Lotharingia

Sources from old books

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

THE DVKEDOME OF LOTHARINGIA. THE SOVTHERNE PART whereof is painted forth in this Table. (Book Lotharingia)

• 1.1AFter Pictavia according to my method the Dukedom of Lothari•gia, followeth. Lothoringia according to the Latines was so called from Lotarius the Sonne or Nephew of the Emperour Ludovick King of France. Truely Ludovick Pius had foure Son, who warring like Parracides against their Father, & having shut him up into a Monastery among the Sues•ons they devided his Principalities amongst themselvs; & so made it a Tetrarchie. Afterward by the meditation of the Nobles of the Empire, the matter came to that passe, that Lotar•us the eldest Sonne should enjoy the Title of the Empire, with Italy, Gallia Narb•nensis, and those Territories, which were called by the name of Lotharingia: and that Ludovick should possesse Germany; Charles should have France from the River Mosa to the Ocean: and lastly Pipin, or his Sonne should have Aquitaine. Lotarius had besides Ludovick who succeeded him in the Empire, a Sonne named Lotarius, King of Lotaringia. And as the Germanes as first called it Lotar-rijck, or Lot-reych, that is, the Kingdome of Lotarius, so the Latines afterward called it L•tharingia. The Inhabitants, and the other French doe call it Loraine, as it were Lotregne.* 1.2 The French Writers doe report, that the bounds of Lotaringia were heretofore larger, and that it was heretofore called Austrasia, or Austria, or Oost-reych (having Westrasia or Westria, now called West-reych, and corruptly Neustria, a Westerne Kingdome) lying over against it, and that being devided into the higher and the lower: and contained betweene the Rivers Rhene, Scaldis, and Mosa; the lower part hath divers names, and is subject to divers Princes: and that the higher part which is called Mossellanica and Tullingia, is all except some parts thereof under ones command: so that on the East of Lotaringia there lyeth Alsatia,* 1.3 and Westrasia: on the South Burgundy; on the West Campania, on the North it is bounded with the Wood Arduenna (the Leuceburgians, Treverians, and other people bordering thereon) which were heretofore the chiefest parts of Lotharingia. Lotaringia, although it be full of high Mountaines and thick Woods, yet it needeth not the supplies of forraigne Countries,* 1.4 for it hath good store of Corne and Wine. It hath divers kinde of Mettalls, as Silver, Brasse, Iron, Tinne, and Lead: It hath also Pearles, for which there is excellent fishing at the foote of V•gesus. There are also certain Stones found, which the Inhabitants in regard of their ••lac colour doe call Lazuli, and doe make great benefit of them. There is also a certain substance, of which they make Looking-glasses▪ the like wherof is not found in other Provinces of •ur•••. Here are also Cal•i••nes of great bignesse▪ so that great cups are made of small pieces thereof. It produceth divers kindes of living Creatures:* 1.5 especially excellent Horses▪ like to Neapolitan and Turkish Horses. Lotaringia was heretofore a Kingdome, as appeareth in the French Writers. But there are not mentioned above two or three Kings thereof. For C•ar••s the Bald presently after the decease of his Unckle Lotarius, invaded his Territories▪ and joyned them to his Principalities. And not long after it was made a Dukedome. The first Dukes are scattringly mentioned by Historians and divers Writers. In the raigne of Henry the 4. ••t•fridus held Lotari•gia▪ hee, who afterward having sold his Dukedome ••u••gn• together with his Brothers Baldwin and Eustathius made a memorable expedition to the Holy Land, and carried his conquering Army thorow Asia and Syria even to the City of Hierusalem, and was created King of Hierusalem. After him succeeded Baldwin, and after Baldwin Eustathius. Afterward King Henry the fifth gave the Dukedome to William Earle of ••vani•▪ after whom Theodore, Theo••••▪ Frederick▪ & others were created Princes of Lotari•gia, whom from the ••••edome was passed to Frederick Earle of Vadimomium, from whom the Dukes of Lotaringia are descended. Mercator doth plainely d•scr•be be it in two Tables▪ in one whereof he painteth out the Northerne part▪ in the other the Southerne part. Heretofore the Med••ma••ices and Leu•• did inhabit L•taringia. Lib. 4. Tacitus, Pliny, Strab•▪ and Ptolemy doe call them Med••ma••ices: and Caesar also Lib. •. calleth them Med••matri••▪ whose Metropolis is called D•vodurum▪ and •ow M•tz. In the Register Booke of the Provinces of Belgia it is called •v••as Med•••a•ri•um▪ or le Eves•he de Metz, le Pays M•ssin. Cae••• 〈◊〉. Lu▪ an lib. 1. and Pli•y doe call the Leu•t••beri: Ptolemy also calls them Leu••▪ and maketh their Metropolis to be •u••um. And so 〈◊〉▪ called in the Register Booke of the Provinces of Belgia, Civitas L•rum▪ that is Tullum, or l• Evesche de ••ul: also Antoninus his Itinera•e doth acknowledge Tullum or Leu•••. Some also doe referre that which Caesar calleth Tulinges to Lotaringia. The Metropolis of Lotaringia is Nan•••um, commonly call'd Nan•y: it is no great Towne, but yet it hath a faire and commodious Seate▪ in a plaine place, the forme of it being foure square, in the which there is the magnificent Palace of the Duke• of Lot•aringia. The River Murtu floweth by the walls of Nan•y which three miles of a little beyond the Castle of Candeus entreth into Mos•lla. Peter Divaeus and others doe thinke that that which i• now call•d Nan••um▪ wa• that which was called Nasi•n, & which Ptl•my call N•s•um. Antoninus in his Itinerarie placeth it betweene D•v•durum which is in the way from Duro•ortorum. But he that consider that journey more neerely, hee shall easily finde that Antoni•u• 〈◊〉 Nasium cannot be seated in that place, where Nanceum is now: so •ha• that Nasium i• not that which we call now Nan•cium but a Towne 〈◊〉miles distant from it not farre from the River Mosa in the Barroducan Province, which is commonly called Nas, as appeareth by the Inscription of stone digged up there. It is