Casino, Monte (or Monte-cassino)

Casino, Monte (Or Monte-Cassino)

is a celebrated abbey in Italy, founded by St. Benedict, and situated on a mountain immediately behind the city of Casino. It was here that St. Benedict established the order which bears the name of this place. The abbey of Monte Casino was destroyed by the Lombards in 580, when St. Benedict, the abbot, and all his monks escaped to Rome, and were lodged near the Lateran church. About 720 they were restored, under the abbot Petronax. In 884 the house was again destroyed by the Saracens, in 1046 by the Normans, and by the emperor Frederick in 1239. The Chronicle of Monte-Casino, published in 1603, comprehends all the memorable facts connected with the monastery and church, from 542 to 1136. It is in four books, the three first written by Leo of Ostia, the fourth by Peter the Deacon. SEE MONTE-CASSINO.