Duchy of Bari
The Duchy of Bari was a significant administrative division within the Kingdom of Naples, comprising several territories, including Acquaviva delle Fonti, Bari, Modugno, Ostuni, Palo del Colle, and Rossano. Bari, as the capital, functioned as a key administrative and economic center in the region, influencing trade and political activities. The included territories each contributed distinct characteristics to the duchy; for instance, Acquaviva delle Fonti is recognized for its agricultural output, while Ostuni is noted for its historical architecture.
Historically, the Duchy of Bari reflects the complex cultural interactions in southern Italy, influenced by various ruling powers such as the Byzantine Empire, Norman conquerors, and Spanish authorities. The region experienced fluctuations in prosperity and conflict, which shaped the lives of its inhabitants and the broader context of the Kingdom of Naples. In addition to its political and economic roles, the duchy played a part in the cultural development of the area, fostering artistic and architectural advancements that are acknowledged in studies of Italian history.
History
Under the Prince of Taranto, Orsini del Balzo
At the beginning of the 15th century Modugno depended on the Governor of Bari and remained so until 1440 when it came into the possession of Giovanni Antonio Orsini Del Balzo, prince of Taranto. In the first half of the 15th century, the Aragonese undertook the conquest of the Kingdom of Naples starting from Sicily. In Apulia, the dispute saw the prince of Taranto Giovanni Antonio Orsini Del Balzo on the side of the Aragonese and the mercenary captain Giacomo Caldora appointed by the Angevins as feudal lord of Bari and Bitonto. Giacomo Caldora laid siege to Modugno in late August 1436, with his son-in-law Count of Avellino Troiano Caracciolo, but was unsuccessful and contented himself with ravaging olive and almond groves in the surrounding countryside. Clashes and retaliation between the towns that sided with the two factions ended only when Alfonso of Aragon succeeded in seizing the throne of Naples in 1442 with the help of Filippo Maria Visconti. Alfonso of Aragon reconfirmed to the loyal prince of Taranto all the possessions he had won in the struggles that had just ended: Modugno was the fief of Gian Antonio Orsini and remained there for thirteen years, hated by the population for his tyrannical actions.Orsini and the Duke of Milan Francesco Sforza also supported the Aragonese monarch during the Conspiracy of the Barons who wanted the return of the Angevins (at this time, the House of Valois-Anjou. King Ferdinand I rewarded the former with the reconfirmation in 1462 of all his possessions, including the fief of Modugno. To consolidate his alliance with the Duke of Milan, he embarked on a matrimonial policy and promised his future son-in-law Sforza Maria Sforza to grant him Rossano, the fiefdom of one of the leaders of the barons' conspiracy. However, in the course of the war, the Prince of Rossano made peace with the King of Naples Ferdinand I, who had to find an alternative to honor the promise.
The solution came through a chance event: the death without an heir of Gian Antonio Orsini, prince of Taranto and duke of Bari. This event allowed Ferdinand I to grant Francesco Sforza the Duchy of Bari, instead of the promised lands of Rossano. Upon the death of the prince of Taranto Gian Antonio Orsini, which occurred on 13 November 1463, in Altamura, his possessions, including Modugno, returned to the state property, that is, to the king of Naples. This freedom from the feudal yoke, though short-lived, would play an important role in the claims for freedom that the people of Modugno would enact in the following centuries. Ferdinand I met Modugno's ambassadors in Altamura a few days after Orsini's death and granted Modugno exemption from duties on oil exports and the Sunday market.
Sforza period
On 19 June 1464, King Ferdinand I of Naples offered Francesco Sforza the duchy of Bari and the two towns of Modugno and Palo del Colle, in place of the lands of the prince of Rossano, promised as a reward for his support in suppressing the conspiracy of the barons. Ferdinand I on 9 September 1464 issued the privilege of donation in which he stated that he had always considered “Sforza Maria Sforza among his dearest people and always loved and considered him as a son on a par with Eleonora, promised to him in his betrothal, both because of the bond of kinship and because of his singular character and the innumerable benefits received from his father Francesco He therefore gladly gives in perpetuity to him and to his legitimate heirs and successors of both sexes the city of Bari and the lands of Palo and Modugno with their castles, hamlets, men, vassals, vassals' incomes, feuds, feudatories, subfeudatories, customs, rights of the customs and any other right arising from the useful dominion, with the houses, estates, olive groves, vineyards, gardens, etc., with the court of justice for the recognition of civil cases and the other rights, jurisdictions, accounts, etc., pertaining by custom and law or otherwise to the said lands, and with the title of duchy..., agrees that Sforza Maria Sforza and his successors shall bear the title of duke of Bari in all deeds and writings, and shall enjoy the favors, liberties and honors of barons and dukes."Before taking possession of the duchy, the Sforzas asked their representative in the kingdom of Naples, Antonio da Trezzo, to prepare a report regarding the economic situation and tax revenues of the new fiefdom of Bari, Modugno and Palo del Colle. In his letter of 14 January 1465, Antonio da Trezzo describes Modugno to the Sforza as "a large and important land, but almost no revenue", that is, of little tax revenue for the duke. Although several hypotheses have been formulated, there are no documented reasons why a town like Modugno paid few taxes to the duke. In fact, Bari had tax revenues on oil production of about 6,000–7,000 ducats, while Palo del Colle had about 1,200 ducats, but at that time Modugno had a population far greater than that of Palo del Colle and about half that of Bari as well as extensive olive groves.
