Editing Marsala (section)

===Post-Roman Period===
The city was the seat of the [[Diocese of Lilybaeum]] from at least the early 5th century AD. Ravaged by [[Vandals]] during the 5th century AD, the town was annexed in the 6th century to [[Justinian]]'s [[Byzantine Empire]]. In this period the town was struck by dysentery, raided by pirates, and neglected by [[Constantinople]]. The arrival of the [[Arabs]] at the nearby Granitola mount in the 8th century entailed the resumption of commerce and the start of the rebirth of the town. The town was renamed ''Marsa ʿAlī'' "ʿAlī's harbour" or maybe, ''Marsa ʿāliyy'', "Big harbour", for the width of the ancient harbour, placed near Punta d'Alga. Another possible derivation is ''Marsa Allāh'', "God's harbour".

Since the end of the 11th century, the area has been conquered by [[Italo-Normans|Norman]], [[Capetian House of Anjou|Angevin]] and [[Crown of Aragon|Aragonese]] troops. During this time, Marsala became wealthy, primarily through trade. However the blocking up of the harbour of Punta Alga, decreed by Emperor [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] so as to stop [[Saracen]] forays, brought an end to this period of prosperity.

The development of [[Marsala wine]] at the end of the 18th century, headed by English merchants settled in Sicily, considerably improved local trade. This triggered an economic expansion in Marsala, including the funding of infrastructure projects such as the current harbour of Margitello.

On 11 May 1860 [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]] [[Expedition of the Thousand|landed at Marsala]], beginning the process of [[Italian unification]].

On 11 May 1943, in the lead-up to the [[World War II]] [[Allied invasion of Sicily]], an Allied bombardment of the town permanently damaged its [[Baroque]] centre and claimed many victims: "Marsala Wiped Off the Map" titled the New York Times on 13 May 1943.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3018713/posts|title=TUNISIAN RESISTANCE ENDS IN ROUT OF GERMANS; GEN. VON ARNIM AND 150,000 MEN CAPTURED (5/13/43)|website=freerepublic.com}}</ref>