Stiria

Sources from old books

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

STIRIA, COMMONLY CALLED STIRMARCK, which was made a Dukedome by FREDERI OR BARBAROSSA. (Book Stiria)

In it there are many Countries, among the which is WARASDEN; by the River DRAVUS and LEBNAW, by the River MURA. (Book Stiria)

STIRIA commonly called Stirmarck, was without doubt so called from a Bull or Steere, to which opinion Aegidius Tschudus subscribeth: where he reporteth out of Pliny, that Caro doth affirme that the Lepontians and Salassians were of the Taurick Nation: but these Tauris∣cians were Frenchmen, who in the ancient French warres seated themselves beyond the Alpes, of which Polybius Lib. 2. of the French warre writeth thus. Those that are called the Transalpine French, doe dwell by the Alpes on either side of Mountaines, on that side which looketh Northward, and towards the River Rhodanus, but on that side which lyeth towards the plaine ground, there are the Tau∣riscians, the Agonians, and many other barbarous people, from whom the Transalpines are onely distinguisht by their different habitation▪ and therefore called Transalpines, because they live beyond the Mountaines. But after these Tauriscians departed hence, they sought themselves other habitations, and possessed the Country, which is now called the County of Goerts, and so comming into Stiria, they left their name unto that Country. For a Bull in the Germane language is called a Stier. And so they spred and dispersed themselves into Au∣stria, and Hungary. Some affirme that Stiria was heretofore called Va∣leria, in honour of Valeria the Daughter of Dioclesian, as Marcellinus doth report. Volateranus thinketh that it was called Iapidia: for so he writeth in the 8. Booke of his Geogr. The next unto this Iapidia, which they now call Styria, though Pope Pius thinketh it should bee called Valeria, by according to Rufus his description, doe thinke that Valeria should be rather called Croatia, betweene Danubius and Dravus. The last Marquesse was called Ottocarus, whose Daughter Lupold Duke of Austria married, who by the Emperour was made Duke of Stiria. Afterward his Line being extinct, the Governour of Hungary sent his Sonne to governe his Country, but hee living loosely, and having laid intolerable taxes and taxations on the Stirians, was droven out, and Ottocarus the King of Bohemias Son was called in, who did usurpe the Dukedome of Austria, and got Carinthia in the yeere of Christ 1269. but he could not keepe it long. For he grew so arrogant, that hee contemned the Emperour, and would not doe homage for the Lands which he held in Bohemia unto the Emperour Rudolphus Habsbur∣gius: the Emperour at Augusta called a Counsell of the Princes of Ger∣many, and citeth Ottacarus to appeare at his perill and to answere con∣cerning those Provinces of the Empire which he unjustly possessed, as also concerning his contempt against the Emperours Majesty. Otta∣carus laughs at the Citation: and sends no body to the Counsell to answer for him. In the meane time Embassadours being sent from the States of Austria, came to Augusta to the Emperour, and the Coun∣sell of Princes there assembled, and there having grievously complai∣ned before Caesar and the Princes of Ottocarus his injury and cruelty, they shewed that he had gotten Austria by an unjust Title: and that he had repudiated and divorced his lawfull wife Margarite, the Inhe∣retrix of Austria, and kept a Whore, and at length poysond his owne wife: and that he tooke away the lawfull Inheritance of Austria from Agnes Badensis, and her Daughter Elizabeth, with her Brother Henry: and that he had murderd many of the Noblemen in the Citty of Vi∣enna, and had butcherd many innocent people: and that hee had se∣cretly devided Austria, Stiria, Carniola, and the Marquiship of the Vin∣dorians, which were in the Emperours gift, and that hee might hold Austria by the ayde of a forraine power, and lay the yoke of servitude on the people, he did therefore revolt from the Empire and Caesar, &c. It was hereupon decreed by the Princes, that Embassadors should be sent to Bohemia. But they in stead of an answere giving reproachfull speeches to Caesar, and the Princes of the Empire, they decreed and agreed that Caesar should make warres against them, and should have their ayde therein. Hee having levied a great Army goeth into Au∣stria. On the other side Ottocarus marcheth forth