French Piedmont
1695. Thesaurus geographicus a new body of geography by Abel Swall and Tim. Child.
French PIEDMONT, Pedemontium Gallicum.
That Part of Piedmont, which is now possess'd by the French, lies between Piedmont Proper, and the Valleys of the Vaudois, containing these Places of chief Note, Viz.
- ...PIGNEROL.
- ...Perusa.
- ...Briqueras.
PIGNEROL, Pinarolium, call'd Pinarolo by the Italians, is a well fortify'd Town, and a Place of very great importance, as situated at the foot of the Alpes, near the River Cluso, or Chiso, on the very Borders of the Province of Dauphiné, and secur'd with a strong Castle on a Hill that commands all the adjacent Valleys; 20 Miles almost South-west of Turin, 43 almost East Ambrun, 68 North of Nice, 57 nigh West of Casal, 94 almost East of Grenoble, and 350 South-east of Paris. Within its Walls are enclos'd divers fair Churches, and Religious Houses. The Citadel is as well naturally fortify'd as by Art, being built on a Rock; and its other Bulwarks are very regular. This Town formerly depended on the Dominions of the Duke of Savoy, and serv'd as an Inheritance for the Younger Sons of that Illustrious Family, until it was taken by the French Forces under the Conduct of Armand John du Plessis, Cardinal of Richlieu, A. D. 1630. Afterward Duke Victor Amadeo sold it, together with the Fort and Valley of Perusa, wherein stood ten or twelve other Towns and Villages, viz. Riva, Baudenasco, Bunasco, &c. to Lewis XIII. for the Summ of 494000 Crowns, to remain for ever under the Propriety and Sovereignty of the Kings of France: Whilst this Monarch, on the other hand, besides the said Summ of Money resign'd to the Duke the City of Alba, in the Dutchy of Montferrat, together with the adjacent Territories, conformably to the Articles of a Private Treaty, which was concluded by the subtil Artifices of Cardinal Richlieu at Cherasco, on the 31st. day of March, in the Year 1631.
There is a Fort call'd St. Brigide, which has Communication with the Citadel, by a cover'd way, and certain subterraneous Passages. The present Duke of Savoy, at the Head of the Confederate Forces, took it, in the Year 1693; and soon after demolish'd it, for want of Success: For His Royal Highness, instead of vigorously carrying on the Siege of the Town and Citadel, thought fit to engage Catinat, the French General, who lay encampt with 12 or 14000 Men between the Mountains of Fenestrelle and Bossa, 7 or 8 Leagues North-west of Pignerol: but having march'd so far, they perceiv'd they could not come at him; so that after much time lost, they went back and open'd the Trenches before Pignerol, in September. In the mean while, Catinat's Army being re-inforc'd with several Detachments out of Germany and Catalonia, the Confederates rais'd the Siege, blew up the Fortress of St. Brigide, and set forward to meet him near the Village Orbessan, in the Plain of Marseillane. The Battle was fought on the 4th. of October, 1693, with great Courage and Resolution on both sides: but at last, the Left Wing of the Confederate Army being over-power'd by the numerous Forces of the French, His Royal Highness commanded a Retreat, which was accordingly executed in very good Order. The French indeed gain'd the Victory, yet was their Loss greater than that of the Confederates; for their Army, which, before the Battle, consisted of 36000 Men, was, by their own Confession, reduc'd to 30000. That of the Duke of Savoy's amounted to 22000, of whom 5500 were only wanting, viz. 1500 of the Emperor's Troops, as many of His Majesty's of Great-Britain and His Royal Highness's Forces, and 2500 of the Spaniard's.
Briqueras, or Briquerasco, Briquerascum, is a considerable Borough, with a good Castle, about 4 or 5 Leagues from Pignerol, famous for the Sieges it sustain'd towards the end of the last Century, M. de Lesdiguieres, since Constable of France, took it, about the Year 1592, and caus'd it to be well fortify'd. Charles Emanuel, Duke of Savoy, at first, in vain, attempted to recover it, but afterward found means to get it into his possession: For having made Preparations, during a Truce agreed upon, he besieg'd the Place, at the expiration of it, in 1694, with an Army of 10000 Men, and 18 Pieces of Artillery. The Burrough was taken by Assault; and the Castle having endur'd 8000 Cannon-shot, that made 5 Breaches, surrender'd on Composition, Octob. the 24th. Briqueras hath been likewise noted, during the Wars of Piedmont, in 1629. 1630, and 1631, and is at present possess'd by the French.