Rocca Priora occupied the area of the oldLatin town ofCorbium; here several battles, described by ancient historians, were fought by Italic peoples.
After the destruction ofTusculum in 1191, the population increased. In the 14th century theSavelli family rose to prominence in the area, afterPope Sixtus V endorsed Rocca Priora as a feudal possession for them. They held the town and its castle until the 17th century, apart from two short periods in 1436–47 and in the early 16th century, when it went toCesare Borgia. According to some sources, the town was destroyed byRenzo da Ceri's troops during the conflict between PopeClement VII and theColonna, and by theimperial troops in the wake of theSack of Rome (1527).
After a period as a direct Papal rule, it was sold in part to theRospigliosi family, who held it until 1870, when it became a commune as part of the newly formedKingdom of Italy.
