Bruttium

Bruttium, ancient country in Italy, roughly corresponding to the modern region of Calabria. The name is derived from the ancient Bruttii people, who occupied the area before the Greeks colonized it, beginning in the 8th century bc. Together with the Samnites from the north, called Lucanians, the Bruttii attacked the Greek coastal colonies in the 3rd century bc and successfully resisted efforts by the Greeks to subdue them. The capital of Bruttium was Consentia (now Cosenza). The Bruttii remained powerful until 280 bc, when they helped the Greek king Pyrrhus of Epirus in his war against the Romans. After defeating Pyrrhus, the Romans invaded Bruttium and occupied large sections of the country. Important Roman cities were located at Rhegium (now Reggio di Calabria) and Vibo Valentia. The Bruttii revolted and helped the Carthaginian general Hannibal during the Second Punic War (218-201 bc). In retaliation the Romans brought their independence to an end, and Bruttium ceased to exist as an autonomous entity. It became part of the Byzantine Empire after the fall of Rome in the 5th century ad, and was later renamed Calabria.