Leonine City

historical district, Rome, Italy

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June 30, 2026

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The Leonine City is a historical district in Rome, Italy, that was fortified by Pope Leo IV in the 9th century. This was in response to Muslim raids on Rome in 846. The area enclosed by this wall became known as the Leonine City and is located around the Vatican. From the late 9th to the mid-11th century, Rome and the papacy were largely controlled by powerful Roman families. By the end of the 11th century, the papacy had established a more stable presence, supported by new Roman families involved in commerce and banking. This period also saw Rome become a destination for pilgrims, stimulating the city's economy.1

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Rome
Factional struggles: papacy and nobility
…to be known as the Leonine City. From the late 9th through the mid-11th century, Rome and the papacy were controlled by various families from Rome’s landed nobility, with brief interludes of intervention from the German emperors that were the successors of Charlemagne.
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…to be known as the Leonine City. From the late 9th through the mid-11th century, Rome and the papacy were controlled by various families from Rome’s landed nobility, with brief interludes of intervention from the German emperors that were the successors of Charlemagne.
Read More