Sette Comuni

The Sette Comuni (Cimbrian: Siben Komoin, German: Sieben Gemeinden) are seven comuni that formed a Cimbrian enclave in the Veneto region of north-east Italy. The area is also known as the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni or Asiago Plateau, and it was the site of many battles during World War I. The most important comune is that of Asiago, for which Asiago cheese is named. Cimbrian, a dialect of Upper German, was the native tongue, and the area was ethnically and culturally distinct from the surrounding comuni.[1] The Sette Comuni are located in mountainous territory, ranging from 500 to 2300 metres above sea level.

Aeral view
Flag of the Sette Comuni

Not to be confused with Tredici Comuni.

Comuni
Comune Cimbrian German Inhabitants Altitude (m) Notes
AsiagoSléghe/SchlègeSchlägen65331001
EnegoGhenébe/JenèveJeneve1927800
FozaVüsche/VütscheFütze7311083
GallioGell(e)/GhèlGelle23311093
LusianaLusaanLusian2833752
RoanaRobàanRovan or Rain4245994
RotzoRotzRoss620938
ConcoKunken2252830the "eighth comune", a frazione of Lusiana until 1796
  • Altopiano of the Sette Comuni
    Altopiano of the Sette Comuni
  • Coats of arms of the Sette Comuni on the municipal hall of Sleghe.
    Coats of arms of the Sette Comuni on the municipal hall of Sleghe.

History
The plateau of the Sette comuni in a map of Giandomenico Dall'acqua of the Territory of Vicenza, 17th century

The seven comuni formed into a loose commonwealth in 1310. They were historically under the suzerainty of the Milanese House of Visconti and then under the Republic of Venice. Under both they enjoyed wide cultural and political autonomy in exchange for their loyalty. This autonomous status came to an end with the Napoleonic Wars and the demise of the Serenìsima in 1807.

World War I
See also: Battle of Asiago

During the First World War the territory was located along the border between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Many battles took place here between 1915 and 1918 (the most important one was the battle of Asiago). Almost all the towns were completely destroyed by the war.

  • Asiago destroyed during World War I
    Asiago destroyed during World War I
  • Austro-Hungarian soldiers in the woods of the Sette Comuni (Mount Zebio)
    Austro-Hungarian soldiers in the woods of the Sette Comuni (Mount Zebio)

Cimbrian
Map of north-east Italy showing where Cimbrian is spoken

Cimbrian has gone extinct in most of the comuni. Only in Robàan and its district of Mittebald/Toballe (Mittewald, Mezzaselva) has Cimbrian survived.

Robàan is home to the Agustin Prunner Cultural Institute, which is a repository of the Cimbrian culture and cooperates with other linguistic enclaves in Lusern, Fersental, Sappada, Sauris, the Thirteen Communities and Timau. Vestiges of the language are found in family and place names, which are mostly still Cimbrian.

See also

References
  1. l'Altopiano di Asiago e la Spettabile Reggenza dei Sette Comuni (in Italian). magicoveneto.it. Accessed September 2013.


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