History Print
Maremma Park, despite being a territory characterised by thick vegetation, has also a historic significance through various archaeological evidence covering a huge variety of periods. Today the territory of the Park is divided among Grosseto District (Comune di Grosseto), Magliano in Toscana District (Comune di Magliano in Toscana), and Orbetello District (Comune di Orbetello), while in ancient times this area underwent several dominations.
The ancient settlement is San Rabano Abbey (Abbazia di San Rabano), founded by Roselle Bishops, whose large possessions spread up to the lands around the city of Grosseto. The history of the monastery and its territory is strictly linked to the history of this city, which became more important when the Bishop Seat (Sede Vescovile) was transferred there from the city of Roselle, now in decline. In the tenth century the area was under the domain of the Aldobrandeschi Counts (Conti Aldobrandeschi) of Sovana. In 1221 the Aldobrandeschi formed a federation with Sienna Republic (Repubblica di Siena), according to Frederic (Federico) II. These were difficult years until 1266 when, Lord Abbot of Malia, by now rich and powerful, was brought in by the Sienese who saw in him an important alley.
Meanwhile the Aldobrandeschi family had divided by marriage into two branches: the Sovana branch and the Santa Fiora branch. After settling in the Grosseto area, in 1283 the Santa Fiora family confirmed the conventions signed in 1221 with the Republic of Sienna: then in 1301, taking advantage of the declining power of the Santa Fiora family, Siena took back the city of Grosseto.
In 1307 the problem of delimitation of the borders between the Courts of Grosseto and Monteano (Montiano) created some disagreements. The Governors of the Republic acted in order to guarantee the peace: on that occasion, the borders with Alberese and Castiglione were also drawn up.
The people of Grosseto, however, did not tolerate the Sienese domination; the powerful citizen Bino di Messe, Abbot of Malia, instigated the people to rebel. In 1310, the Sienese managed to prevail again convincing the opposition to surrender without bloodshed. In 1312, Lord Bino took advantage over the Sienese who were heavily embroiled in a battle in Rome. This battle was to prevent the coronation of Arrigo VII. Therefore weakened by the absence of their troops who were fighting in a distant zone, it was possible for the local people to take back the possession of Grosseto, whose government was given to his two sons Malia and Abbatino. On this occasion the Sienese, for fear of the outbreak of a war and for the numerous favours received by the Santa Fiora family towards notorious Sienese representatives, decided not to act against them.
The year 1327 is of extreme importance for the history of  Maremma as Ludvig (Ludovico) of Bavaria (Baviera), soon after being crowned King of the Romans in Italy, on his way to Rome, passed through the Maremman area. The following year he tried in vain to conquer the city of Grosseto. He was assisted by the army of the king of Sicily, whose help had been asked for by the Counts of Santa Fiora. The sons of Bino del Malia had successfully managed to defend the city along with the Sienese, and had kept the domain of Grosseto until 1334: however, when their father passed away, the Government of Sienna (Governo dei Nove di Siena) thought it an appropriate moment to take back the Signoria of Grosseto, by sending there the best militia, led by Jacopo di Cante Gabrielli from Gubbio. It was the very same Jacopo of Cante Gabrielli who, once the city had been taken by force, reformed all the constitutions and put into place the foundations to transform Grosseto into a powerful fortress. He also brought Malia and Abbatino to Sienna. In 1335 they then managed to escape from prison and take possession of the city of Grosseto, helped by the Pisans. They also defeated the Sienese the following year and repossessed the afflicted maremman city for good.
In 1447 a new conqueror, Alfonse (Alfonso) of Aragon (Aragona) settled in Grosseto. Eight years later Jacopo Piccinino destroyed and tried to conquer the maremman territories, but the situation turned in favour of the Sienese. In the meanwhile this province was facing adverse fortune; its population was gradually decreasing, and social conditions, agricultural productivity and climate were also diminishing.
The Republic of Sienna had been inevitably weakened by the continuous wars against Cosimo the 1st (I): the French, allayed with Sienna, sought refuge in Grosseto in 1559, the year of their absolute defeat.
Firstly Cosimo I attempted to improve the conditions of life in the maremman territories. He later created programs regarding various improvements to be made. These improvements and future plans for the territory were later used and applied by the governors who followed.
The historic cartography drawn up in the XVI century gives testimony to the various phases of these improvements.
It is only by taking into consideration the area of the Park that it is possible to find a few examples of this constant progress.
The first two maps of around the XVI century report show only the most important sites, whilst an XVIII century map appeared to be much more detailed. The map, considered the milestone of Tuscan cartography, was drawn up using regular triangulations, as seen in the last military map.