The legend has it that Siena was established by Senius, son of Remus and nephew of Romulus, therefore the symbol of Siena is a she-wolf breastfeeding Romulus and Remus (pictures 1 and 2). This symbol has been repeated in different parts of town and pieces of art. It is also said that Siena traces the origin of its name back to the Etruscan Saina tribe, the Roman family Saenii or the Latin senex translated as old.

The first records known of inhabitants of the region refer to the Saina tribe, an Etruscan group which also peopled other towns of Tuscany, approximately between 900BC and 400 BC.
The well developed Etruscan civilization modified many aspects of central Italy geography and introduced innovations in building. They used to construct innovative irrigation systems to take advantage of land which had been previously infertile and constructed their villages on the hillside.
Siena lies today where Saena Julia, a Roman settlements sat during the rule of Augustus. Saena Julia is recorded for the first time in a Roman document in 70AD. The Saenones, a tribe from Gaul are said to have had the power of the town for a period.
The period Siena remained under Roman control was not a flourishing one as it was not properly settled on an important road, therefore it had no chances of commerce. The Christian faith only got in in the 4th century AD. Thanks to the Lombards’ control of the region Siena and nearby towns became flourishing centres. As the Roman roads Aurelia and Cassia had turned into dangerous trade routes because of the raids Byzantine used to carry out, the Lombards decided to change the itineraries between the north and Rome passing through Siena, which turned it into a thriving commercial centre on a pilgrimage route generating an interesting income.
The most ancient Sienese families of high rank can trace their origins to the time Charlemagne took Siena. In that period Siena was overflown with Frankish overseers who joined these families by marriage. Their relationship left traces throughout the town. The power of feudalism started to become weaker and when the Great Countess Matilda di Canossa, aka Matilda of Tuscany, died, the age of city-states began in the region.
The period it turned into a city-state, it bloomed as a powerhouse of loans and was essential to deal with wool traders. At the beginning the control of town was in the bishop’ hands but later on he needed the help of the noblemen to face power struggle with Arezzo and had to surrender part of its power to them. By 1167 this demise of power of the bishopric over earthly matters finished in the declaration of the independence of Siena from the bishopric’s power. Its constitution was finally a fact by 1179.
In the following years most of what we can admire of Siena, its Gothic splendour and main buildings were built and Siena showed the world how powerful and wealthy and it was. In the first part of the 13th century the duomo of Siena was finished as well as the Piazza del Campo, at present by all accounts one of the most attractive and emblematic of Gothic architecture in Europe. The construction of more streets converging in this square, the fact the market was held in it and the celebration of sports such as pugna or races made the Piazza del Campo a vital place in town where people congregate and civic life was built. In 1194 where the Palazzo Pubblico lies today walls were built to prevent soil erosion to spoil the development of the area. It was a sign of how important Siena ‘s Piazza del Campo had turned.
At the beginning of the 1100s the aristocratic power was displaced by an autonomous commune. The power of the republic rested with consuls who were more and more representative of the poblani (common people). Siena’s territories became larger as the feudal nobility in the area granted the city their power. Internal policy in Siena’s republic was stained with differences between the nobility and the poblani while foreign policy increasingly intensified power struggle between Siena and Florence. In the 13th century the Ghibelline supporters dominated in Siena while Florence had opted for the Guelph side. This long lasting bloody opposition became the background of part of the Commedia by Dante.
One of the main events in this struggle between Siena and Florence and which the Sienese still remind the Florentines about whenever both towns compete in sports is the Battle of Montaperti. It is common to hear the Sienese shouting “Remember Montaperti¡” at a match
The battle took place on 4th September 1260, with king Manfred of Sicily sided with the Sienese against the Florentines. The Sienese army of 20,000 defeated the Florentine one of 33,000 soldiers. Siena had previously entrusted to Virgin Mary (an entrustment repeated many times in Siena’s history, even during the WWII).
Before the battle the commander of the Sienese army, Bonaguida Lucari, the Sienese, the clergy and the bishop entrusted Siena to the Virgin, a sign of alliance between the earthly power and the Catholic Church. This is history record but the legendary version adds that the battlefield was shrouded in a cloud helping the Sienese victory. Back to historical records the Florentines did not succeed in their attacks and were betrayed by men in their forces who murdered the standard bearer bringing a state of anarchy and dividing their army. The Florentines toll reached 15,000.
In the 10th and 11th century the town had stretched to the east first and to the north later on. In this period the city had walls constructed to defend it and further walls were erected before the 13th century finished. At present these walls are still visible.
In 1240 its university was established. The law and medicine colleges were and still are some of the most highly reputed throughout Italy.
Art saw Siena and Florence in different styles in the 13th and 14th century. At the beginning of the 15th century after the Visconti family was ousted, ten priors exercised the control of Siena in open support of Florence and opposition to Ladislas of Naples. When Puis II, son of Siena, assumed the papacy, the Piccolomini and other members of the nobility could come back to Siena. This lasted until he died and the poblani took control of Siena.
Monte dei Paschi (Picture 3) was established in 1472 and has been operating till now, which makes it the oldest bank worldwide. The nobility dominated the town when Pandolfo Petrucci had control of it in 1487 backed by the Florentines and Alfonso di Calabria. His rule was very efficient and thriving. He was a maecenas of art and science and protected Siena from Cesare Borgia. When he died in 1512, the power was concentrated in the hands of Borghese, his son who was expelled by Raffaelo Petrucci with the support of Leo X.
Fabio Petrucci, the last representative of the family in the power of Siena was ousted in 1523 by the Sieneses. The power struggle started again and the poblani expelled the noveschi party that was backed by Pope Clement VII. The army to which he had ordered to take control of the situation again surrendered in Camollia in 1526. This strife was beneficial for Charles V to establish his garrison in town which stayed until the Sienese and the French forced the Spanish soldiers to leave Siena in 1552. Charles V reacted with a siege led by Gian Giacomo Medici in which the Florentines and the empire allied.
The Republic of Siena was abolished in 1555 after a year of the battle of Marciano when Piero Strozzi the leader of the Sienese army was crushed by the Florentines. About 700 families took refuge in Montalcino which was then called the Republic of Siena in Montalcino. Their resistance lasted until 1159. Philip II of Spain conceded Siena and other fortresses on the coast which belonged to the state of presidi to the Medici family as his debts with them were enormous. Siena was part of this duchy until Italy unified in 1860.