Region (pop., 2001 prelim.: 1,463,868), central Italy.
It covers an area of 3,743 sq mi (9,693 sq km) and is situated between the Adriatic Sea and the region of Umbria and crossed by the Apennines ; its only level land is along its river valleys and on the Adriatic shore near Ancona , its capital. Originally inhabited by Gauls and Picenes, it came under Roman rule by AD 292. During the early Middle Ages the southern part was ruled by the Lombards and the northern part by the Byzantines. Conflicts arose in 12th and 13th centuries with powerful feudal families and the attempt of the popes to reestablish their temporal authority; this culminated in 1631, when the duchy of Urbino was incorporated into the Papal States . Marche joined the Kingdom of Italy in 1860. An agricultural area, it has some industrial development.