Lutzenburg

Sources from old books

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

THE DVKEDOMF OF LVTZENBVRG. (Book Lutzenburg)

THe Dukedome of Lutzenburg is so named from the chiefe Cittie,* 1.1 which (as some suppose) was so called from the River Elza, which Antoninus calleth Alesontia. From Elza came Elzenburch, and from thence Lutzenburg. Peter Dinaeus doth give another opinion concerning Lutzenburg in these words: It is not to be doubted (saith he) but that the Leutians did dwell next to the Treverians, Mediomatrici∣ans, and Lingonians: their Townes Tullus and Nasium celebrated by Ptolemie, doe keepe the names of Toul and Nancy; in their owne lan∣guage I beleeve they were called, de Lutzen, and had a large com∣mand, so that the name of the famous Towne of Lutzenburg was de∣rived from them,* 1.2 as if you should say der Lutzenburg. The Leodians and Namurcians doe bounder this Dutchie on the North, on the East Mosella with the Bishopricke of Trevers; on the West Mosa, with the wood Arden. The compasse or circuite of the whole Coun∣try is 70 miles. Although this Countrie be mountainous and wood∣dy, yet it hath a plenteous, and fruitfull soyle. It is divided into two parts, the one wherof is called Famenna, and the other Arduenna, Fa∣menna is more fruitfull,* 1.3 and hath greater store of corne & coyne. Ar∣duenna is more rugged, but affordeth good hunting, and is full of divers excellent kindes of wilde beasts. There is Iron Oare not farre from Manderscheid, in the Lordships of Keyla, Cronenberch, and Sleida, neere to a vale called Hellenthal. In this place there are made An∣vills, Fornaces and Vices, which are sold through all parts of Germa∣ny.* 1.4 It was but a Countie at the first, and so the Emperour Henry the seaventh was Earle of Lutzenburg, but not Duke. Afterward it was made a Dukedome, at it continueth at this day; which some doe attribute to Wenceslaus, a King of the Romanes, and others to Charles the fourth. Conradus Vercetius doth asc••be it to Henry the seaventh, who was the first Romaine Emperour of that house. Ortelius writeth that he found in auncient Manuscript, that Sigifride was the first Earle of this County: and that he was the sonne of Ta∣cuinus Duke of Mosella. For heretofore Lutzenburg did belong to the Treverians. It hath 20 Citties fortified with walls and Rampiers, the names whereof are; Lutzenburg, Arlunum, Rodemachera, The∣onis villa,* 1.5 Gravemacherum, Vianda, Bastonacum, Mommedium, No∣vum Castrum, Danvillerium, Marvilla, Roccha, Durbis, S. Viti¦urbs, Marza and Sala. There are also some Citties whose Walls are levelled with the ground. There are also the Castells of S. Iohn and Manders•he•d, which are as bigge as small Citties, and have Counties belonging to them. The chiefe Cittie is Lutzen∣burg, some call it Lu•emburg, and Luceburg; Ptolomie calls it Augusta Romandiorum. Gu••••ar••• would have it called Lutzenburg as it were Lucisburg, that is, the Castell of the Sunne: as also many other places in this tract may seeme to have beene named from the gods of the Gentiles: as Arlu• from the Altar of the Moone, Iucis from Iupi∣ter, 〈◊〉 from Mars; but whether the name be rightly derived from hence, let another judge. The Cittie is situate most pleasantly, part of it on the side of a Mountaine, and part of it on plaine ground: The River Elza doth water, and divideth the higher and lower mountainous part of the Cittie, from the lower part. There are many faire aedifices and houses in it, which yet the warres have somewhat defac'd▪ and also a Church consecrate to S. Nicolas: and a Mona∣stery to S. Francis, in which Iohn of Lutzenburg, King of Bohemia, the sonne of the Emperour Henry the seaventh, and father of Charles the fourth, was buryed. This Citty hath beene often defaced by the fury of Mars, who hath no agreement with the Muses, who love peace and tranquility; yet it hath bred many famous learned men. And among many others, Nicolas Navis a man so learned and skilfull in the civill law, that he was Praesident of the Court at Lutzenburg untill he dyed: but he left a sonne of his owne name, who being equall to his father in vertue, was in such savour with the Emperour Charles the fifth, that he made him Vicechancellour of the whole Empire, in which office he continued untill his death. Arlunum which is cal∣led in their language, is situate on the top of a hill, being a very neate town, where the Moone was worshipped after the manner of the hea∣thens, and from thence it is supposed to have beene so named. Heere many Monuments of antiquitie are found, which the Earle Peter Ernest caused to be brought home to his owne house, which is in the suburbs of the Cittie of Lutzenburg. Bartholmew Latemus a very learned man, was borne in this country: Which is watered with many rivers,* 1.6 the chiefest of which is Mosella, of which I have spoke in Lotaringia: the others are Chier, Mosa, B•moy, H•ul, Lech, Alsatus, Atardus, Sourus, Prum•us, M•neus, Ghomeus, Orto, Al∣bis, and besides many little Rivuletts. The Country is raised on every side with Mountaines,* 1.7 and interlaced with thicke woods. But all of them are but boughes in respect of the Forrest of Arden in France. The politicke state as in the other Countries,* 1.8 doth consist of three members;* 1.9 first, the Clergie; secondly, the Nobles, in which are the Counts of V•anden, of la Roch en Ardenne, Salme, Durby, Marche, S. Vit. S. Iansberg. There are also many Baronies and Lordships. The third member is the principall Citties, as Lutzenburg, Arlu∣num, Theonis villa, otherwise called Dietenhove, and Rodemacher•: The Court for the whole Province is kept in the Cittie of Lutzen∣burg, and the pleadings are in French or Dutch, according as the Plan∣tiffes are of severall Countries. For Lutzenburg, Arlunum, Theo∣nis Villa, and Rodemachera, doe speake Dutch, but Ivoys, Mammedy, Marville, and Danvilliers doe speake French, in regard whereof it is necessary that the Iudges and Advocates and the officers of the Court, should understand both languages. From this Court ap∣peales may be brought to Mechlin, where those things which are written in Dutch are faithfully translated into French.

