Mantua, Province

Sources from old books

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

THe Dukedome of Mantua is so named from the Citty Mantua. It was first governed by the Thuscians, who built this Citty, after∣ward the French Cenomanian did governe it, after whom the Ro∣manes obtained it. It endured much misery under the Triumvirate. For when Cremona was left as a prey to the Conquerours, it lost a great part of his Territory by his vicinity and neighbour-hood unto it. Whence Virgil saith.

Mantuavae miserae nimium vicina Cremona. Mantua alas doth stand too nigh,Cremona opprest with misery.

There succeeded after the Romanes, the Gothes, and Langbards: who being expelled, it was reduced to the obedience of the Romane Empire, which afterward decaying, it got liberty with many other Citties, which it enjoyed, untill the Emperour Otho the second gave it to Theobald Earle of Canossaw. There succeeded after him his Sonne Boniface, and he dying without any Issue Male, his Wife Beatrix, and his Daughter Mathilde succeeded, who much enlarged Mantua. That Citty which Strabo and Ptolemy did call Mantua, is now called Mantoa. Divers have sundry opinions concerning the originall of this Citty. Howsoever, the originall is most ancient. It is seated in the middest of the Marshes, which the River Mincius flowing out of the Lake Be∣nacum doth make, neither can you goe unto it but by great high Bridges: hence in regard of the naturall situation it is accounted one of the strongest Citties of Italy. It is a faire Citty, adorned with magnificent publike and private buildings, and faire streets.

1695. Thesaurus geographicus a new body of geography by Abel Swall and Tim. Child.

THE State of MANTƲA comprehends within its Bounds many others of a lesser extent; which the Duke holds in Fee of the Emperor, from whom he receives the Investiture. It is bounded on the North by the Country of Verona, depending on the Republick of Venice; on the West, by that of Bressano, and part of the Milanez; on the South, by the Dutchy of Modena; and on the East, by the Ecclesiastical State. It is in Length, from East to West, about 68 Miles; and in Breadth, from North to South, about 44 Miles. This Prince is descended of the House of Gonzagua, and hath possess'd these Territories ever since the Year 1327, or 1328. Luigi, or Lues, of Gonzagua, having put to Death Passerino Bonacolsa, Tyrant of the Country, first obtain'd the Lordship thereof, in Quality of Vicar of the Empire. Afterward, his Posterity often assum'd the Title of Captains, until the time of John Francis Gonzagua, whom the Emperor Sigismund created Marquis, A. D. 1433. At length, Charles V. erected it into a Dutchy; and the Dukes have been frequently assisted in maintaining their Right by the French Forces, more-especially under the Reign of Lewis XIII. in 1629, both before and after the concluding of the Treaty of Peace at Cherasco. This Country is extremely fertile, and yields a Revenue of about 400000 Crowns Yearly, but of late it is grown much poorer: It compriseth some Places os the Dutchy of Montferrat, which are likewise united to its Dominions.

The State of Mantua is divided into two Principal Parts.

• 1. In the Dutchy of Mantua are included these Principal Towns, &c. Viz.
  • MANTƲA, Bish. and Cap.
  • Castiglione della Stivere, Princip.
  • Bozzolo, Dutchy.
  • Sabioneto, Princip.
  • Guastallo, Dutchy.
  • ...Goito.
  • ...Solfarino.
  • ...Ostiano.
  • ...St. Martino.
  • Rodigo, County.
  • ...Serinido.
  • Luzzaro, Lordsh.
  • Gonzagua, Marq.
  • Borgo, Fortr.
  • Vadano, Marq.
  • ...Nuolare.
  • Dozolo, Marq.
  • Castel-Giofrido, Lordship.
• 2. Part of Montferrat, wherein are these Towns, Viz. These Places have been already described.
  • CASAL, Bish. now in the Posses. of the French.
  • ...Occimiano.
  • ...Balzola.
  • Acqui, Bish.
  • ...Ripalta.

