An old word for SapphireTelese was an ancient Samnite city, known as Telesia. The city was captured by Hannibal in 217 BCE; later, Scipio founded a Roman colony there. Having fallen into decay after the Gothic War it was conquered by the Lombard, becoming part of the Duchy of Benevento as seat of gastaldry. The city was destroyed in the years 847 and 860, by the Saracens, and again in the 11th century, during the war between Roger II of Sicily and the Norman counts of the southern Italy mainland. A new Telesia was built: however, it was again pulverized in 1349, this time by an earthquake.