DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42497#0225
SECT. III. j Historical Notices of the Walls.
125
In a.d. 848—852, the walls of the Leonine city were built by
Leo IV., to protect the Vatican against the threatened invasion of
the Saracens ; these were connected with the fortress of S. Angelo,
into which the Mausoleum of Hadrian had been converted, and
became part of the circuit of the walls, as described by the Chroni-
cler, shortly afterwards, but were not united with the Janiculum
fortress, or the wall of the Trastevere of the time of Aurelian, until
the seventeenth century, when the whole city on that side of the
river was enclosed in a new wall built according to the modern
system of fortification.
Leo IV. is also stated to have continued the restoration of the old
wall of the Emperors with great activity; he is said
“ to have visited the works continually in person, both on horseback and on foot,
and to have allowed no delay in them ; to have rebuilt fifteen of the towers from
the ground, and to have repaired the gatehouses, and fortified them with new
wooden doors strong enough to resist an enemy0.”
Anastasius, who was living at the time, warmly praises the building
of this Pope, which he calls “ a great and marvellous work, done
with much wisdom, subtilty, prudence and honesty.” The work was
carried on during four years, from a.d. 848 to 852. The new city
was then consecrated with
“ a grand ceremonial; a penitentiary procession was organized, in which all the
bishops and priests of the city joined with the orders of clergy of the Roman
Church, all with bare feet, and their heads sprinkled with ashes, making the
circuit of the walls chanting litanies, psalms, hymns, and canticles, while the
Cardinal bishops blessed the wall with holy water. The Pontiff stopped at each
of the three gates of the new city, and recited a separate prayer at each.”
These prayers are given in full by Anastasius p, who adds :—
“ He then freely distributed alms to all who had assisted at the ceremony,
whether natives or strangers.”
The three gates of the Leonine city are believed to have remained
until after the return of the Popes from Avignon, when the Vatican
being made their usual habitation, the court and many strangers
collected round them, new streets were made in the Leonine city,
and new gates for the convenience of its inhabitants.
In a.d. 1063 the Leonine city was taken by surprise at night by
the anti-pope Honorius II., or Cadolus of Parma, who was received
into the fortress of S. Angelo by Cencius, son of the prefect of the
city, who was in charge of it. In a.d. 1067 the Leonine city was
0 Anastasius Bibl. in vita, Leo IV., tract, but is worth reading as a minute
No. 534. account of a consecration in the ninth
p The whole story is too long to ex- century.
125
In a.d. 848—852, the walls of the Leonine city were built by
Leo IV., to protect the Vatican against the threatened invasion of
the Saracens ; these were connected with the fortress of S. Angelo,
into which the Mausoleum of Hadrian had been converted, and
became part of the circuit of the walls, as described by the Chroni-
cler, shortly afterwards, but were not united with the Janiculum
fortress, or the wall of the Trastevere of the time of Aurelian, until
the seventeenth century, when the whole city on that side of the
river was enclosed in a new wall built according to the modern
system of fortification.
Leo IV. is also stated to have continued the restoration of the old
wall of the Emperors with great activity; he is said
“ to have visited the works continually in person, both on horseback and on foot,
and to have allowed no delay in them ; to have rebuilt fifteen of the towers from
the ground, and to have repaired the gatehouses, and fortified them with new
wooden doors strong enough to resist an enemy0.”
Anastasius, who was living at the time, warmly praises the building
of this Pope, which he calls “ a great and marvellous work, done
with much wisdom, subtilty, prudence and honesty.” The work was
carried on during four years, from a.d. 848 to 852. The new city
was then consecrated with
“ a grand ceremonial; a penitentiary procession was organized, in which all the
bishops and priests of the city joined with the orders of clergy of the Roman
Church, all with bare feet, and their heads sprinkled with ashes, making the
circuit of the walls chanting litanies, psalms, hymns, and canticles, while the
Cardinal bishops blessed the wall with holy water. The Pontiff stopped at each
of the three gates of the new city, and recited a separate prayer at each.”
These prayers are given in full by Anastasius p, who adds :—
“ He then freely distributed alms to all who had assisted at the ceremony,
whether natives or strangers.”
The three gates of the Leonine city are believed to have remained
until after the return of the Popes from Avignon, when the Vatican
being made their usual habitation, the court and many strangers
collected round them, new streets were made in the Leonine city,
and new gates for the convenience of its inhabitants.
In a.d. 1063 the Leonine city was taken by surprise at night by
the anti-pope Honorius II., or Cadolus of Parma, who was received
into the fortress of S. Angelo by Cencius, son of the prefect of the
city, who was in charge of it. In a.d. 1067 the Leonine city was
0 Anastasius Bibl. in vita, Leo IV., tract, but is worth reading as a minute
No. 534. account of a consecration in the ninth
p The whole story is too long to ex- century.