Editing Merano (section)

===Origin===
[[File:Karte der Umgebung von Meran.jpg|thumb|left|Historical map of the city and surrounding area (1888)]]

The area has been inhabited since the third millennium BC, as shown by the presence of [[menhir]]s and other finds. The story of the city proper began in 15 BC when the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] occupied the [[Adige]] valley founding a road station, ''Statio Maiensis''.

The settlement was first mentioned in an 857 deed as ''Mairania''. The Counts at [[Castle Tyrol]] elevated Merano to the status of a [[German town law|city]] during the 13th century and made it the capital of their [[County of Tyrol]]. After the county had been handed over to the [[House of Habsburg|Habsburg dynasty]] in 1363 upon the abdication of [[Margaret, Countess of Tyrol]], in 1420 Duke [[Frederick IV, Duke of Austria|Friedrich IV]] of [[Duchy of Austria|Austria]] moved the Tyrolean court to [[Innsbruck]]. Though Merano remained the official capital until 1848, it subsequently lost its predominant position and almost all its importance as an economic hub across the roads connecting Italy and Germany. The important mint was also moved to [[Hall in Tirol]] in 1477.<ref>https://www.muenze-hall.at/en/COINING/MUeNZ-AUFTRAGSPRAeGUNG {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>