(the modern Reggio), an ancient Greek city in Italy, was situated on the Sicilian straits, at the end of the Brutian peninsula. The town seems to have been in existence before the historical period, but its importance did not begin till the eighth century B.C. A colony from Chalcis, along with some exiles from Messenia, then settled in it, and commenced to form themselves gradually into a regular corporation. The government was placed in the hands of a council consisting of 1000 Messenians. The laws of Charondas of Catana were afterwards adopted as a constitution. In course of time the state was so consolidated as to be able to extend its sovereignty over the small towns in the neighbourhood. The prosperity of Rhegium, however, received a still greater stimulus after Anaxilas had established a tyranny in 494 B.C. Its foreign policy became more decidedly aggressive. Zancle, on the opposite side of the strait was subdued, and under the name of Messana, was made a colony of the Messenians. The promontory of Scyllaeum was fortified and turned into a naval station. The command of the straits was thus effectually maintained against the Tyrrhenian pirates. At the same time, the state enjoyed great internal order. The tyrant Anaxilas and the regent Micythus ruled in succession with great justice and moderation. It was not until the accession of the two sons of Anaxilas that the people became turbulent, and, rising in rebellion, overthrew the monarchy in 461 B.C. In 399 B.C. a long course of severe disaster began to befall Rhegium. Dionysius the Syracusan tyrant, enraged at its opposition to his schemes of conquest, doomed it to destruction. Every attempt to avert his vengeance, both by force and negotiation, was ultimately unsuccessful. In 387 B.C. he starved it into capitulation, massacred or sold the inhabitants, and levelled the houses with the dust. It is true that the city was shortly afterwards rebuilt, and regained, in course of time, a great part of its prosperity; but it was only to meet with another calamity. In 280 B.C., alarmed at the successes of Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, the citizens applied to the Romans for assistance. The request was granted, and 4000 Campanians were sent to garrison the town. These ruthless soldiers had not been long there before they rose against the inhabitants. They slew all the men, fortified themselves within the town, and were not reduced till ten years afterwards. During the subsequent period of ancient history, Rhegium, though still retaining its importance, continued subject to foreign dominion. As long as Rome was supreme in Italy, it acknowledged the sway of that city. After the dismemberment of the empire it passed through the hands of various conquerors, until it was taken and made a part of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies by Robert Guiscard in 1060. (See REGGIO.)