Bilbao

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Bilbao the chief City of Biscay in Spain, call'd by the Romans Flaviobriga; seated upon the River Nervio, 2 Leagues from the Cantabrian Ocean; a large, beautiful, well traded City; from S. Andreo 13 Miles to the North-East, and 24 from Bayonne to the South. Joannes Mariana is of opinion, that Bilbao is of a later Origine, and saith it was built by Didacus Lupus de Haro, Lord of Biscay, in 1298. which is true; but then it stands in the same place; the old Name of Flaviobriga was given it in Honor of Vespasian. This City stands in a Plain, in a wet Ground upon a small River and is incompassed with very high Hills.