Genoa

Sources from old books

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

THe Dukedome of the Genuensians, or the Country of Genoa was heretofore called Liguria, yet not all but that part, which was beyond the Alpes. There are divers opinions concerning the name of Liguria. Some, among whom is Paulus •iaconus, doe report that it was so called ab legendis Leguminibus from gathering of Pulse: some from Ligo one of the fabulous Captaines of Iapetus, and Berosus, Caro, Fabius Pictor, and Semprocius suppose that it was so named from Ligures the Sonne of Aegiptian Phaeton: Now it is commonly calld Riviera de Ge∣noa, from Genua a famous Cittie. It is bounderd on the West with the Alpes which divide Gallia Narbonensis from Italie: on the East with E∣truria and Macra or Marga which floweth betweene them: on the South it is beaten with the Ligurian Sea: on the North it is enclosed with the Apennine. This Country as Strionnius writeth, was hereto∣fore barren, and had nothing in it worthy of memory, but that it had great vast Trees, fit for building of Ships. But now it yeeldeth good store of Wine, Oyle, and other fruits. The Country Dianus doth so abound with Oyle, that sometimes it maketh 18. sometimes 20000. Jarres, which they commonly call Barilas. Genoa is now twofold: the Easterne, and the Westerne, which from the Metropolis, which stan∣deth in the middle of them both, is called Riviera di Genova, di Ponente, & de Levante. Livie and others call the chiefe Citty Genua, Stephanus calleth it Genoa, and Luitprandius Ticinensis, and the Writers of his age, Ianua; it is now called Genoa and Genova, concerning the situation. It fronteth on Meridium, and the Iland Cirnus, the banke of it is opposite to the North, and so it hath a gentle descent into a Plaine, being sea∣ted at the foote of the Mountaines, and behind a Trench or Bulwark doth keepe off the cold Northward, having neither a Moutainous Si∣tuation nor a plaine, but of a mixt kinde. The Compasse of it is 35955. foote, as the Bishop Nebianus reporteth. So that if we allow 7. foote to a pace, the measure of the whole Citty will be 5. miles, but if wee allow 6. foote, then neither the Bulwarke nor the Haven can come within this compasse or dimension. It hath a faire Haven which lyeth to the South and Southwest, which affoordeth safe harborage for Shipping. But concerning Genoa there are these smooth Verses of Scaligers extent, in English thus.

The Asian wealth, and Easterne honours great,And all that Land the Euxine Sea doth beate,The Pisanian Armies, and the youth of worth,And the French Colours I alone drew forth.The subdued Alpes I held and kept in awe,And Affrick trembled when my Ships it sawe.And the Venetian hath fled from the shotWhich in my Haven he hath found too hot.O France you are deceived much, and SpaineIn your attempts, you take up armes in vaine,I conquer being conquerd, for if I obtaineVictory, or lose it, I am still the same.

Having viewed the Metropolis, wee will shew some of the other Townes and Citties. Not farre from Varus is that which Ptolemy calls Nicaea. Antoninus Nicia, and now Nizza. It is a Sea Towne, built heretofore by the Massilians, and seated behinde the Alpes, partly on the Cliffes, and partly on plaine ground. Now it is strong, having a well-fortified Castle, and it is subject to the Prince of Sabaudia. A mile farther above the Port or Haven of Hercules Monaecus, Torbis, or Turbias is seated on the high Mountaines. There are also the Townes of D. Remi, or S. Remo, seated in a pleasant fertile soyle, and wonder∣fully terrified and adorned with Citterne-trees, Palme-trees, Lem∣mon-trees, and others. Castellum Tabia is but a little Towne, but fa∣mous for good rich Appian Wines. Albigaunum is an ancient Citty, seated in a Plaine, 500. paces from the Sea, which hath an ill ayre, but very rich, and abounding with all things necessary. Finarium also, or Naulum. Savona is an ancient Citty, adorned with many magnifi∣cent buildings, and the compasse of it is 1500. paces. These Citties are on the Westerne side of Genoa: on the East side there are Clave∣rium, Sestri di Levanto, and others. The Rivers here are Varus which devideth Province from Liguria, the latter being a Country of Italy, the former of France. This River on the Westerne banke thereof which is toward France, receiveth those Rivers which are commonly called in French Caremp, Lavaire, and Esteron: on the Westerne banke toward Italy, it receiveth the Rivers La Lince & La Vesubie. There are also by the Coasts of Liguria Paulon, now called Pulion: Rutuba now called R•tta. There are also Merula, Porzevera, Ferisano, Lavagna, Maera, now called Magra. Concerning the Ecclesiastick government you may read in Mercators Table: the Bishop of Taurinium, under whom are the Bishops Casalensis, Salutiarum, Montis Regalis, Novariensis, Lodensis, Vercellensis, Ipporegiensis, Actensis, Aquensis, Albensis, Terdonensis, Saonensis, Albingaunensis, Vintimeliensis, Placentinus, & Papiensis, are subject to the Archbishop of M•diolanum. There are under the Archbishop of Genoa, the Bishop Bobiensis, Aprumacensis, or Brumacensis, Metenensis, or Maranensis, Acoiensis, or Ampruniacensis, Nubiensis, in Corsica, or Nebien∣sis, Naulensis, Albigaunensis, or of Arbenga, which is reckoned among the Suffragans to the Archbishop of Mediolanum.