with no lesse forces, but he doubting the event of the warre, and fearing Caesars wisedome and force, by the intercession of two Noblemen, made a peace with him, and restored back Austria, and did homage unto Caesar for Bohe∣mia, and the other Provinces which he held of him: and while he did his homage, he kneeled before the Emperour, and the whole Army, which matter being taken in dudgeon by his wife, and some factious spirits, they violated the peace, and entred Austria with a great Ar∣my. On the other side the Emperour Rodolphus marcheth forth with his Army of Germanes, and his auxiliarie Hungarian forces, and so joyning battle with Ottocarus not farre from the Towne Marcheccus, he overcame him, and slew him, afterward hee invaded Bohemia, and with fire and sword enforced the young man Wenceslaus the Sonne of the deceased Ottocarus to seeke peace, and prescribed him conditions according to his Imperiall pleasure. But hee made his eldest Sonne Albert Duke of Austria: and afterward by the common consent of the Princes of the Empire, hee was made Duke of Austria and Stiria. Stiria is distinguisht into the higher, by the turning of the River Mura, and the lower neere the confluence and meeting of Dravus and Mura, which is next unto the second Pannonia, or Hungarie, whence that place is called am Hungerischen. The chiefe Citties of Stiria are Bruga, by the River Mura, and also Grazium, Viana, commonly called Voytsperg, by the River Kaynacha. Also Wolspergum by the River Lavandus. March∣purg is a Metropolitan Citty on the left banke of the River Dravus, and on the same side there is Petovia, or the Petovian Colonie, where the Romane Legions were seated. Beyond the River is Warasinuns, which they call the Varian Castle, there is also Rachelspurg seated on the left banke of the River Mura, where the Country of Savaria be∣ginneth. In this Country also there is Cilia on the banke of the River Savus, which seemeth to be an ancient Citty, for there are many In∣scriptions of Romane names in it. The Townesmen say that it was built by Sulla, and that it was called Sullaces, but on no ground as Vo∣laterrarus saith. For perhaps it was that Citty, or built out of the ruines thereof, which Ptolemy placeth not farre from home, and calleth Celia. In the Dukedome of Styria there are more Counties, among which are Warasden, by the River Dravus, and also Lebnau, by the River Mura. Stiria is watered with these Rivers, Dravo, Lavanda, Sackan, Sulmo, Ray∣nacho, Mura, Martza, Arrabone, Veystritza, Lausintio, and infinite many Torrents, and Rivulets, which at length doe all runne into Danubius. Here are no particular Mountaines, for they are all called by one ge∣nerall name the Norician Alpes, whence they are called by the name of Alpes, as Rauch Alben, Subalben, Saw Alben, Schwaberger Alben. In the confines of Austria, Carinthia, and Stiria, there is the Mountaine Taurus. The Mountaine Gesacus doth hang over the River Mura, which is now commonly called Der Schockel, and Sattli, Mansenperg, Wemsperg, and neere unto the River Salzis it is called Ina Sawrussel, that is, os porcinum, or Hogs mouth, and Deifelsteig, that is, the Devils Praecipisse. Below the River Mura it is called in Gaistal, Stainperg, and Kainacher Alben: and somewhat lower are the Mountaines Kreiczpergus: and toward the East Radel and Plaitzperg. Beyond Dravus Southward is the Mountaine Claudius, which is now called Dracimperg. Vadianus relateth, that it was a current report at Vienna in Austria, that a Mountaine began to burne in Stiria, whereupon the Emperour Maximilian sent Messengers who found it to bee true. And it is probable that this hapned about the yeere of Christ 1520. at what time Vadianus writ thus much. More∣over the aforesaid Mountaines are every where clothed and crowned with woods. The Stirians are a rustick people, and some of them have such swellings about their necks, that it hindereth their speech, and women that give sucke doe cast it behinde their back, that it may not hinder their Children from sucking. Ortelius doth report that he saw at Frisachium, while he traveld from Vienna to Venice, in the yeere 1558. a man that had a Chin that was as broad as his shoulders, and it hung downe upon his breast. The Inhabitants doe thinke that the ayre and water are the cause of this swelling. The Stirians doe use the Germane speech and habit, except it be those that dwell by the River Dravus.