With the name of Aesernia was the capital of the Samnites, and in 263 Rome established a colony here, a key communication center between Southern Italy and the inner Appennine Regions. During the Social Wars against Rome, the Italic League established here their capital after abandoning their previous capital Corfinio. It was a Roman “municipium” and its inhabitants enjoyed Roman citizenship. In 800 it was destroyed by the Saracens, then sacked in 1199 by Marcovaldo, Count of Molise, then set on fire in 1223 by the soldiers of Frederick II. In 1519 it was freed from the feudal servitude by king Charles V and became a free city. Massive destruction was caused by earthquakes in 847, 1349, 1456 and 1805. During the Second World War, in September 1943 Allied air bombings destroyed over half city, killing one third of the population.
Its patron saint is San Pietro Celestino, born Pietro Angelieri in the vicinity of Isernia, whose feast is on 19 May.
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