Poggio Imperiale - Gargano

Poggio Imperiale (FG)

Gargano - Apulia (Italy)

This page is just a small hint about the origin of Poggio Imperiale, where the entire argument has already been extensively treated altrepubblicazioni.
The feud of Hvar, early fifteenth century, was donated by Queen Margherita of Durazzo Annunciation to the Holy House of Naples, with the consent of his son Ladislaus II, vote for the recovered health and deduction of their sins and Augusti his relatives.
Consent was given by King Ladislaus with diploma of December 23, 1409 in Salem. The award was formally endorsed by the queen with the public act of November 6, 1411 by John Mangrella notary of that city.
Annunciation House held that fief for more than two centuries, until its AGP Tour, established in 1580, the splendor of the kingdom for its vast wealth and its vast works of mercy, to put a stop to the usury Jews in 1702 was declared bankrupt for six million for mismanagement and the continuing withdrawal of money made by Philip IV for war expenses. From that failure originated long and arduous litigation compromises with multiple creditors. Because of this, the feud with the lake of Hvar was put up for sale diving auction in 1750.
Had been sent by SRConsiglio to appreciate the revenue of the estate of Hvar Tabularium Eng. Gallerano Donato, who in 1729 had compiled a detailed report.
Very interesting, the history of feudalism in recent times, it was the announcement of the auction. It showed that while at that time most of the universities had already freed from the most exorbitant taxes of their vassals, and also by feudal traditions, yet there were some close miserably in the old network, as in the Middle Ages. Hvar was between them and was offered for sale, as an object placed on the market stall.
In that sale, the feud was finally awarded March 13, 1751 Prince St. Angelo, Placido Imperiale for 104.201 ducats.
Awl, then, when he became a fief of Placido Imperiale was very saddened. The new landowner wanted to better cultivate the wide expanse of land and remove its employees from that place unhealthy and harmful. He decided to establish a colony in a place where the air was healthier. He chose to do this a little hill near the lake.
Then he thought of founding a large farm or farmhouse, with all the amenities necessary for life to turn that wasteland into fertile and wooded and suitable for the development of agriculture. In this way, also escaped the effects of unhappy employees by foul air that is breathed in Hvar and pestilential stench emanating from the muddy lake that surrounds it.
He ordered to build a large farm for use as accommodation and to repair and maintain the food derived from sowing.
The hill chosen is about two miles south of Hvar and is located 73 meters above sea level, surrounded by thick woods.
It seems that the foundation of Poggio Imperiale year 1759 (See document bishop Foschi). Others make up the foundation to 1760, when Placido Imperiale did issue a notice and had to post notices and outside the kingdom, promising to those who wish to settle in new land several privileges. Others trace the foundation of Poggio Imperiale year 1761, when there was the famous conclusion of Placido Imperial and King Ferdinand IV, the text, which is kept in municipal Poggio Imperiale, is as follows: "CONTRACTATIO INTER EXCELLENTISSIMUM Dominum PRINCIPEM SANCTI ANGEL, ET Patres Familias ALBANENTIUM, TEN YEARS DOMAINS OCTAVE Januari 1761. (See Speech by Nicola Chiaromonte, 1886, the inauguration of the bust of Placido Imperial).
Around the year 1760, precisely in that place Placido Imperiale built many houses and thatched tables for residential use of settlers and livestock housing.
With this system began the first experiment in land reform, which subsequently will be completed by the royal court.
Placido Imperiale after he built a building to house its administrator Rocco Capozzi, and to settle himself at times when he visited his new land.
In the same year Placido Imperiale visited this feud and particularly the farm. The settlers, who lent their work here, they were servants of the prince, who, moved by other lands of his large estate, he worked for the cultivation of these fertile lands.
The farm, recently founded, progressed to sight, surrounded by her lovely pasture, enchanted by the beauty of the place.
Had become the area's favorite Placido Imperiale that the hill on which was kind (Poggio) and his noble family (Imperial), called Poggio Imperiale.
Placido Imperiale after his visit in 1760, he did issue a notice and post notices for the Kingdom and outside, promising to anyone who wanted to settle in the new land the following privileges:
1 - Hospitalization and free housing.
2 - A quantity of grain for food and for planting.
3 - An extension of land for sowing, for vegetables and vines without payment.
4 - Other animals for farm work and the industry.
5 - Right of timber and grazing lands of the prince.
6 - A doctor and chaplain.
7 - Right to bear arms and immunities and others.

