Berri, Province

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Berri, a Province of France, with the Title of Duchy, Bituricensis Provincia. It hath the Bourbonnois and the Nivernois on the East, Tourain on the West, La Marche on the South, and the Sologne on the North. The River Cher divides it into two Parts. Bourges is its Capital: The others are Issoudun, Sancerre, Argenton, la Chastre, Chateau-roux, S. Aignan, le Blanc, Grassai, Chateau neuf upon Cher, Ligneres, Sainte Severe, Valancai, Aubigni, Vatan, Buzancais, Monfaucon, &c. This Province abounds in Corn, Wine, Pasture, Cattle, &c. There is admirable Wooll in it, which makes the Cloth of Berri to be sought for, whereof there are several Manufactories. It is watered by divers Rivers, which render the Country fertile and pleasant. The Principal is the Cher: The others are, Inare, Auron, Auret, Eure or Yere, Arnon, &c. The Berruiers or Bituriges were in times past famous amongst the People of Gaul for their Courage, having held the Empire of the Gauls, especially of the Gallia Celtica, a pretty long time, and it was they that gave Caesar the greatest trouble. He saith himself that the Berruiers burned twenty of their Cities, fearing they should become a Prey to the Conquerors. However Bourges was taken. After that time Berri was subject to the Romans, and then to the French, making part of the Kingdom of Aquitain. Upon the declining of the second race of the French Kings, the Province of Berri had particular Lords, who took the Title of Earls of Bourges, as Herard, William the Devout, Bernard, &c. Geofrey, who lived under Hugh Capet, left Harpin or Herpin, who, willing to go on a Voyage to the Holy Land, sold Bourges to King Philip I. for 60000 pieces of Gold. From that time the County of Bourges was united to the Crown untill 1360, that K. John erected it into a Duchy and Peerdom for John of France his Son, on condition that it should return to the Crown upon Default of Male Children. The King of Berri was named Ambigat; in the time of Tarquin the Ancient, the fifth King of Rome. We do not know the Name of those who succeeded him; but Livy tells us, that two Nephews of Ambigat, Sons to his Sister, named Segovesus and Bellovesus, signalized themselves by the famous Colonies which they led into Germany and Italy. Segovesus having passed the Rhine, and gone through the Forrest Hircinia, now called the Black Forrest, established part of his People in Bohemia, the other upon the Borders of the Danube, and the third in Freezland and Westphalia, whence came the ancient French, who more than a thousand years after, under Faramond and Clodion, passed the Rhine to conquer p•rt of Gaul, that was the Country of their Ancestors. Bellovesus took his way towards Italy, passed the Alps, and became Master of the Country, which since was called Lombardy. His Conquests gave the Name of Gallia Cisalpina to the best part of Italy. This generous Expedition was made about the year of the World 3464, the year 164 of the Foundation of Rome, and 591 years before the Birth of Jesus Christ. P. Labbe Histoir Chronologick.