Raid on Rome

Raid on Rome
	Part of Arab raid against Rome
Date	846
Location	Rome, Papal States
Result	Arab victory
Belligerents
Aghlabids	Papal States
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Pope Leo IV
Strength
Several hundred to thousands	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Some ships lost due to a storm	Many buildings and holy sites were destroyed
	Raid led to the construction of the Leonine Wall around St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Raid on Rome in 846 was a pivotal event where Muslim Saracen forces attacked the outskirts of Rome, plundering nearby cities and looting treasures from Christian sites. The raid demonstrated the growing power of Muslim forces in the Mediterranean and served as a wake-up call for Rome’s defenses.

Background

This raid was part of a broader campaign by Muslim forces from North Africa, specifically the Aghlabids from what is now Tunisia. They had already established a strong foothold in Sicily and other parts of the Mediterranean, enabling them to target Italy. In 846, these raiders turned their attention to Rome, aiming to seize wealth and challenge the city’s influence.

Destruction of Nearby Cities

The Saracen forces first attacked Porto and Ostia, Rome’s key port cities, easily overcoming local defenses. They then advanced along the Tiber River, targeting nearby settlements. At Nova Ostia, they destroyed the garrison, leaving the area unprotected. These successes isolated Rome, giving the raiders control of the surrounding region.

Looting of Christian Sites

Outside the main city walls, the raiders reached the famous basilicas of Old St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. These churches contained valuable relics and treasures, including a golden cross and silver gifts from previous emperors. The raiders looted these treasures and desecrated the sites, facing minimal resistance outside the Aurelian Walls.

Aftermath

The raid was a decisive victory for the Muslim forces, who escaped with substantial loot despite some opposition from a Lombard army. However, a storm sank some of their ships on the return journey, scattering treasure along the coast.

In response, Pope Leo IV ordered the construction of the Leonine Wall around St. Peter’s Basilica to safeguard Rome’s holy sites. This fortified area, known as the Leonine City, would protect against future raids, which were successfully repelled in 849.

The 846 raid on Rome highlighted the reach of Muslim power in the Mediterranean and led to stronger defenses that would protect Rome for centuries.

Sources

Kreutz, Barbara. Before the Normans: Southern Italy in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1996.
Gregorovius, Ferdinand. Storia della città di Roma nel Medioevo. Vol. 3, Gherardo Casini Editore, 1988.
Partner, Peter. The Lands of St. Peter: The Papal State in the Middle Ages and the Early Renaissance. University of California Press, 1972.
Lankila, Tommi P. "The Saracen Raid of Rome in 846: An Example of Maritime Ghazw." Travelling through Time: Essays in honour of Kaj Öhrnberg, Helsinki: Societas Orientalis Fennica, 2013.