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| Toynbee "Rìmini" |
the ancient Ariminum, town of N. Italy in SE. Emilia; it is
situated on the Adriatic between the mouths of the Ausa (formerly
Aprusa) and Marecchia (formerly Ariminus). Rimini, which was
originally an Umbrian town, was made a Roman colony in 269 B.C.,
and formed the frontier-fortress of Italy in the direction of
Cisalpine Gaul, and the termination of the Flaminian Way from
Rome. In 82 B.C. the Italian frontier was moved about 10 miles
further N. as far as the Rubicon, near Cesena; and it was at this
point that Caesar crossed into Italy in 49 B.C., at the beginning
of the Civil War with Pompey, and entered Rimini, where he
harangued his troops in the great square which still bears his
name (Piazza Giulio Cesare).
During cent. xiii Rimini was under the lordship of the powerful
Malatesta family, who had originally (in 1216) been invited to
lend their assistance against the neighbouring town of Cesena, and
who availed themselves of this opportunity to acquire the
permanent lordship of the city. [Malatesta.]
Rimini is referred to by Pier da Medicina (in Bolgia 9 of Circle
VIII of Hell) in connexion with the tyrant Malatestino, and Curio
who urged Caesar to cross the Rubicon,
[Inf. xxviii. 86]. [Curio_2:
Malatestino:
Medicina.]
©Oxford University Press 1968. From A Dictionary of Proper Names and Notable Matters in the Works of Dante by Paget Toynbee
(1968) by permission of Oxford University Press