On December 5, 1456, the largest earthquake to occur on the Italian Peninsula in historical times struck the Kingdom of Naples.

The earthquake had an estimated moment magnitude of Mw  7.19–7.4, and was centred near the town of Pontelandolfo in the present-day Province of Benevento, southern Italy.

Earning a level of XI (Extreme) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale, the earthquake caused widespread destruction in central and southern Italy.

[1] The central Italian Peninsula is dominated by active extensional tectonics, forming the Apennine Mountains.

One explanation is that slab rollback is occurring within the Adriatic plate as it subducts beneath the Tyrrhenian Sea.

[2] Extensional tectonics in the region have been active since the Pliocene epoch, mainly accommodated by northwest–southeast striking normal faults.

[3] The faults associated with large earthquakes on the peninsula are geologically young in age, and rarely rupture the surface.

Based on studying the macroseismic effects two hypotheses were postulated;[7] the occurrence of one large mainshock, or three distinct shocks closely-spaced in time.

Based on evaluating the reported intensities of the December 30 event, its magnitude is estimated to be no greater than Mw  7.2.

Devastation was reported in five of the twenty regions of Italy; Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Apulia, and Basilicata; while some damage occurred in Lazio and Calabria.

[12] The area of devastation was unusually large compared to most earthquakes in Italy; thought to be caused by the occurrence of multiple ruptures.

[13] The meizoseismal area stretched for nearly 180 km (110 mi), assigned X–XI (Extreme), where destruction of structures occurred.

Documentation of heavy destruction in Samnium and the Campania Plain might be due to conflicting reports of the previous event.

[1] Four areas of extreme damage were identified by scientists at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology; in the upper Pescara river valley (Tocco da Casauria, Popoli and Torre de' Passeri); northern Matese (Bojano and Isernia); Samnium and Irpinia; and the Monte Vulture region.

A metrical inscription by Bishop Orso Leone placed in the Ariano Cathedral numbered the dead at a thousand.

[18] The towns of Acquaviva, Apice, Biccari, Campobasso and Casalduni suffered massive destruction or were totally destroyed.

He would only return to Naples in early February 1457, where he declined tax exemption requests by survivors in the affected towns.