manifest by the rubbidge and ruines thereof that this Nasium was somtime a very large City: which also Blemens Trelaeus Mosellanus witnesseth in Ortelius. The next Towne of note to Nanceium is Fanum St. Nicholai, commonly called S. Nicolas, being two miles distant from thence neere the River•Murta, seated in a plaine and fertile place. This Towne by the recourse of Strangers unto it, is so much enlarged, and is growne so bigge, that now if it were Walled, it would not seeme a Village Towne, but rather one of the fairest Cities of all Lotharingia, for it hath such neate Buildings, well contrived Streetes, and such a multitude of Inhabitants, that it is compleate in all things: but it is especially commended for the trade of Merchandise, and manufactures of all kindes. It hath many wealthy Merchants who are richer than their neighbours. I omit other Townes of lesser note, lest I should be tedious to the Reader. A mile distant from Nancium is Fruart: three miles off is Ormes: and a little more than three miles off is Bayon and Luneville: foure miles off is le Pont a Monson, & Gerbevillar: five miles off is Charmes: sixe miles off is Castenoy, M•rhanges and Vaucol•ur; a little more than sixe miles is Maxen soubs Bresse: seven miles off is Dompaire, Deneuvre, Hodon Chasteau▪ eight miles off is Ramberville, Raon, Bellemont, Neuss-Chasteau, Mugstat, Marchain-Ville: nine miles off is Espinal, Bruyeres, Darney: ten miles off is Orm•nt, Walderfing, Beaurams: thirteene miles off is Vaigny: foureteene miles off is l' Estray. The Towne called in French Vaudem•nt, is five miles from Nancy. Chaligny on the right side of Mosella is halfe a league from Nancy. Also Amance seven miles from the City Medi•matricum towards the South: which the Latine Writers call Almentia: It was the ancient Chancery of Lotharingia, as the Court-rolls doe witnesse, which Rosierus produceth. Also Richecourt not farre from the Lake, which is commonly called la Garde lac, out of which a River floweth, which betweene S. Nicolas Church and the Towne Rosieres doth mingle it selfe with the River Murta. Also Remiremont the left side of Mosella, making an Iland there, is seated on the most Southerne part of Lotahringia: Aimoinus the Monke placeth here the Castle Rumaricum: in Regino it is corruptly read Adromarici, or Ad R•marici, the word being devided. Spigelius calleth it in the Germane speech Rimelsberg. Not far from thence are Valleyes which are commonly called l' Estraye, and Vag•y. La Mothe is seated by the River which by and by doth discharge it selfe into Mosa. There is the Territory called le Sanctoy. There ore also the Townes Kirchingan and Blankenburg. Blankenburg, which the French call Blanc-mont, is a pretty, faire, and pleasant Towne. There is an ancient, spacious, and magnificent Castle, unto which the Dukes new Palace, being a curious structure is joyned. The Inhabitants give themselves to Husbandry. The Barony of N•menium is on the right side of the River Sella, three miles from the City Mediomatricum, Southward. The Lordships or Signiories in it are Marsal on the left side of the River Sella not farre from the Lake Linderus, in which there is an Iland having a Towne in it called Techemful. Remer•ville is three miles from Nancy. S. Bellemont is as farre from Mota. Rambert-Ville is on the right side of the River Morton, not farre from the Spring-head, where there is the wood Morton. Rosieres is by the River Murta, neere St. Nicolas Church, two miles from Nancy. Homburg is more than a league distant from the Towne Sarbruch, by the River, which presently afterward runneth into Saravus. Mariem•nt so called from the Mount on which the Towne is seated, is a mile off from the Lake Linder, Southward, S•ndacourt being in the mid-way betweene Vandimont and Motta, in a Country commonly call'd Sanctoy, being a City of the Mediomatricans, and heretofore together with Tullus and others an Imperiall City, Henry the second, King of France did reduce it into his power. It is now commonly called Metz, and moderne Writers do call it Me•e, and Gregorius T••orensis and others doe call it Vrbs Metensis. The Ancients did call it Divodurum Mediomatricum. And in the Itinerarie Table Divo Durimedio Matricorum: Ptolemy calls it Divodurum: and Tacitus lib. 4. and A•toninus doe call it Dividorum. I purpose not to inser• divers trifling conjectures concerning the new name. It was heretoforeth Seate of the Kingdome of Lotharingia. Concerning which Peter Divaeus hath written elegantly in his Itinerarie. The City Metz is situated on a large Plaine, which the River Mosella deviding it selfe into divers Channels doth water, and part of it floweth gently by the walls on the left hand, and part of it goeth under the wall to serve the Cities use, and so it runneth generally, even to the nether side of the walls, where having received the River Sella, which washeth the right side of the City, it runneth againe in one Channell. But the City is very pleasantly and delightfully situated, for having a plaine levell lying round about it, yet the plot of ground where it standeth riseth up a little, whereby wee may observe in what manner the ancients did build their Cities. For they goe up many steps before they can come into the Cathedrall Church, neere which there is a Market place on the highest part of the ground, which by degrees bendeth downe toward the Walls, yet one part of the descent thereof is tooke away, by two streetes paved with stones, which doe crosse by one another. The Citizens are called Mediomatrices in an inscription which is at Moguntio neere S. Alban. That Towne which is called in French Toul, was heretofore called Tullum: Ptolemie calls it Tullon a Towne of the Lucians: Antonius, Tullus: The Itinerarie Tables doe now call Tullium. That which is called Verdun▪ the Latines doe now call Virdunum and Verdunum: Antonius calleth it Verodunum. And in the Register Booke of the Provinces, it is called Civitas •erdune•sium, or l' Euesch• de Verdun. And the three Cities aforesaid have Counties belonging to them.

