Ancomitana

Sources from old books

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

THE MARQVISHIP OF ANCONITANA, AND the Dukedome of SPOLETO. (Book Anconitana) THE Marquiship of Ancomitana was so called by the Langbards from Ancone a famous Mart Towne, where the Marquesses of this Country had their seate of residence. Livy and others doe call it Picenum. There confineth on the Marquiship of Ancomitana, on the South the Sabinians, Vilumbrians, and Vmbrians, with the Apennine Mountaine: on the West Gallia Cisalpina, with the River Isaurus; on the North the Adriatick Sea. Concerning the Easterne bounds there are divers opinions. Pliny maketh them to be the Rivers Ate•nus and Ancon: and Ptolomy the River Matrinus with Ancon. The moderne writers the chiefe whereof is Leander, doth make the River True•tum to bee the bounds and limmits betweene them and the Preturiarians. The Country of Picenum according to Livy, is very fertill, but yet it hath greater store of fruite than corne. The best wine is made at the Towne called Sirolum, which Plinny calleth Ancon•tanian Wine. This Country is for the most part under the Popes Iurisdiction: there are these Townes in it Ancona, Recanatum, Fanum D. Mariae Laureti, Camerinum, Fanum Fortunae, Tolentinu••, ••mum, Macerata, and some others Townes: also Eugebium, Coligum, •orum •e••rronij, S. Leo, Senogal•ia, V•binum, and some others. The chiefe Citty is An•ona, which Ptolomy calls Ancon. It still retaineth that name, which was first given to this Citty, because the Country bendeth here like an Elbowe. It is opposite to the Promontorie Cumeras, and it is enclosed on the North with the Sea and the Haven: moreover it is well fortified with Gates, Bulwarks, and Walls: It hath a Port or Haven which is strong both by Art and nature, and hath a convenient entrance into it, and is able to receive many shipps, which was built by the Emperour Traian. The Citty hath twelve Fortes, which are all well furnished with ordinance. It is famous in regard that Graecians, Illyriaus, Pannonians, and all Europe doe trade and traffique here, it is very populous, and the streets are long and straite. The soile round about is fruitfull, yeelding Wine, and other commodities. There are also Firmium, now called Firmo, an ancient Citty. Ricenetum, Reccanolo, or Recunati, which the Italians doe now call Ricanati, is a famous Mart-towne, in so much that Merchants out of all Europe and Asia doe come thither twice a yeere to Faires. Some ruinous pieces of Helvia Ricina may be seene as you travell along, among the rest there is a great brick Amphitheater on the banke of the River Potentia and other carkasses of great Buildings. Auxinum is an ancient Episcopall Citty, commonly called Osmo. Livy calls it Oximum. Many Epitaphs and Elogies which have beene found here of late do shew the antiquity thereof. Fabrianum in Latine call'd Faberiana, is a Towne very full of Shops, which are so distributed, that every street hath severall shops, so that one street hath all Smiths, and another all Shopmakers, and another Papermen. Sevogallia is an Episcopal Citty, which as it appeareth by Polibius and others was first called Sena, afterward Senogallia: it is now called Sinigaglia, or Sinegalia: it hath a thick ayre. Parvum is watered on the West with the River Misa: being fortified with a thicke brick wall, with a Ditch and Bulwarkes. But yet in regard it is so neere unto the Sea it wanteth fresh water, so that they are faine to use that which is brought thither. Fanum is an Episcopall Towne not very great, situated on a Mountaine, commonly called Fano, Tacitus and Ptolemy doe commonly call it Fanum Fortunae, for there are still many ruines remaining of that sumptuous Church which was dedicated to Fortune. Here is a Marble Arch of costly and curious workmanship, which is thirty Cubits high, and thirty broad. On the top whereof which is fallen downe, there was an Elegie engraven in praise of the Emperour Constantine. The River Argilla runneth by it Forum Sempronium, now called Fossumbrunum, or Fossumbruno, is an Episcopall Towne, in which there are many tokens of antiquity, for besides Aquaeducts, paved wayes, pillars and other things, there are many marbles throwne downe with ancient inscriptions, which have beene gathered by others. Pisaurum is an Episcopall Citty now called Pesaro. A famous Mart-towne of Italy, rich in Merchandise, beautifull, and adorned with faire houses. Vrbinum is situate on a high unlevell Mountaine betweene the same Rivers, it is a neate Citty fairely built, and hath a fruitfull soyle round about it, and it is adorned with a faire Library, which is furnished with many excellent Bookes. In Picenum by the side of the Mountaine Victor there is a famous La•e, which they call Nursinum. The common people doe affirme that evill spirits doe swim in it: because the water doe continually leape up and fall downe againe, to the great admiration of those who are ignorant of the cause thereof. These Rivers doe water it, Truentus, commonly called Tronto, Castellanus, Asonus. Letus mortuus, Tenna, Chientus, Flastra, Letus Vivus, Asinus, Potentia, Muson, Esinus, Misa, Sontinus, Cesanus, Metaurus, Cantianus, Boasus, Argila. There are these Mountaines, Furcas, Pescas, and Auximus so called from the Citty Auximum, and Corvus, whence many Rivers together with Albula and Truento doe runne thorow the Marrucinians, the Praecutianians, and the Marsians. But the Apennine Mount in this place where it hangeth over this Country is highest. Here are these Bishopricks, Asculanensis, Firmianus, Camerinensis, Auximanensis, Humanas, Anconitanus, Esinensis, or Exinas, Senogaliensis, Fanensis, Pisaurensis, Forosemproniensis, Calliensis, Vibinas, or S. Leonis, Maceratensis, Racanatensis.