1503. Un racconto archeologico sulla Battaglia del Garigliano. Analisi del contesto e rinvenimenti numismatici dalla Rocca Montis Dragonis

Series: Mondi Mediterranei, 17

Pages: 233

Language: Italian

Published: 2025

ISBN: 978-88-31-309-48-6

Over 700 coins, thousands upon thousands of pottery, glass, and metal fragments, a complete suit of armor, crossbow bolts, lead and stone shot for firearms—all buried under a thick layer of rubble, the result of a sudden and catastrophic event that irreversibly marked the abandonment of the Rocca Montis Dragonis. This wealth of data compelled us archaeologists to spend countless hours on the phone, in libraries, and fueled by liters of coffee, trying to interpret what is a completely unexpected and astonishing archaeological case. In an age when it seems all stories have been told, when every “discovery” appears to have already been made, this case stands out.

The purpose of this text is to recount this archaeological case, a sort of cold case, and to give voice to the silent testimony of the artifacts for a variety of important reasons.

Firstly, this story touches on something universal, as it does not merely recount the end of the Rocca Montis Dragonis and the rise of Mondragone in the plain below. It revisits the ambitions of men and women determined to claim the throne of Naples and shows how the thirst for power sparked yet another conflict—a civil war that spared no territory. The consequences unfolded precisely in this area straddling northern Campania and southern Lazio, culminating in the Battle of the Garigliano in December 1503, where the Kingdom of Naples lost its autonomy and became a Spanish viceroyalty.

Secondly, such an abundance of archaeological data can provide a tangible, concrete, and visible account of what happened. The uniqueness of the findings offers an opportunity to construct a vivid narrative impossible to achieve through other means.

Thirdly, the sheer quantity of coins found in their original context makes this discovery unique, allowing us to observe first-hand what circulated in the Kingdom between the late 15th and early 16th centuries—not only official coinage but also counterfeit and re-struck coins.

Fourthly, this is an opportunity to tell a true story, to affirm, as modern cinema often reminds us, that “this story is based on real events.”

Finally, there is an ethical duty that archaeologists owe to the places where they work. They act as filters, as mediators between scientific research and the contemporary community, to which the research ultimately belongs. This enables the community to reclaim the findings and turn them into a tool for cultural and historical enrichment. Therefore, this story, born of questions rooted in the present, is dedicated to the contemporary community. It is meant for all those who, adrift in this sea of uncertainty, can find their way home and make their own contributions to our collective heritage.

Summary

Premessa 8

Chapter 1 101.1 Il ruolo della Rocca Montis Dragonis e del suo territorio in età medievale. 101.2 Il contributo delle ricerche archeologiche per la conoscenza del sito. 20

Chapter 2 262.1 Moneta e contesto archeologico: lo scavo della grande piazza(CF11) e l’analisi delle ultime fasi di frequentazione del sito 262.2 Analisi stratigrafica della piazza (CF11) 332.3 Ricostruzione del contesto 53

Chapter 3 653.1 Analisi del dato storico-archivistico. Tensioni tra il re Ferdinando I e i Baroni del Regno: uno sguardo particolareggiato sulla Campania settentrionale 653.2 La Battaglia del Garigliano 75

Chapter 4 874.1 Il territorio in età aragonese da un punto di vista economico 87

Chapter 5 965.1 I reperti numismatici dalla Rocca Montis Dragonis 965.2 Le monete di Ferdinando I d’Aragona 965.3 Emissioni post congiura: zecca di Napoli 99

5.4 Emissioni post congiura: zecca dell’Aquila 1025.5 Zecca di Brindisi 1045.6 Analisi del contesto 1055.7 Confronti con altre regioni 105

CATALOGO 1085.8 Le monete in circolazione durante la congiura dei baroni (1459-1464) 140CATALOGO 144

Chapter 6 1466.1 I reperti numismatici a nome di Carlo VIII 146CATALOGO 150

Chapter 7 1547.1 Le monete di Ferdinando II d’Aragona (Ferrandino) 154

CATALOGO 160

Chapter 8 1628.1 I cavalli “ribattuti” di Carlo VIII: dove collocarli? 162CATALOGO 170

Chapter 9 1809.1 I reperti numismatici a nome di Federico d’Aragona: analisi del dato numismatico 180CATALOGO 187

Chapter 10 19810.1 I reperti numismatici di Luigi XII. Analisi del dato numismatico 19810.2 Analisi del contesto di provenienza dei sestini di Luigi XII 200CATALOGO 203

Conclusioni 210Bibliografia 219Sitografia 233