THE DVKEDOME OF LOTARINGIA. The Southerne part. (Book Lotaringia)

OUR order and Method doth now require, that we should reckon up the chiefe Rivers of Lotaringia, but first wee will speake concerning the Lakes. It hath many Pooles and Lakes which are full of fish: Among which there is one that is 14. Miles in compasse, in which there are great Carpes of three foote long, which are so pleasant in taste, that they farre exceede the Carpes in other Countries for sweetnesse. The Duke of Lotaringia receaveth 16000. Franks every third yeare, for fish taken in this Lake. It is watered with these famous Rivers, Mosa, Mosella, Saravo, Voloia, Mortana, Mu•ta, Sella, Hidia, and others. Concerning Mosa it appertaineth to lower Germanie. The other Rivers doe properly belong to this Dukedome: the better part of Mosella and Saravus, the rest wholy. Mosella riseth in the Mountaine Vog•sus, not farre from the Springhead of Araris, a little above the Towne which is commonly called Bussan, and so gliding downe from Vulturnum to the West▪ having view'd those Townes which are call'd in French l' Estrate, Remiremont, Espinal, Charmes, Baton, it bendeth his course from the East westward, and runneth straite forward to Tullum, an Episcopall Citie, whence running againe Eastward, it bendeth Northward even to Fruardum, and having visited the Mediomatricians, the Treverians, and other people it runneth into the River of Rhene. That which the Germanes call Mosel: the French call Moselle. It is thought that Rhenanus, Ptolemie Lib. 11. Cap. 9. and others did call it Obri•gos. But Iohn Herold noteth that Obringen so called by Ptolemie is not a River, but a part of Land neere the River▪ Rh•me, which is now called Ober Rhingham: also Clemens Trolaeus Mosellanus witnesseth as Abraham Ortelius writeth, that a certaine Country of •and neere Mosella is yet called Obrincum. Ausonius Eidyll 3. doth celebrate the praise of Mosella in learned verses, both for the clearenesse of the water, and easy sayling thereon: and for the Townes and Pallaces which beautified the bankes thereof: and also for the fish therein, as the Mullet, the Trout, the Barbell, the Salmon, the •amprey, the Perch, the Tench, the Bleake, and the Gudgeon, of which i• hath great store, and lastly for the Rivers which runne into it, as Pronaea, Nemesa, •ura, Gelbi, Erubro, Lesura, Drahona, Salmona, Saranus, and Alisontia. L. Vetus in the Raigne of Domitius Nero the Emperour, attempted to joyne Mosella and Araris, by making a channell be•weene them, that the armies being convey'd out of Italie by Sea, and afterward on the Rivers Rhodanus and Arar by that channell, and so passing by the River Mosella into the Rhene, might at last be brought againe to the Ocean: that so the jouney might bee more easie, and the westerne and northerne shoares betweene them might be made navigable, as Cornelius Tacitus writeth Lib. 18. Of which Ausonius:

