Editing Capua (section)

===Middle Ages===
{{see also|Principality of Capua}}
Under [[Constantine I|Constantine]], a Christian church was founded in Capua. In 456, it was taken and destroyed by the Vandals under [[Gaiseric]], but was likely soon rebuilt.

During the [[Gothic War (535–554)|Gothic War]], Capua suffered greatly. When the [[Lombards]] invaded [[Italy]] in the second half of the 6th century, Capua was ravaged; later, it was included in the [[Duchy of Benevento]], and ruled by an official styled [[gastald]].

In 839, the [[prince of Benevento]], [[Sicard of Benevento|Sicard]], was assassinated by [[Radelchis I of Benevento]], who took over the throne. Sicard's brother [[Siconulf]] was proclaimed independent [[prince of Salerno|prince in Salerno]] and the [[gastald of Capua]] declared himself independent.

In 840, ancient Capua was burned to the ground by a band of [[Saracens|Saracen mercenaries]] called by [[Radelchis I of Benevento]]<ref>Pieurre Riche, ''The Carolingians: A Family who forged Europe'', transl. Michael Idomir Allen, (University of Pennsylvania Press, 1993), 181.</ref> with only the church of Santa Maria Maggiore (founded about 497) remaining (which was purposely spared by the invading Muslims, whose policy was that to leave houses of worship alone). A new city was built in 856, but at some distance from the former site,{{sfn|Ashby|1911b}} where another town later appeared under the name of [[Santa Maria Capua Vetere]] ("Capua the Old").

Prince [[Atenulf I of Capua|Atenulf I]] conquered Benevento in 900 and united the principalities until 981, when [[Pandulf Ironhead]] separated them in his will for his children. Capua eclipsed Benevento thereafter and became the chief rival of Salerno. Under [[Pandulf IV of Capua|Pandulf IV]], the principality brought in the aid of the [[Normans]] and, for a while had the loyalty of [[Rainulf Drengot]], until the latter abandoned him to aid the deposed [[Sergius IV of Naples]] take back his city, annexed by Pandulf in 1027.

Upon Pandulf's death, Capua fell to his weaker sons and, in 1058, the city itself fell in a siege to Rainulf's nephew [[Richard I of Capua|Richard I]], who took the title Prince of Aversa. For seven years (1091–1098), [[Richard II of Capua|Richard II]] was exiled from his city, but with the aid of his relatives, he retook the city after a [[siege of Capua|siege in 1098]]. His dynasty lived on as princes of Capua until the last claimant of their line died in 1156 and the principality was definitively united to the [[kingdom of Sicily]]. In the 1230s, King [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick I]] built the monumental [[City Gate of Capua]].

In the early 1500s, it was reported to [[Pope Alexander VI]] that his son, [[Cesare Borgia]], had captured the city and promptly killed all 6,000 citizens, which included women and children, while commanding French troops during the sieges of Naples and Capua.<ref>{{The Papacy and the Levant, 1204-1571|volume=2|page= 538}}</ref>