Dawn of prehistory of Campania, in north-eastern edge of the vast and fertile plain crossed by the Volturno and Clanis, stood small villages, most likely inhabited by a branch of the Indo families designated by historians as the Latin-siculo, decreased in Italy the Bronze Age, ie OPIC mentioned tradition. Between the ninth and the eighth century. BC, there are two events of exceptional scope for the development of indigenous chora: the first visits of the Etruscans and the Greek colonization. Begins so that the cultural syncretism that lead to the formation dell'ethnos campano, beginning now to outline the spiritual and material structures which will be divided the political, economic and social history of Campania.

But while the Greeks were limited to influence people with their pre-existing advanced civilizations, the Etruscans were intended to settle permanently in the area, founding the city and having a real hegemony politica.In this is the foundation of Capua, attributed to the Etruscans agreed but, as at the time, the tradition has reported two dates distantissime (800 and 471 BC), the first of which was confirmed by archaeological discoveries, but it is possible that the process of urbanization has been long or that there has been a re etrusca around the VII-VI sec., which date back to the urban plan, the city wall, the name, political, economic and religious.

Etruscan domain to put the Samnites term, population-insurance-osco-umbro Sabellico from inland areas of the region, which conquered or, indeed, invaded the city in reducing their power between 438 and 424 BC Involved in the Samnite Wars (343-295 BC), the city ended up into the Roman political system and, although she was granted civitas sine suffragio tried several times to secede from Rome, in a sensational during the Second Punic War, when after Cannes (216 BC) Hannibal winner welcomed and married the cause, in the belief that his victory would have ensured the hegemony sull'Italia central. However, the lack of success of Hannibal also dragged into the ruin that Capua, regained by the Romans after a long and dramatic siege (211 BC), was punished with a reduction in the prefecture and the forfeiture of property in much of the ager. In 73 a.C. they left, led by Spartacus, and servile war in 59 BC Giulio Cesare concluded a colony there. Under Augustus, assumed the title of Colonia Julia Augusta Felix and, throughout the imperial period, was welcome by the principles, especially by Adriano, reported that the ancient splendor, and Constantine, who had built the first Christian basilica (320 AD). In those days, had walls of 9 Km (in which were opening at least four ports), two holes, two theaters, a majestic amphitheater, circus, different thermal plants, a capitol and several temples, two suburban, i shrines of the Magna Mater and Diana Tifatina. Even in the fourth century. AD, for economic prosperity, by number of inhabitants and splendor of the buildings, Ausonio says cities of italy third and eighth of the whole Empire. Exposed to the attacks of the barbarians, was devastated by Alaric (410) and Genserico (455) and conquered by Odoacer (476) and Theodoric (493), after a brief period of imperial restoration under Justinian (553), the city fell into power of the Lombards (594), becoming the county employed by the Duchy of Benevento and its history stretches for about three centuries, a series of battles, conspiracies, devastation.

At one of these struggles unleashed by the succession of the Duchy of Benevento, a band of Saracens, and Radelca out to be controlled by the Berber Halfun, plundered and destroyed Capua (841), forcing most people to move with the name and the signs to the fortress where Casilinum river port, using materials of, founded the new Capua.
On the site emulates the city of Rome, went slowly rebuilding around Christian churches, several houses in the service of Capua who, reflourished over the centuries a new life, took the names of S. Maria Maggiore, S. Peter Body, S. Erasmo in Capitolio, they later joined St. Andrea of Lagni. For the first Longobards succeeded the Normans (1134), then the Swabians (1195) and the Angevins (1268). Acquired particular importance, in this dynasty, the house of S. Maria Maggiore, which incorporated the S. Erasmo, Roberto beloved by the king, who was born precisely in the summer royal residence of the Tower. Aragoneses had considerable interest in that house, moved by devotion to the Virgin Mary, venerated in the Basilica of the most majestic city, founded by Simmaco V secolo.Dopo in a very dark period, corresponding to the Spanish-Habsburg rule (1516-1738), with the advent of the Bourbons, the city took advantage of the construction of the monumental palace of Caserta, which gave strategic importance and logistics. It was chosen as a military stronghold to defend the area west of the proposed development area which insisted on the great work Vanvitelliana and, consequently, called Italian travelers and foreigners who, in addition to the royal residence, visited the ruins of Precious' old town bell, which is now designated S. Maria di Capua, where the first archaeological excavations were taking out precious artefacts. Beginning of, designated the Joseph Bonaparte and Joachim Murat Intendenza there fixed the seat of the courts (1808). His adherence to liberal ideals culminated in 1860, received elated when Garibaldi's troops on the eve of the battle of the Volturno, which sanctioned the purchase of Southern and allowed the political unification of the peninsula. During the period postunitaria, assumed its present name, lived in an atmosphere of tranquility and economic prosperity thanks to the industriousness of its people and the competence of its directors.  

After the age Umbertine disputes between learned, illusions and disappointments, the new century saw the birth in S. Mary of the first socialist circle founded by the province. Indigo Antonio and the beginning of a long period of struggle until the outbreak of World War I, which fell about three hundred Samaritans. The non-desired victory put an end to political and social struggles, which led nell'avvento to power of fascism, in which S. Mary was guided by the mayor Pasquale Fratta, administrator appreciated by all for moral and competence. World War II, finally, that cost the city ruins and grief, did not fail to shine noble examples of heroism and sacrifice from both sides, like those of Roberto Salvi, Vito Romano, Armando Mastroianni.
In the postwar years the city has had a development not unlike that of other centers of medium-sized South, somewhat chaotic and sometimes coarse, but has kept a discreet charm to the testimonies of its past, visible in the ruins of the Campanian and the arch of Hadrian, in mitreo, in the basilica of St. Maria Maggiore, in the monuments to the fallen, in the squares and streets, which the great archaeologist Amedeo Maturi, around the fifties, remembered for their amazing symmetry and vitality, history trimillenaria of the city.