Te foutes vivique lacus, te caerula noscentFlumina: te veteres pagorum gloria, luci:Te Druna, te sparsis incerta Druentia ripis,Alpinique colent Fluvij, dupitemque per VrbemQui meat, & dextrae Rhodanus dat nomina ripa,Te stagnis ego caruleis, magnumque sonorisAmnibus, aquorea te commendabo Garumnae. The Fountaines, Lakes, and blew streames shal know thee,And woods which of Villages the glorie be.Thee, Druna, thee Druentia that doth glideWith winding course betweene his bancks so wideAnd all the Rivers on the Alpine hillShall thee adore and reverence thee still.And Rhodanus that doth through the Citie flow,Naming the right hand banck as it doth goe,With the blew Lakes, and streames that greatest are,And Sea-like Garumne I will thee compare.

Saravus rising not farre from the Salmensians, is the greatest of all those Rivers which runne into Mosella, it is navigable, and famous for the receipt of other Rivers, and after it hath view'd the Cities and Townes, which are commonly called Sar-Burg, Fenestrange, Sar-Vberden, Sar-Abben, Guemund, Sar-Pruck, Walderfing, Sar-Brug, and others, at length it meeteth with Mosella neere the walls of Augusta of the Treverians, not farre from Kontherbruck, Ausonius mentioneth it in praysing Mosella. It retaineth that name still. For the Inhabitants call it Sar. And the ancients did call it Sarta, as appeareth by an inscription which was brought to Trevers from a Towne seated by that River, which is now called Sarpruck, that is Sarrae Pons, or Sarra Brigde.

CAES RO. EXER. IMP. P. P.S.C. Au. TREVE. INGR.ESSUM. H. CASTRA. SARRAEFLU. PRO. MIL. CUSTODIABIENN. POTITUS. EST.

