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Lying largely on the left bank of the Po River, 239 m. above sea level, at the confluence of the Sangone, Dora Baltea and Stura di Lanzo. Founded by the Galli Taurini, Torino became a Roman municipality (as is seen from its chess-board layout) with the name of Augusta Taurinorum, and later capital of a Lombard duchy and a Frankish county. During the barbarian age and the period of feudal organization Torino became a strong duchy and an important diocese. In 940 king Ugo of Provence chose Arduino il Glabro as marquis. In the following 150 years the importance of the city grew and the result of this prosperity was the reconstruction of the churches, palaces and towers destroyed during the Hungarian-Saracen raids. In 1097 Umberto II di Savoia fails to conquer the city, and a new attempt by the Savoia family to gain the control of the city is, with Federico Barbarossa's intervention, prevented in 1154-1155. In 1190 is Enrico VI who helps Torino against the Savoia, as payment the city elects Tommaso di Annone as Podestà. Is only in 1280 that Tommaso III di Savoia finally gains control of the city, acquiring it from the marquis of Monferrato. |