Nuceria In the period before the
Roman supremacy in southern Italy, the whole territory was known as , the chief town in the
Sarnus valley –
Herculaneum,
Pompeii,
Stabiae and
Surrentum all being dependent upon it, according to many archaeologists. It maintained its allegiance to Rome until 309 BC, when it joined the
Samnites in revolt. In 308 BC it repulsed a Roman attempt to land at the mouth of the Sarnus, but in 307 BC it was besieged and surrendered. It obtained favourable terms, and remained faithful to Rome even after the
Battle of Cannae. In 216 BC
Hannibal weakened the town by starvation, then destroyed it. The inhabitants returned when peace was restored. During the
Social War, it remained loyal to Rome. In 73 BC it was plundered by
Spartacus.
Saracen colony In the
Middle Ages (around the 9th century) a small colony of
Saracens was introduced in the annexed territory of modern-day
Pagani by permission of the
Dukes of Naples; according to most sources, it lasted only a few decades, but other sources state that a second colony of Muslim
Saracens was later introduced by
Frederick II. The town was described as "a genuine
Muhammadan town with all its characteristic
mosques and
minarets." It is said that, through their darker complexion and features, the townsfolk maintain the heritage of these Muslim settlers. After the mid-9th century the town was part of the
principality of Salerno first, and then of the
principality of Capua.
Pagano family The , an ancient noble family of local lords living in the castle of (), in the territory of Pagani, apparently took this surname from the Saracens (referred to as "
pagans") who previously inhabited the area.
Second millennium The citadel of Nuceria, located where the future
Nocera Inferiore would rise, was besieged by
Roger II of Sicily in the
battle in 1132. After four months he razed the town to the ground. After its reconstruction, the birth of the modern Nocera began with many hamlets and villages which gradually expanded and became small towns. During the
Angevin dominion (1266–1435) Nocera was rebuilt and took the name of (). In 1385
Pope Urban VI was besieged in the city castle by
Charles III of Naples. In the 15th century the town name was changed to () in honor of the Pagano family, itself named after the Saracen pagans who previously inhabited the area. Throughout the Spanish domination, the town was subdivided into two departments ( and ), each one composed of multiple municipalities. Every year in August, the male adults of each municipality gathered in public assembly to elect their
particular mayor; then – in a different assembly – each department elected the
universal mayors: two for and one for , which together led as a
triumvirate. The town survived until 1806. In 1807 five were established: merged into the of ; merged into , forming the of ; while , and stayed autonomous. In 1834, the remnants of ( and ) merged back into a single , but fourteen districts of (including ) later asked for self-administration, which was granted by decree No. 1960 on 11 November 1850, with effect from 1 January 1851; thus were born the contemporary of (corresponding to most of ) and (formerly ). == See also ==