14th and 15th century

Ladislao d’Angiò enters Taranto
Detail of a chest depicted in 1410 now at the Metropolitan Museum of New York

 

In 1294 the Princedom of Taranto was given by King Charles of Naples to his 4th son, Philip and after the death of the latter (in 1331) to his sons Robert and Philip II.
For many decades it was the most fortified city in Apulia with the rôle of a capital limited by strategic conditions.
Under the Balzo-Orsini dynasty, the Princedom of Taranto became as wealthy and rich as ever before. In 1404 Raymond built in Taranto ‘on the west side, the big square fortification that later on, encircled with walls and sided by two towers will form the Cittadella’, constituted the most powerful fortification of the city on the west side and survived until the end of 1800.
A crisis developed after Raymond’s death in 1406. From March to May of that year Ladislao besieged Taranto and in 1407 he entered Taranto to marry Maria D’Enghien (Raymond’s widow). A nuptial chest, depicted in 1410 by an artist from Naples, shows Ladislao entering the city. It is a symbolic representation of the king’s entrance into a city famous for its port and fortifications. When Ladislao died (1414) the Princedom remained in the hands of the Balzo-Orsini until 1463,the year when the Aragonese dynasty ascended the throne.

 

During the 2nd half of the 1400s Taranto seemed to be on the road to economic recovery. This is shown by the revival of local agricultural, fishing and marine activities, by the presence of foreign merchants (from Venice, Florence and Genoa) in the square and in the port and by the slow but important development of civil, religious and public institutions.
However, threats from Venice and the Turks led to new fortifications at the end of 15th century. The separation of the city from the surrounding area was effected by deepening the moat of the ancient fortress and also by building a new castle.

The large castle was finished in 1492. Two drawbridges linked the castle with the city and the countryside respectively. The fortifications on the west side of the city, which was now an island, were also improved: two big towers were added to the Raymond Tower. In this way the city was cut off, equipped and controlled; no one could enter or leave without crossing the militarily controlled fortifications.

 

Castle plan
first Aragonese construction

 

 

Castle plan
in 1492