise * Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (1643–1690) * Infan ...

(1521) and then again captured by the French (1523). However, in the latter year it was given back to Charles V. Again surrendered to the French in 1557, it finally was assigned to Spain in 1559 by the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis. In 1635, during the Thirty Years' War, Valenza resisted for 60 days a siege from French, Parmense and Savoyard troops. During the later part of the Franco-Spanish War (1635–59), it again withstood a French siege in 1641, but in 1656, after 70 days of siege, it capitulated to French, Savoyard and Modenese troops. Valenza was besieged again in 1696, but this time the French and Savoyards were unable to capture it. In 1707, in the course of the War of Spanish Succession, it was conquered by

Victor Amadeus II of Savoy Victor Amadeus II (Vittorio Amedeo Francesco; 14 May 166631 October 1732) was Duke of Savoy from 1675 to 1730. He also held the titles of Prince of Piedmont, Duke of Montferrat, Marquis of Saluzzo and Count of Aosta, Moriana and Nice. Lou ...

, who had its possession confirmed in 1713 by the

Treaty of Utrecht The Peace of Utrecht was a series of peace treaties signed by the belligerents in the War of the Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht between April 1713 and February 1715. The war involved three contenders for the vacant throne of ...

. Thenceforth Valenza followed Piedmontese-Sardinian history, and after 1861 that of the kingdom of Italy. The city of Valenza in collaboration with the Brotherhood of San Bernardino reward every year since 1988 the best jeweler with the statuette of San Eligio. This statuette aims to reward the artisans who help the city of Valenza building the reputation of Italian Capital Jewelry.

Twin towns

Rocca Imperiale Rocca Imperiale is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy. Rocca Imperiale is located in the middle of the arc that surrounds the Gulf of Taranto and sits 4 km away from the sea on a hill at ...

, Italy

References

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