V•loia is a River that hath pearles in it, which neere the Towne Charmeni runneth into Mosella. Mortana neere a Towne of the same name mingleth it selfe with the River Murta. Murta or Meurta having receaved many Rivers into it, commeth to Mosella in a plaine place among the Medowes, and accompanieth him for a long way together, keeping an equall course with him, having but a little ground betweene their channells, untill at length a little above the Castle Candejus, which on the right hand is seated on a Rock, by a Towne of the same name, it maketh a sharpe angle with the Channel of Mosella, and mingleth his waters there with. The River Sella also joyneth it selfe with it, neere to the Citie Mediomatricum, which riseth out of the Lake Linder, which is rich in Salt, and fishing And the two Nigidas meeting together at the Towne Northenium, doth discharge it selfe into Saravus, 2. Miles belowe Bosnois-Villa, an Abby so called. There is in the Vale of Deodatum a Fountaine, which hath a soveraigne qualitie given it by nature to heale many diseases. There are also saltpits, in which there is very fine Salt, being sweete in taste, and whiter then Scythian Snow, out of which saltpits the Duke of Lotaringia receaveth yearely an 100000. Francks. This Province is environd with very high Mountaines,* 1.1 which doe farre excell the Pyreraean Mountaines for their abundance of all sorts of Mettals, but especially Silver Mines, which yeeld so much Silver, that hee receiveth a great revenneue out of it. Also the Mountaine Vogesus in the Valley Liberia doth yeeld pure silver, but not so great a quantitie. Moreover Lotaringia hath many thicke woodes,* 1.2 some of which wee will set downe according as they are called in French, as Warned-Walt, de Be•noit, le bois de Mortaigne, Boseyne, Bois de Mordon, le Ban-bois, le Bois de la Voyge, de Heyde, and others. Concerning the publike workes, there is at the Towne S. Nicolas 2. Miles distant from Nancey, neere the River Murta,* 1.3 a great Church not very ancient, but curiously built, and very light. The Pillars which beare up the roofe of it are very greate, and yet their height make them appeare to bee so slender, as if they were unfit to sustaine so great a worke. It hath two Towres, on one of which Charles Cardinall of Lotaringia, Bishop of Metz's, and Prior of this Church, hath set on the top thereof an Emblematicall divise, which is a Spire of a Steeple wrapt about with Ivie, with this Motto or Inscription, Te stante virebo: Thee standing, I shall flourish. Neere the Towne W•sserbillich where the River Suras mingleth his waters with M•sella, there is another Towne commonly call'd Igel, where on a high place standeth that venerable Monumet of Antiquitie. which is more famous than any beyond the Alpes, and which the Ital•ans themselves may admire: it is a pile of stone, which is built on 〈◊〉 Bais•s or foundation of 22. foote over, and so riseth by deg•••s untill it bee about 74. foote high, being engraven round about with divers Images, on the toppe thereof there is a piece of an Eagle, sitting on a Globe, with his wing spread abroade, and it seemes that there was a Vaile before his breast. There is at Nancy S. Georges Church, in which there is the Monument of Charles the Bold, Duke of Bargundie, being slaine in a battaile by the Helvetians and Lotaringians on the Nones of Ianuary, Anno 1477. whose ashes and bones, •ois•tus, the Cryer of the order of the golden Fleece, by the command of the Emperour Charles the fifth, his Nephewes sonne, did solemnly carry from thence to Luceburg 1550: and afterward by the command of Mary Queene of Hungari, they were carried to Bruges. There are also in the same Georges Church, the Tombes of divers Dukes of Lotaringia, which have no inscriptions: as also in other Churches. The most of the late Dukes doe lye in S. Francises Church. There is the stately Monument of Renatus, who obtained a Victorie against Charles Duke of Burgundie. There doe lye also in the same place Duke Antony, and his sonne Francis, and Claudea Valesia, wife to Duke Catolus, and Daughter to Henry the second King of France. There is an Armory in Na•cy, furnished with all kind of warlike Engines. There is also a Church in the Citie of Metzs consecrated to S. Stephen, and others, concerning which Dinaeus saith. The Church is named from S. Stephen, the Patron of the Citie, being a most faire and renowned worke, as any which we saw in all our journey, and which is a rariety, it was compleately finished in all parts It is said that there was in it a woodden Crucifixe, covered all over with golden plates, we saw a red coloured Cesterne of Porphyry of a great capacitie, being above 10. foote long, in which they keepe their holy water. There are also many other sumptuous Temples in this Citie, and there were many in the Suburbs thereof, as the S. Anulphis Church, which is famous in regard that the Emperour Ludovick Pius, and his sonne Charles, and some of King Pipins daughters were buried here. But the warres have wasted these things, so that now there is no part of Suburbs remaining, so that beyond the Walls there is nothing but field-ground. Not far from Metz, neere the Towne Iovy, there are some tokens in the River Mosella of an ancient Aquaeduct or Water-course. Concerning which Dinaeus thus in his Itinerarie. In this journey there is a Towne commonly call'd Iovy, betweene the foote of the Mountaines and Mosella, where it seemes that there was an Aquaeduct or conveyance of water all the way betweene both the Mountaines, as appeares by the ruines yet remaining. There are yet many of the arches, which are of white stone cut like vnto brikes: and there are some arches of the same worke on the other banke. The Inhabitants doe affirme that there is in this place a Fountaine ignorantly thinking that these Arches did serve for the Bridge, and they said that there were other lesser arches on the top of this Mountaine, which did runne out towards the Citie Metz, which is a Mile off. It is about 60. foote high, neere the banke, whence we may conjecture what a great worke it was, and how high the Arches were, which stood in the Channell of the River, of which there is nothing now remaining. The Inhabitants doe report that the upper part of the Arches is plaine being daubed over with red colour'd Morter, and that in the middle of it not many yeares since there was a little house, open on both sides, which wee suppose was that part of the house, which should have covered the Conduit Pipe. Henry the second, King of France (as we said before) did subject the Citie of Medrio maticum to him, which was sometime an Imperiall Citie. A Magistrate sent from the King sitteth as President in the Senate of the Citie. The Tribunall in the Citie of Mediomatricum hath three Bishops belonging to it, who are under the Metropolitian of Trevers, as the Bishop of Metz, of Tullum, of Verdunum, so called from their severall Seates.