Viteliu – The Oath of the Italic Peoples

Where Italy got its name

Few places in Italy can boast a legacy like that of Corfinio, a small town in the Peligna Valley in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo. Here, in 91 BC, delegations of Italic peoples formed a confederation against Rome and chose ancient Corfinium as the capital of their League, renaming it “Italia”: it was the first time in history that this name took on a political and national value. The historical re-enactment “Viteliu – The Oath of the Italic Peoples” was created to preserve and share this memory, turning the squares and streets of the village into an open-air stage.

The meaning of the name “Viteliu”

The title of the event is no coincidence: Viteliu is the Oscan form from which the word “Italia” derives, the very same word that the confederates had engraved on silver coins minted in Corfinium. On those coins, next to a laurel-crowned female head with the inscription ITALIA, eight warriors appeared in two rows, swords pointing downward, in the act of swearing an oath of loyalty to the Italic League. This oath is the heart of the re-enactment.

The peoples of the Italic League

The confederation brought together numerous peoples of ancient Italy: Marsi, Peligni, Vestini, Marrucini, Piceni, Frentani, Sanniti, and many others. The Marsi, led by Quintus Poppaedius Silo, were the primary promoters of the league. The confederates elected a senate, two consuls, and twelve praetors, equipping Corfinium with a Curia and a Forum modeled after Rome. The re-enactment gives voice and face to these peoples, with costumed participants parading to represent each Italic tribe.

An evening of ceremony and spectacle

Organized by the Pro Loco of Corfinio APS, the event immerses the public in the ancient capital through ceremonies, costumes, and solemn rites. The procession takes shape after a propitiatory sacrifice; this is followed by the Ludi, where young warriors compete for the right to light the sacred fire. As flames rise from the tripods, the procession reforms: the priestly group leads, followed by the warriors of the various peoples united by the sacred pact, and finally the noble families. The event also features combat displays, ritual dances, scenes of daily life, and evening shows with fire performances, which draw an increasing number of participants to the village's archaeological area every year.

A heritage to experience

Visiting Corfinio during Viteliu means walking through a village that still bears the marks of its ancient greatness, from the Antonio De Nino Civic Archaeological Museum to the Basilica of San Pelino. It is a perfect stop for those who love history, archaeology, and Abruzzese folk traditions, in an authentic corner of Italy still largely untouched by mass tourism.