Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 13, Number 22, DeMotte, Jasper County, 9 April 1943 — Rome—the Unluckiest Capital [ARTICLE]

Rome—the Unluckiest Capital

D OME is the unluckiest capital in Europe. Founded 2,694 years ago, it has the record of having been taken and sacked more often than any other capital city. First came the Sabines who were let in through the treachery of Tarpeia. Then in 390 B. O Rome was sacked by the Gauls.

It was not until A. D. 410 that Rome was entered by the Goths under Alaric. Forty-five years later the Vandals sacked what remained, and during the Sixth century it fell no fewer than five times to the Lombards. Various sieges were experienced during the Seventh century. Charlemagne took it up in A. D. 774,

and again in 800. Lothair entered in 824, and there were no fewer than four pillagings by Germans between 964 and 998. Then came the Normans under Godfrey of Tuscany, and Robert Guiscard, and after them Frederick Barbarossa, Charles of Anjou, and Louis the Bavarian in 1328. In 1527 the Constable of de Bourbon completely sacked the city. In 1796 Napoleon entered Rome and made it one of his capitals, and in 1840 the French besieged it.