Ways to faith in Valtellina
History
Before the rise and the spread of Christianity to the lands of Valtellina, important ways of communication had been opened towards Italy, the Roman Empire at the time , and towards the center of continental Europe.
What , even then, seemed complex was how to overcome the Alps.
Back in Roman times there were important passes and some of them are close to or in the territory of Valtellina.
They are: the Maloja, the Spluga , the Julia, the Seventh and the Lucomagno passes which connected the area of Milan to Chur and Bregenz and Lake Constance with the lands of the REZIA province .
These early passes are important commercially and politically.
This importance remained for many centuries, throughout the period of the Christianization of Valtellina and Chiavenna, which began at the end of the third century AD and continued through the Middle Ages.
Only during this time, due to the fall of the Roman Empire, more attention was paid to the passes and the protection of transalpine routes; castra, or fortified towns of Comum (Como), Clavenna, Curia (Chur) were built.
The Valtellina, already influenced by Roman culture, had a extra boost of Romanization, partly due to the gradual spread of Christianity.
Bishop Ambrose was sent to Como in 386, only in 451 Chur had its on Episcopalian seat.
In the early decades of the sixth century, a war between the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines, heirs to the Eastern Empire of Rome, broke out in Italy to recover the direct rule over the lands.
The Byzantines won and their influence extended to North, up to the lands of Valtellina.
But they had to give up Rezia to the Franks, who wandered from the north to the Alps and took advantage of their own thanks to the events of the war.
In 534 the region, under the name of Rezia curiense , appears as a border province with Alamanni pupulation, the Germanic people from the valley of the Danube who were moving southwards.
All data confirm that the French control over the Rhaetian region was bland and gave wide autonomy to the inhabitants: in the VI century Latin was still spoken in Bregenz, in the region of Lake Constance population continued to be mainly Roman.
A frank dux had the military command, while the civil government praeses or Governor, was naturally chosen by acclamation of the members from the Vittoridi family.
The people and the clergy usually chose the bishop.
During these centuries Rezia was a island of Roman civilization in the heart of the Alps.