Arelatum

Sources from old books

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

The Kingdome of Arelatum. (Book Arelatum) THe Kingdome of Arelatum is so called from the Citie Arelatum. It containeth those Countries which lye betweene the Rivers Rho∣danus and the Alpes.* 1.1 And there are in this tract Sabaudia, Delphinatus or Daulphine, and Provincia. There are divers conjectures concerning the name of Sabaudia or Savoy; some derive it à Sabatiis vadis, from the Sa∣batican Fordes; others give it that name quasi Sabbatorum Pratum, which Volaterranus calleth Sabaudiensis Auwe, that is, the Sabaudian Land: some would have it called Savoy, quasi Saul voje, a way through Osiers and Willowes, or quasi Sauve Voye, that is, the safe way; which I know not who is feined to have made by fabulous Writers, as being before dangerous in regard it was full of theeves and robbers. Neere to Sa∣baudia on the North lyeth the Countrie of Burgundie,* 1.2 and Helvetia, ha∣ving the Lake Lemanus lying betweene them: On the East it hath Va∣lesia and Pedemontium, which have no certaine bounds, but that high Mountaines doe runne betweene them; and on the South and the West is Daulphine, with some part of Rhodanus, separating Sabaudia from the Dukedome of Burgundie. The Ayre of Sabaudia is pure, and the country is very mountainous.* 1.3 In the Valleyes and Plaines the Soyle is very pleasant and fruitfull, especially toward the North, neere the Lake Le∣manus, where it yeeldeth most excellent rich Wine, which is called Ri∣palium, from the banke of the Lake. The pastures doe bring up and feed all sorts of Cattell, and especially there where the lesser Mountaine of S. Bernard doth rise in heigth. The Metropolis or Mother-citie of Sa∣baudia is Chamberiacum commonly called Chamberri, in which there is a Parliament. The Citie is seated in a Vale, and encompassed round a∣bout with Mountaines. The Counties of Geneva, Morienne, and Taren∣tais, the Marquesate of Susa, and some other Signiories are described with Sabaudia as parts thereof: and lastly the Countrie of Bressa. The Countrey of Geneva Antoninus calleth Cenava. It is a very ancient s 1.4 City, seated by the Lake Lemanus, and divided in two parts, which stand upon the two bankes of the River Rhodanus, but joyned together by a wooden bridge, on both sides whereof there are houses, though the greater part of houses be toward the South, and the lesser toward the North. The Countrie of Morienne doth extend it selfe to the River Archus, where there is a faire Towne called S. Iean de Morienne. The Countie of Taren∣taise, is almost enclosed with the Alpes, and the Rivers Archus and Ara: It is so named from the Citie Tarantais, which the Inhabitants doe now call Moustier, the Germans Munster in Tartaansen, and the Latine Writers Munsterium. The Marqueship of Susa is so called from the Towne Susa, not farre from the head of the River Doria or Duria,* 1.5 which doth dis∣charge and exonerate it selfe into the River Padus, called by the Italians Po. There are also other Townes of Sabaudia, as Aiguebelle, Mont Belial, Bellay, Ni•y, Montmelian, Incilles, &c. Delphinatus followeth. Some would derive the name thereof à Castello Delphini, which is called in French Chasteau t 1.6 Dolphine. Provincia cleaveth unto it on the South, and Bresse on the North, the River Rhodanus running betweene them: on the West side is the Countie of Viennois, and on the East lyeth Pedemontium,* 1.7 and Sabaudia. The Archiepiscopall Cities heere, are Vienna and Ebro∣dunum. Strabo calleth Vienna the Metropolis of the Allobrogians, Ptolemie cals it the Mediterranean Citie of the Allobrogians:* 1.8 Stephanus calleth it Biennus, and it is commonly called Vienne. Ebrodunum Ptolemie cals Eborodunum, and Strabo Epebrodunum. It is a famous Towne of the Ca∣turigians of the maritime Alpes, which lye neere the Sea. Antoninus cal∣leth it Eburodunum, but in French it is called Ambrum. There are five Cities which have Bishops, Valentia, Dia, Gratianopolis, Augusta, and Vapingum. Valentia (according to Antoninus and Ptolemie) is common∣ly called Valence, and is the title of a Duke. Dia is called by Antoninus Dia Vocontiorum, but commonly Dio, and is the Metropolis or chiefe Citie of the Countrie, which in French is called Pays de Diois. Gratia∣nopolis was heretofore called Cularo, Isidorus calleth it the Citie of Gra∣tianopolis, but it is commonly called Grenoble. Augusta, neere to the River Isere, Plinie cals Augusta Tricastinorum, where the great Senate of Daulphine is kept, Sidonius Tricastina Vrbs, but now, as Ioseph Scaliger thinketh, it is called S. Antony de Tricastin. That which Antoninus cals Vapingum, or as some reade it, Vapincum, and the Itinerarie Table Gap, is now called Caput agri, and in French Gapencois. It is environed round with Mountaines. It was formerly, and is also at this day a famous Towne; the Inhabitants doe call it L•••l S. D•go. I passe by the lesser Townes. Provence is to be described next, but before I come unto it, I will adde something out of Mer•ator concerning the State Ecclesiastick. Heere are five Archbishops: as first the Archbishop of Tarentais in Sa∣baudia, under whom are the Bishops of Sitten and Augusta. 2^ly the Arch-Bishop of Am•rum; under whom are the Bishops of Lagne, of Grasse, of Lena, of N••a, of S. Glande, of Valne, of Vap, which some call Gap: of Bria••on, and of S. Pol. Thirdly the Archbishop of Vienn•, to whom there are sixe suffraganes, the Bishop of Valence and Dye, the Bishop of ••viers, of S. Iean de Morienne, of Geneve, of Grenoble, and of Romans. Fourthly the Archbishop of Aix, under whom there are five Bishops, the Bishop of Aps, of Fre•ul, of Sesteron, of Eres, and of Vapinte. Fifthly the Arch∣bishop of Arclatum or Arles, under whom are the Bishops of Massilia, of Vasison, of Tricaste, of Cavallion, of Avignon, of Orange, of Carpentras, and of Tollon. The Archbishop of Lyons and Primate of all France, hath his residence in the Citie of Lions, and hath foure suffragan Bishops under him, as the Bishop of Autun, of Mascon, of Chalon by the River Saone, and of Langres.