Franconia

Sources from old books

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

THE DVKEDOME OF FRANCONIA. (Book Franconia)

• 1.1THuringia a Countrie of high Germanie being thus described, there followeth next Franconia or East France. Which was so called from the Frenchmen. Some say that the originall of this name came from Francus, whom others call Francio, fabulously supposed to bee the sonne of Hector, and the first founder of this Nation. And Peter Ronsard the Poet writeth, that the auncients did call him Astyanacta Francum, as it were Hastigerum, that is, the speare-bearer. Others, as Gaguinus and Aeneus Pius, doe affirme that the Emperour Valentine gave that name to Franconia, because the Frenchmen in the Northerne Language where called fierce; or from the remission of tribute, and their freedome, they were called Franci, that is, Free-men. Albeit I doe more approve of a latter Etymologie, that they were called Franci, as it were Frioncy, because they were free from taxes and impositions which •y signifies; or else they were so called, as it were fry¦ansi Fransi; for Ansi being a word proper to the Gothish speech, doth signifie those who excell others in fortune and riches. And are next to Heroes or Semigods, that are above the condition of mortalls: whence they corruptly call Great Noble men Ansos, and with an aspiration Hansos. But to the matter; the Frenchmen after they grew wealthy, and weary of the Romane yoke of subjection, encouraged by the desire of rule, got their liberty, and thereby gained the name of Franci, insteed of the old name of Germaines. Fronconia on the South is neere to Suevia and Bavaria, on the West to the Rhene, on the East it hath Bohemia; on the North it hath Hassia and Thuringia. The ayre of this Countrie is pure and wholesome. The Country it selfe, except it be that part which is called Norica and is neere unto the Rivers, is not very sandy, as Aeneas Silvius writeth, nor yet very stony. But it is generally very fruitefull, and doth yeeld a great increase of Barly, Wheate, and all kinde of graine and pulse which is sowed there. There are no where greater and better Turnips and Onions than heere in this Countrie. And in many places there are hills planted with Vines, of which excellent wine is made, & transported to other Countries. The Country of Babenberg, doth yeeld such great store of Liquerize that whole Cart loades of them are carried through Germanie. This Country also hath many faire Orchards and pleasant meddowes; it hath great store of tame Cattle and wilde beasts. The Princes doe cherish the wilde beasts, who have many Dens in the Woods, where they live in the winter time, and doe house themselves as it were from the stormie weather. It is not lawfull for any private man to take them, or hunt them. It is manifest that the Germanes were originally and aunciently called Germanes as appeares by others writings, as also out of Procopius Caesariensis, who was a sharpe sighted and judicious writer. The first Prince of Franconia was Genebaldus, who was governour thereof thirtie yeares. After him there succeeded Marcomirus, Dagobert, Ludovicke the first, Marcomirus the second, Waramund alias Pharamund, who being made King of France left his Dukedome to his brother Marcomer: also Prunmesser, Genebald the second, Suno, Luitemarus, Hugbalaus, Helmericus, Gotefrid, Genebald the third, Ludovick the third, after whom there followed Erebar•, Ludovicke the fourth, Gospert the second, and Hetacus the last Duke, who dying without an heyre, he left the Dukedome to Wituninus King of France, who was also called Pepin, which afterward his sonne Charles the Great, gave to Burchard the first Bishop of Viceburg, and to his successors after him, and so bestowed it on the Church, in the yeare 752. It is now a Dukedome which tittle the Bishop of Herbipolis assumeth to himselfe. Yet all Franc•nia is not subject unto him. For Kitzinga and Bristadium are subject to the Marquesse of Brandenburg, and Gralingiacum to the Bishop of Babenberg. Also Chronacum, Forchimium, Staphelsteinium, •ochstadium are under the bishop of Herbipolis. Koningspergum, Oxenfordia, Carolastadium, Hasfordia, and Bischofsheim, Alderburg, Middleburg, and some other townes are subject to the Bishop of Moguntinum. Colburg belongeth to the Duke of Saxonie. Wirceburg; which Conradus Corta calleth Erebipolis, Ligurinus Herbipolis, Spanhemius Marcopolis, Ptolemaeus, Artaunum, and the inhabitants Wirtzburg, from a sweete kinde of wort or drinke, which the Countrie of Herbipolis doth yeeld: is the Metropolis and Mother Cittie of East France, in which Boniface Archbishop of Moguntinum in the yeare of Christ 751 erected a Bishopricke. It is situated on a plaine, being encompassed on every side with faire hills, pleasant gardens, and fruitefull Meddowes, and also well fortified with ditches, rampires, walls, Towers, and Bulwarkes. It is full of Cittizens, and hath many faire buildings. On the West Moenus runneth by it, which is a navigable River, and it hath a stone bridge standing over it, which is built on strong piles. Neere the River Moenus there is a Castell seated on the Mountaine, which hath held out many seiges, and therefore seemes to be impr•gnable. At the foote of the Mountaine there is a Monasterie; which was built by Burchard, at the cost and charges of Cumbert King of France, in honour of the great confessor. But it would not bee much from our present purpose, to