This Dukedome hath two Marquiships under it, seaven Counties, many Baronies, and Lordships, and great store of Noble men, so that no Province doth produce so many. All of them doe live magnifi∣cently, and are curteous, vertuous, constant, and faithfull to their Prince. Their exercise is Armes and hunting. They live civilly and courteously together, visiting one another in mutuall kindnesses. They contract marriages with their neighbours, and in their matches they doe more respect honour and dignity than portion. If any one doe commit an enormity, he loseth his credit, and is not admittted to converse with the Nobles, and is thought to be unworthy of any pub∣licke office, and his oath is not esteemed in publicke trialls. If any controversie doe arise amongst them, they referre it to certaine Ar∣bitrators, who are to compound and end the matter, so that they have no great use of Lawyers and Proctors: yet they are too much given to wine. And the Country people doe complaine very much of their hard usage and servitude, so that if a Country-man intend to put forth his children, he cannot doe it without his Lords leave, which is farre different from the libertie of the Low Countries. Arlunum, which we mentioned before, is situate on the top of a Mountaine, and is foure miles distant from Lutzenburg, and sixe from Mommedy. It was sometime a faire Towne, but somewhat defaced by the violence of warres. Rodemachera is three miles distant from Lutzenburg, which though it be no great towne, yet is very beautifull, and fortified with a strong Castell. Theodonis-villa, which in Dutch is called Dieten∣houe, is very conveniently situated on the left hand bancke of the Ri∣ver Mosella: it is foure miles from Lutzenburg, having a faire bridge; it is a pleasant strong Towne and well fortified against the invasions of enemies. Regino affirmeth that Charles the Great was used to hunt very much neere unto this Cittie. Gravemakerum and Koninck∣makerum are small little Townes neere Mosella, being a mile distant one from another, and 5 miles from Lutzenburg. Dieterichum is sea∣ted neere the little River Sure, and is five miles distant from Lutzen∣burg. Viretonum and Echternatum are little small townes, and are both five miles distant from Lutzenburg. Vianda standeth by the side of a little Riu•let, seaven miles from Lutzenburg; it hath a Countie belonging to it, and is subject to the Prince of Orange. Ba∣stona•um is neere unto the Forrest of Arden, being three miles from the new Castell, and 17 from Lutzenburg. It is a little Towne, but so famous heretofore that it was called Paris en Ardenne, in regard of the markets for Cattell and Corne, which were usually kept there, whither the Countrie round about did bring all sorts of commodi∣ties to the great enriching of the Towne. Betweene this Cittie and Arlunum, and S. Huberts Church, there are some Villages in the middle of the wood, in which the women after the Spanish fashion, when their husbands are carryed forth to be buried and interred, doe runne crying and weeping through the streetes, tearing their hayre and scratching their faces, with their nayles, in a mad and furious manner, which custome doth rather favour of Heatheanisme than Christianity. M•mmedium is conveniently situated on a high moun∣taine, at the foote whereof the River Chirsus glideth along; it is nine miles distant from Lutzenburg, and foure from Danvillieres, being a faire fortified towne. New-Castell is in Ardenne; it is 5 Miles distant from Ivosium, and nine from Lutzenburg; it is now a small Towne, and much decayed. Danvillieres is twelve miles distant from Lutzenburg; and foure from Verdunum, being in Lotharingia. Mar∣ville is divided into two parts, the one whereof is subject to the Duke of Lutzenburg, and the other to the Duke of Lotharingia; and therefore it is called the common Towne; it standeth by the Ri∣ver Chirsus, and is 12 miles distant from Lutzenburg. Roche en Ar∣denne, or the Rocke in Ardenne, and Durbium are twelve miles distant from Lutzenburg, being both pleasantly seated. S. Viti, is a very pleasant small towne, and is 12 miles distant from the Metropolis, and belongeth to the Prince of Orange. Salma is a rich and populous Cit∣tie, having a Countie appendant unto it. Marcha is a very auncient Towne, and is 14 miles from Lutzenburg. We will not mention for brevitie sake the Castells and famous Villages, in this Province, but will onely name three unwalled Citties. First Ivosium which is 12 miles from Lutzenburg, and foure from Mommedy, being heretofore a good strong Town, but at last Henry the second, King of France, be∣girt it round with an Armie in the yeare 1552. and tooke it; but after∣ward a peace being made, it was restored backe againe to Philip the second, King of Spaine, but the walls were ruinated as at Teroana, and a law was made that it should not be walled in againe. Chinium is 12. miles from Lutzenburg, which is unwalled, but by degrees it is re∣edified. It hath a County belonging to it, although it be subject to the Archdukes, and hath a large jurisdiction over some townes and Villages, neither is it subject to the Dukedome of Lutzenburg, but is joyned unto it. Twelve miles from Lutzenburg, standeth the Towne la Ferte neere the River Chirsus, being heretofore a pleasant Cittie, and now also it flourisheth although it be unwalled, and a great part of the Castell be fallen downe, but so much concerning these things. Let us passe to Limburg.