Turin

A large city of Italy, capital of Piedmont, at the confluence of the Dora-Susina with the Po, 79 miles west-southwest from Milan. The foundation of Turin is generally attributed to a colony of Transalpine origin called Taurini, or Taurisci. Shortly after Hannibal cro ed the Alps, he made himself master of the territory in which it is situated; but after his expulsion from Italy, the Romans resumed po e ion and converted Turin into a colony, which took the name of Coloni a Julia . This name was afterwards changed into that of August a Taurinorum . It was taken and sacked by the Goths under Alaric. To ward off similar disasters, it was shortly after surrounded by walls, but did not escape the ravages of the Longobards. Charlemagne, into whose hands it subsequently pa ed, bestowed it as feudal tenure on its bishops. In 1418 (1416) it was declared by Amadeo V. the capital of the states of Savoy, and ultimately rose to be the capital of the whole Sard in i an states. The French besieged this city; but Prince Eugène defeated their army, and compelled them to raise the siege, September 7, 1706. In 1798, the French republican army took po e ion of Turin, seized all the strong places and arsenals of Piedmont, and obliged the king and his family to remove to the island of Sardinia. In 1799 the French were driven out by the Austrians and Ru ians; but shortly afterwards the city and all Piedmont surrendered to the French. In 1814, it was delivered up to the allies, who restored it to the king of Sardinia.