know the forme and order of the inauguration and consecration of the Bishops and Dukes of Wirceburg. After the decease of the former Bishop, the Bishop that is designed entreth into the Cittie with a great troupe of horse. Being come into the Cittie he alighteth from his horse, and having put off his richest roabe, foure Earles doe bring him into our Saviours Church, or house, bare headed, and barefooted, in a poore weede or habit, girt about with a little cord. The officiall Earles are the Lords of Hennenbergh, Castel, Werthein, and Reineck. Then the Deane together with the Clergie goeth forth to meete him, and asketh him what he seekes? or what hee desireth? And then he answereth very submissively, That though unworthy he is now ready to take upon him that office, unto which he was chosen, and to discharge it faithfully. Then the Deane saith; In the name of the Chapter I doe here commit unto thy charge the house of the Saviour of the world, and the Dukedome annexed to it, in the Name of the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy Ghost. Afterward he followeth the Clergie into our Saviours house, and having put on the Pontificall roabe, he first heares Masse, and afterward hath a banket, but first the body of the Bishop deceased is emboweld and set downe in the Chappell of the Castle: and his heart being tooke out is put in a glasse vessell. The next day he is brought out of the Castle into Saint Iames his Monasterie, holding in his right hand a Crozier, and in his left a sword; the third day they goe againe to our Saviours house, where after Dirges and prayer, he is at last buried with a Crozier and a sword. The other Citties are that which Ptolemie calls Bamberg; Peter Appianus calleth it Granionarium, and Granionarion in a Greeke booke: it was at first called Balemberg, that is, the Mountaine of Baba, from Baba the daughter of Otto Duke of Saxome, and wife to Albert Earle of Babemberg: others doe call this Cittie Psawenberg; it is a very pleasant Cittie, situated by the River Regnuz. It hath many Mountaines, Hills, and Gardens, and a very fruitfull soyle, where great store of Musmillians and Liquerize doe grow. It is an Episcopall Seate; and as it hath bread many happy wits, so it glorieth chiefely in Ioachim Camerarius a man famous for all kind of learning, as appeareth by his workes set out by him, which are read with much admiration. There is also Francosort, or Francoford, by the River Moene, which is commonly called Franck Furtam Mayn, to distinguish it from the other Franckofort which is situated by Odera. Munster writeth that it was heretofore called Helenopolis, but he doth not shew when or from whence it was so called. Henry Stephanus calleth it in his Emconion of this Cittie, the Academie of the Muses, the Athens of Franckford, the Muses Mercuriall Faires, and the Compendium or Epitome of all the Marts of the world. This Cittie is divided into two parts by the River Moenus, and joyned together againe with a stone Bridge. It is now an Emperiall Cittie, and famous through the whole world for two Marts or Faires. Heere the Electors doe chuse the Romaine Emperours, and if there be competitors that stand for the Empire, they doe here sight for it, and try it by battell. There is also Moguntia commonly called Mentz, some call it Moguntiacum. Ptolomie Lib. 2. cap. 8. tab. 3. calls it Neomagum. Moguntia is so called from the River Maenus, which some doe call Moganus and others Mogus. It is an Episcopall and Metropolitan Cittie. It hath a fruitefull soyle on either side of the River Rhene, which yeeldeth great store of wine. It is large and well fortified, and very populous on that side which is toward Rhe••▪ but on the other side it hath few inhabitants; it is very long but narrow. There are faire houses built after the Romane fashion, and magnificent Collegiate Churches, with the Bishops Castle. Here was an Vniversity erected by Bishop Theodoricke, and it is thought that the Art of Printing was invented here. It is subject to the Archbishop who is elector, and Chanceller of the Empire. There is also Mons Regius commonly called Conigsperg, where Iohn de Monte Regio, a great Mathematician was borne, whose Commentaries upon Ptolomies Almagest are yet extant. Schweinfordia is situated by the River Moene in the middle almost of Franconia. There are also Kitzinga, and Fridberg an Imperiall Cittie, and others. Moreover the first Circle of the Empire is in Franconia, in which these are called to Councell, first the Clergie, as the Bishops of Bamberg, of H•rbipolis, of Wirtzburg Duke of Franconia, of Eichstett; der Teutsch Ordens Master: the Provost of Camberg, the Abbot of Saint Gilgen: Secondly the secular Princes, as the Marquesse of Brandenburg, Burgervom Nurenberg: the Countes of Hennonberg, of Castel, of Wertheim, of Rhemecke, of Hohenloe: the Lords of Reichelsperg, and Limpurg; and the Countes of Horpach and Schwartzenburg: Thirdly the free Citties, as Norunberg, Rottenburg, Winshaim, and Schweinfurt. Many Rivers which be full of fish doe water this Country, the chiefe whereof are Moenus, and Sala accompanied with eight lesser Rivers: also Sinna, Rhadiantia, A•stus, Tubera, and some other. It hath these woods, Speshart, Ottoes wood, and other parts of Hercinia, which doe enclose it as it were round about with a growing wall. It is a warlike Nation, Noble, witty, and laborious. Men and women doe both plant Vines, so that none are suffered to be idle.