The first to respond to 18 families in 1761 were Albanians, followed by another 17 in the same year, a total of 35 families, totaling 174 people.
These families, as well as tax exemption focatica, received many other benefits and privileges by Placido Imperiale com 'is shown in the following text:
"First of Mr. Prince said ecc.mo D. Placido promises to give those families Albanians tomoli 30 of wheat for each month after arriving at that location until the collection of Poggio Imperiale in 1762, promises to give them more than seven pairs of oxen, land for gardens for four years without pay , which can not carry weapons prohibited in Royal proclamations, which they do not give cops harassment free homes for five years; Territories France for three years, always reserving the firewood free of defenses forbidden works always in the pasture areas of the University ; always in the vineyards free territories University; for each family is assigned two sheep and two goats, and donkeys in common for all families and those sheep and goats and donkeys that we give them free ecc.mo Prince, and without any payment, and those leaders of Albanian families encounter in solidum promise and undertake the grain over and above said Mantua seven pairs of oxen, and any other expenses that did for them ecc.mo said Mr. Prince, pay the same between four years ... etc. "
It was also agreed that those wishing to Albanian families to leave the farm, the Prince should return all they had received from him, "animals, relief of homes for rent, lease of lands, grazing, and anything else" .
Attracted by the relief obtained by the first inhabitants, other Albanians were in Poggio Imperiale between 1762 and 1769, bringing with him two priests of ritual greek Simone Bubici and Stephen Theodore. To them as to others who subsequently immigrated, Placido Imperiale granted all the advantages enjoyed by first come, though no act could be found, except that a reputation among the mayor of Hvar Primiano Colozzi and magistrate of the district of St. Paul to the execution of a document in favor of Nicholas Scutari Bubici native, the late Simon.
As a result of a fall frost in 1762 and subsequent years of poor harvest in 1764 it suffered a terrible famine. A tomolo wheat came up to four ducats and more, very high price for those days.
The 1,764 was defined as the "years of hunger" and the local agricultural situation, like that of the captains and the whole kingdom of Naples, represented a period of uncertainty and distress.
Almost all Albanians in the same year emigrated from Poggio Imperiale, taking the road to Rome. Remained in the new village with his wife Simone Bubici and five sons, Joseph Theodore with three sons and three daughters and John Bubici with his wife and mother.
In large estates were rare Capitanata farms lost in immense plain, empty and bare, or gray and sad in a sea of vines and olive trees, a great distance between them, miles from the nearest town, outside the world. They were always seven or eight people that were close in those tombs, where dragging brute existence, from serfs, many times without any other function than that of custodians. Some owners had attempted to put away their farms a few dozen more inhabitants, always under conditions of employees, or to transplant in our countryside peasants from the provinces of the kingdom more unthinkable. Some are not adapted to our climate, our crops, malaria and left the campaign, preferring to live in cities where there were at least human relationships and could socialize with the rest of the population.
Other families took up residence there in the period going from 1762 to 1764.
Barletta came from families of Shkodra Mauricchi and John Spencer. Other immigrants came from different parts, after the Albanians.
In 1764, another 24 families arrived in the village. These, almost all came from the province of Benevento, namely the municipalities of Reino, almost all, and San Marco dei Cavoti. Two families came from the province of Avellino and the other provinces of Foggia, Catanzaro and Cosenza. Then came by Reino other families, and although it seems that do not contain any capitulation with Placido Imperiale had also aid and relief.
Some of these families survive, others have become extinct or moved elsewhere. Although many families had left the village, Placido Imperiale ruled with meekness and encouraged the settlers.
Increased production es'istituivano new homes were converted vast stretches of woods and pastures in farmland and the Prince spread above the welfare of all its settlers.
What happened? It was rooted in the mind of a thoughtless race settlers to till the land, to cultivate and sow the land, because the market is favorable for wheat and the sharp rise in grain prices throughout the province urged farmers sowing of vast extensions of fallow land available. The settlers were able to increase production and thereby increase the family income is both provincial.
Needed to ensure the conservation of the product in dry, safe and also to keep out mice, calendar of wheat and other pests, which in no time could destroy the entire harvest.
In many places large and small Capitanata existed or were constructing large underground depots for the storage of cereals, were similar to those of the past, that you have news or archaeological evidence for the importance it had since antiquity .
They were dug in clay soil of our province. They had different sizes, which ranged from m 4.5 to 5 to a maximum of 10 deep and 3 to 7 meters in width.
Poggio Imperiale, which since its foundation had always had people dedicated to agriculture and pastoralism, was no less common to other Capitanata. He was a good 37 of wheat. Some members of Placido Imperiale and his heirs, in other wealthy citizens of the City: the farmers field. 27 pits were located in Imperial Square, 5 beginning of the street of Via De Cicco and 5 at the beginning of Via and Via Focara house.
Such a large number of mass graves exist in the small town Daunian, is well thought what was the main economic activity practiced in the town.