According to a legend, the mythical hero
Hercules founded the city after his victory over the
Lestrigones, a population of giant cannibals living in southern Lazio. The town coat of arms features the white
Nemean lion, which Hercules slew in the first labor. The historical
Setia appeared around the 5th century BC as the
Volscan settlement member of the
Latin League. It became a
Roman colony in 382 BC His intention was probably to cultivate grapes for wine production. In the early Middle Ages, Sezze experienced trouble due to its location near the main road of communication. But in 956 it was freed from the
Papal authority and organized itself as a
commune with its own laws. Later, several popes sojourned in Sezze, including
Gregory VII (1073),
Paschal II (1116) and
Lucius III (1182). The semi-autonomous status lasted until, after decades of skirmishes and wars with neighboring
Sermoneta and
Priverno, Sezze was conquered by the troops of the
Caetani family in 1381. After 12 years, the Setini revolted and exterminated the occupiers and, once free, they returned to the Pope's protection. In 1656, after suffering the ravages of plague and raids from Spanish and Austrian troops, the population was reduced by half. In 1690, one of Italy's first academies, the scientific-literary Academy of the Abbozzati, was founded in Sezze. In 1798 all of Lazio was occupied by French troops. The Setini rebelled, exterminating the garrison: they avoided a bitter revenge only by paying a large sum of money. In the late 19th century the city was annexed to the newly formed
Kingdom of Italy. During
World War II, American bombardment destroyed some churches and buildings in the historical center. == Main sights ==