According to tradition, the city was founded, not far from the site of ancientMedma by Greek fugitives fromMiletus (Miletos in Greek; hence the name) inAnatolia, which had been destroyed byDarius.
Simon's brother and successorRoger II was born here in 1095. He began his rule as Count of Sicily in 1105 and later became Duke of Apulia and Calabria in 1127. He became the firstKing of Sicily in 1130.
Mileto suffered from numerous earthquakes, especially from those of 1905 and 1906, and, although in a less degree, from that of 28 December 1908, which destroyed Reggio and Messina.
