 On 8 May 663 AD the town was the scene of a battle between the Byzantine army of Constans II and the Lombard army of Romuald I of Benevento, son of Grimoald I and duke of Benevento.According to legend, St. Michael made an apparition in this battle on the side of the Lombards.After this crushing defeat, Constans retired to Naples and gave up his attempts to expel the Lombards from south Italy.