Conquered by L'Aquila in 1436, Penne became part of the Spanish kingdom of Naples. When, a century later, Emperor Charles V inherited both Naples and Aragon, he decided to give Penne as a dowry to his son-in-law, the 12 year old Alexander dei Medici, who thus became Duke of Penne. Four years later Alexander died, poisoned, and Charles' daughter Margaret (known as Margaret of Austria) remarried Ottavio Farnese, ruler of Parma far in the north. Penne became part of a mini-empire ruled by the Farnese family, the Farnese States of Abruzzo, but still subject to the Spanish kingdom of Naples.
The kings of Naples saw Abruzzo not as an area to develop, but as a troublesome border province to be kept down, and as a source of funds for their armies. Both feudal obligations and state taxes were increased. The Farnese rulers effectively became tax collectors for the Spanish, and local self rule through the district parliaments was replaced by the control of a small group of aristocratic families. To cap it all, the late 16th century was a period of bad harvests and famine. With them came the Spanish Inquistion. In 1584 Penne saw a mass burning of witches and warlocks. Cristina Malospirito of Penne and four others from the surrounding areas were burnt alive in the Piazza di Luca.
A 17th century church doorway upbraids the powerful. The inscription reads 'Castitas privilegio magis dilectus' ('purity is preferable to privilege'). A little further down the same street the doorway of a grand house retorts 'Non infructuosus est sumptus qui patriae cedit ornamento' - 'expense which beautifies the town is not a waste'.
In the 17th century the Spanish empire began its slow collapse. The Netherlands were in permanent rebellion. The 30 years war led to the loss of Catalonia and Portugal. All this needed not just more taxes, but soldiers for the army. Naples rebelled in 1647, along with Penne and other towns of Abruzzo. The Spanish reoccupied Abruzzo. Troops were billeted in Penne. And taxes were increased yet again to pay for them. The town council desperately tried to find funds to bribe the Spanish troops to stay outside the walls, trying to stop the robbery and rape that happened when they were allowed in. Unable to fight back, many fled into the hills to begin Abruzzo's long reputation as a land of brigands.
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