Mantua

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

THe Dukedome of Mantua is so named from the Citty Mantua. It was first governed by the Thuscians, who built this Citty, after∣ward the French Cenomanian did governe it, after whom the Ro∣manes obtained it. It endured much misery under the Triumvirate. For when Cremona was left as a prey to the Conquerours, it lost a great part of his Territory by his vicinity and neighbour-hood unto it. Whence Virgil saith.

Mantuavae miserae nimium vicina Cremona. Mantua alas doth stand too nigh,Cremona opprest with misery.

There succeeded after the Romanes, the Gothes, and Langbards: who being expelled, it was reduced to the obedience of the Romane Empire, which afterward decaying, it got liberty with many other Citties, which it enjoyed, untill the Emperour Otho the second gave it to Theobald Earle of Canossaw. There succeeded after him his Sonne Boniface, and he dying without any Issue Male, his Wife Beatrix, and his Daughter Mathilde succeeded, who much enlarged Mantua. That Citty which Strabo and Ptolemy did call Mantua, is now called Mantoa. Divers have sundry opinions concerning the originall of this Citty. Howsoever, the originall is most ancient. It is seated in the middest of the Marshes, which the River Mincius flowing out of the Lake Be∣nacum doth make, neither can you goe unto it but by great high Bridges: hence in regard of the naturall situation it is accounted one of the strongest Citties of Italy. It is a faire Citty, adorned with magnificent publike and private buildings, and faire streets.