When the land tax was introduced into Italy in 292, the first region of Augustus obtained the name of _provincia Campania_. Later on the name Latium entirely disappeared, and the name Campania extended as far as Veii and the Via Aurelia, whence the medieval and modern name Campagna di Roma. The donation made by Constantine to various churches of Rome of numerous estates belonging to the _patrimonium Caesaris_ in the neighbourhood of Rome was of great historical importance, as being the origin of the territorial dominion of the papacy. His example was followed by others, so that the church property in the Campagna soon became considerable; and, owing to the immunities and privileges which it enjoyed, a certain revival of prosperity ensued. The invasions of the barbarian hordes did great harm, but the formation of centres (_domuscultae_) in the 8th and 9th centuries was a fact of great importance: the inhabitants, indeed, formed the medieval militia of the papacy. Smaller centres (the _colonia_--often formed in the remains of an ancient villa--the _curtis_ or _curia_, the _castrum_, the _casale_) grew up later. We may note that, owing to the growth of the temporal power of the popes, there was never a _dux Romae_ dependent on the exarchate of Ravenna, similar to those established by Narses in the other districts of Italy.