Bosco Marengo: sights, history and trails

The ancient Ligurian people lived among others, in the pre-Roman era, the lands where Bosco Marengo rises. From the name of this population it is likely that the toponym derives Marengo. The Latin toponymic term of the area is, in fact, Lucus Maricorum that for successive changes can be become, then in Italian, Marengo.

In the course of the 2nd century BC. the area of Bosco Marengo entered the orbit of the Roman state, probably part of the ager of the colony of Tortona (Tortona), founded around 122 BC. Around this historical period, the Tortona plain, between Curone, Scrivia and Orba, was centuriated. Furthermore, in 109 BC. was built there via Aemilia Scauri by the censor Marco Emilio Scauro (corresponding to the current road Levata or Emilia, a rural road that traces the ancient road axis), which put in communication the road junction of Tortona (already connected to the Via Postumia) to the Ligurian Riviera through the Bormida valley. At this time there is no certain news about a settlement in Bosco Marengo: quite imaginative indeed it is the news of a inhabited area called Media Silva, although the presence of a simple post for changing horses along the Via Aemilia Scauri (which in the imperial age took the name of Via Iulia Augusta) cannot be ruled out.

For the Middle Ages there is no certain information, although it is known that some nearby places (such as Marengo or Urba, in the territory of Frugarolo) were curtes regiae belonging first to the Lombard kings, then to the emperors who occasionally dwelt there. In fact, it's all imaginative news of a foundation of Bosco Marengo in the gota era. In the last years of the 1st millennium, Emperor Otto I granted Bosco to Aleramo, Marquis of Monferrato. Ugo, first marquis of Bosco and Ponzone, was born to Anselmo III, grandson of the first Anselmo, son of Aleramo. He inherited the Aleramic rights in the territory which from the Ligurian coast between Albisola (east of Mount Priocco) and Varazze included reached the Po Valley along the Orba, Stura and Piota valleys up to Alessandria, having Bormida di as its north-western border Spigno Monferrato.

Two sons of Ugo, Anselmo and Aleramo, gave rise respectively to the Marquis of Bosco and to those of Ponzone. The lordship of the first extended on Bosco, Ovada, Ussecio (now Belforte Monferrato), Pareto, Mioglia, Monteacuto, Ponte dei Prati (today Pontinvrea), Casteldelfino (a locality which once stood between Pontinvrea and Giovo Ligure) and Stella, while the latter had Ponzone, Sassello, Spigno Monferrato, Celle and Varazze.

In the following centuries their territory was disputed between the municipalities of Alessandria and Genoa, to which the Marquis had repeatedly sworn submission. The progressive fractionation of feudal property between different dynastic lines was the main cause of the decline of the Marquis of Bosco and Ponzone.

The powerful Marchesato del Bosco lasted until 1350. This date marked the passage under the dominion of the Lordship of Milan ruled by the Visconti.

On 18 October 1447, an epic battle took place where the French army and the Milanese duchy were clashed. The intervention of the groves favoured the victory of Colleoni, remembered for posteriors on a stone placed on the walls of the Sforzesco Castle in Milan underlining the value and faithfulness of the people of Bosco.

In the Autumn of 1499 he was infeuded to Francesco Bernardino I Visconti (1458–1504), Lord of Brignano (Bergamo).

Bosco gave birth to Antonio Michele Ghislieri, who became Pope with the name of Pius V.

He passed to the Savoy in 1713.

The gonfalone is a drape party of green and white.

Inhabitants registered^[6]