THe Dukedome of Genoa which stretcheth forth to the Ligustick Sea, belongeth properly to the Transalpine Liguria. The Metropolis of it is the Citty Genoa, the o∣ther part is devided into the Easterne and Westerne. The bounds of the former is the Lunensian Haven, of the latter the Haven of Monaecus: This Country hath a rude stony soyle, so that it bringeth forth nothing but that which is forced out of the Earth with great paines. It was heretofore cover'd over with woods, having a few Husbandmen, who did live rather by robberies than tillage. Strabo the Geogr. Lib. 4. writeth thus concerning L•g••a. Qui Liguriam habitant, ut plu•imum ex pecore victum agi•••t, 〈…〉 potione, maritimis ex locis ac montanis pastum quae names. That is those which inhabit Liguria live for the most part on Ca•tle, their drinke is Milke, and a kinde of drinke made of Barley, they get their food on the Sea-shore and on the Mountaines. These Mountaines afoord good Timber for building of Ships, and great Trees, which 〈◊〉 so thick that the Diameter of some of them is 8. foote. The 〈◊〉 were heretofore a very warlike People, who put the Romans to much trouble, and at last could hardly be subdued. Whence Liv•• calleth them, Durum in armis genus, a People hardy in the Warres, and Virgil saith, Assu•tumque malo Ligurem, the Ligurian is inured to trouble.

Genua the Mistresse of Liguria is supposed to be the ancientest Citty of Italie, and that it was built by Ianus, whom some suppose to be Noah, others conjecture that it was so named from Genuus the Sonne of King Saturne. Paulus Perusinus delivers that Genuinus an Egyptian and one of Phaethons Companions who lay sicke here, after he had recovered his health call'd it after his owne name Genua. Others devise other Fables, but it is the famousest Mart-towne of Liguria, and it hath i•creased much within these 400. yeeres, and now it is very strong & much fea∣red. The Territories of this Citty did reach heretofore even to the River Tanais. It had under it Theodosia a Citty of Taur••a hers•nesus, which is now called Caffa, as also Cyprus, Lesbus, Chius, which are Ilands in the Mediterranean Sea, and Pera a Citty of Thrace. It contended long time with the Venetians concerning the Dominion and Empire of the Sea. In this Citty there are 28. Patrician Families, out of which a Counsell of 400. men is chosen, and the Duke is President thereof. It began to be established at Gen•a in imitation of the Ve∣netian Common-wealth about the yeere 1237. but afterward being much troubled with the factions and discords of the Citizens, and being enforced to obey forraine Lords, as the Mediolanians, French∣men, and Spaniards, it lost much of her former power and authority▪ and being now subject, it enjoyeth rather an imaginary than a free Common-wealth. But to conclude, referring the Reader that desi∣reth to know more, to Bracelius, Bizarus, Aug. Iustinianus, Fr. Leander Albertus, I thinke it fitt to set downe Scaligers Verses.

The Asian wealth or Easterne honours great,And all that Land the Euxine Sea doth beate.The Pisanian Armies, and the youth of worth,And the French Colours I alone drew forth.The subdued Alpes I held, and kept in awe,And Affrick trembled when my Ships it sawe,And the Venetian hath fled from the shotWhich in my Haven he hath found too hot.O France you are deceived much, and Spaine,In your attempts, you take up armes in vaine:I conquer if conquerd, for if I obtaineVictory, or lose it, I am still the same.