After the Sforzas agreed to accept the Duchy of Bari, the ceremony of handing over the Duchy of Bari and the lands of Modugno and Palo to Sforza Maria Sforza, represented by Azzo Visconti, took place on 12 October 1465, in Bari at the basilica of St. Nicholas. The government of the Duchy of Bari, Modugno and Palo was held by Francesco Sforza and then his wife Bianca Maria Visconti, as their son, Sforza Maria, was a minor. The King of Naples also granted the Duke of Bari the right to collect taxes based on “fires” and to take salt free of charge from the salt pans of the Government of Naples. In this way the Duchy of Bari, Modugno and Palo was created, initiating a period, which would last about a century, of economic growth and political development, caused by increased relations with the prosperous Duchy of Milan. This was to be one of the greatest moments of splendor for Modugno.
Azzo Visconti was loved by the population and his government was fair and balanced: when he entrusted Domenico de Afflicti from Bari with the position of Captain of Modugno, the population made representations to Azzo about a dispute concerning the payment of collections, which was going on between Bari and Modugno. Visconti granted the request of the Modugnese and removed Domenico de Afflcti from office. Duke Sforza Maria Sforza praised his rectitude and loyalty to the House of Sforza and reappointed him to his role in 1467. When Azzo left office two years later, Sforza appointed his son, Gaspare Visconti, as governor.
When Francesco Sforza died, he was succeeded by his eldest son Galeazzo Maria Sforza. Galeazzo Sforza was assassinated on 26 December 1476, and Gian Galeazzo, just eight years old, became the new duke of Milan, under the regency of his mother Bona of Savoy, who enlisted the help of chancellor Cicco Simonetta. Gian Galeazzo's brothers after an unsuccessful attempt to oust Cicco Simoetta and take the regency, were driven out of Milan: Maria Sforza was sent to Bari, in his own duchy, where he devoted himself to raising renowned breeds of horses. He died without an heir on 29 July 1479, and the duchy reverted to the king of Naples. On 14 August, King Ferdinand I of Naples granted the duchy to Sforza Maria's brother Ludovico il Moro in an order dated 14 August 1479.
Conflict between the Duchy of Milan and the Kingdom of Naples
Ludovico il Moro never went to his own duchy, which was administered by governors: in 1482 it was governed by Benedetto Castiglioni, two years later by his sister Ippolita, wife of Alfonso II. The names of governors Giovanni Ermenziano and Paduano Macedonio are also mentioned. Beginning in 1480 the duchess of Bari was also named Beatrice d'Este, niece and adopted daughter of the king, by the will of her ancestor Ferrante, who gave her in marriage to Ludovico.File:Pala_sforzesca.jpg|left|thumb|Ludovico il Moro and his wife Beatrice d'Este, dukes of Bari, in the Pala Sforzesca.
Ludovico was aiming for the Duchy of Milan and, by having Gian Galeazzo declared an adult at the age of 11, he succeeded in persuading the regent Bona of Savoy to remove Cicco Simonetta by seizing the effective government of the duchy. He also conducted a policy that oscillated between the Republic of Venice and the Kingdom of Naples. All this worried the Neapolitans and especially the heir to the throne, Alfonso II, father of Isabella betrothed to Gian Galeazzo. King Ferdinand I of Naples, was busy with the Saracens who had landed in Otranto in 1480 and with a revolt of the Barons. Ludovico il Moro helped King Ferdinand suppress the rebellion and therefore, in 1487, saw the Duchy of Bari reconfirmed, obtaining, in addition, the principality of Rossano and the counties of Burello, Rossano and Longobucco, which had been taken from the rebellious barons.
In 1488 a marriage was celebrated between Gian Galeazzo Sforza, age 19, and Isabella of Aragon, age 18. Isabella, in Milan, resented the power of Moro, who usurped the title of Duke from her husband. In 1493 she wrote to her father Alfonso II to denounce the situation, but the reaction sought from Alfonso II was curbed by the prudence of King Ferdinand I.
When Alfonso II ascended the throne of Naples in 1494, he immediately declared war on Moro and as the first sign of hostility had the duchies of Bari and Rossano occupied. The Aragonese army, commanded by the young Ferdinand, entered Romagna at a time when Charles VIII of France was welcomed by Ludovico il Moro, who had called him to his own aid. On 21 October 1494, Gian Galeazzo died in Pavia at the age of 25, and the next day Ludovico had himself proclaimed Duke of Milan.
Charles VIII entered Naples on 22 February 1495, and sent Macedonio Paduano, in his time governor of Bari, to occupy the duchy and the Calabrian territories on behalf of Moro. The citizens of Bari, Modugno, and Palo were happy to return under the leadership of the Sforza, who had always conducted a fair government and brought economic development. Upon the death of his beloved wife Beatrice d'Este in 1497, Ludovico renounced the entire duchy in favor of their second son Sforza Francesco, who was still an infant. On 20 July 1498, the new governor, Giacomo dei Marchesi Pallavicini de' Scipione, arrived in Bari.
Later Ludovico il Moro moved to the side opposed to the French by allying himself with the Republic of Venice, the state of the Church, Ferdinand the Catholic, and the Emperor of Austria. Charles VIII had to return to France in June 1495, and Ferdinand II returned to the throne of Naples. He and his successor Federico confirmed Ludovico il Moro's possession of the duchy. Moro, however, could not take care of the duchy, and he entrusted its management to the vice-duke Giovanni Erminzani.