MANTƲA, in the Latit. 44 deg. 30. min. and the Longit. of 33 deg. 10 min. is built on the side of a Lake, or rather a Pool made by the River Mincio, which flowing out of the Lake of Guarda, and meeting with low Grounds, enlarges it self to form a kind of Marsh, which is twelve or fifteen times longer than broad; insomuch that one cannot approach near the Town Walls, without passing over two Bridges erected on the same Marsh, one whereof is 600 Paces long. In coming hither from Cremona, you pass over a Causeway reaching only 2 or 300 Paces in length; but on the other side, as one goes to Verona, the Marsh, or Lake (if you please) is much larger. There are some Places where these Waters always run; but in others they stand, and so far infect the Air of Mantua, that during the excessive Heats of the Summer-season, all those Inhabitants that are able, depart out of the Place. The Situation of Mantua is not unlike that of Verona; but there is this difference, that the latter, besides its Marsh, is defended by a strong Fortification; whereas Mantua is only encompass'd with a simple Wall, although indeed the Citadel is a considerable Defence thereto. This City, which is moderately large, taking up almost 4 Miles in compass, was first founded (as it is generally believed) 430 Years before that of Rome, and is at present dignified with an Episcopal See, depending only on the Jurisdiction of the Pope, although it formerly appertain'd to that of the Patriarch of Aquileia, until A. D. 1453. It formerly bore the Title of a Marquisate, which was erected into a Dutchy by the Emperor Charles V. in 1530. It stands 34 Miles North-East of Turin, 23 almost South of Verona, 42 North-West of Modena, 84 almost West of Venice, 100 North-West of Florence, and 234 North-West of Rome, being adorn'd with 8 Gates, and including within its several Precincts 18 Parishes, 40 Monasteries for Religious Persons of both Sexes, and nigh 50000 Souls, which is scarce answerable to the Bigness, being rather in a declining Condition.

There are some Streets very large and streight, but the Houses are mean, and of an unequal height, excepting a very small number. The most remarkable publick Buildings are the Dome, or Cathedral, the Roof whereof is all Overlaid with Gold, and Painted; the Church of St. Dominick; the Duke's Palace, formerly very Famous for its costly Furniture and Riches, and the Town House; besides a great number of Mills and Magazines, in which are made considerable quantities of Silk, and other Manufactures. The City of Mantua was taken, on the 18th. day of July, A D. 1630. by Colalto, General of the Imperial Forces, when the Soldiers ruin'd all the incomparable Works, and entirely pillag'd the Prince's Palace, wherein were contain'd many things of an inestimable Value, viz. curious Paintings, Statues, Cabinets, Vessels of Gold and Silver, &c. Among these Rarities, there were also an Unicorn, and a pair of Organs of Alabaster; and six Tables, every one of which was three Foot long; the first was made altogether of Emralds, the second of Turquoises, the third of Jacinths, the fourth of Saphires, the fifth of Amber, and the sixth of Jasper.

The Duke of Mantua hath seven or eight Houses of Pleasure without the Walls, the chief of which are nam'd Favoria, Goto, Virgiliana, and Marmirolo. The last of these is situated at the end of a spacious Road, over-shadow'd on both sides with very high Trees, and distant about a large League and a half from Mantua. This most delectable Seat is adorn'd with a Rivulet as clear as Crystal, a pleasant Wood, and many Gardens, Orchards, Orange-Houses, Aviaries and Fountains: The several Apartments being in like manner well furnish'd with variety of Paintings, Antick Figures, and divers other Rarities. One cannot well leave Mantua, without calling to mind that Virgil, the Prince of Latin Poets, was born in the Village of Andes, near this City; which hath also given Birth to the Famous Italian Poet Tasso, and many other Illustrious Personages.

Castiglione delle Stivere, Castilio Stiverorum, is the chief Town of a small Territory of the same Name, bearing the Title of a Principality, and stands on the Frontiers of the Dutchy of Mantua, almost in the midst between this City and that of Brescia, at the distance of 6 or 7 Leagues; as also about 12 Miles from Peschiera. It is defended with a strong Fort, and govern'd by its proper Princes of the Family of Gonzagua.

Bozzolo is a small Town environ'd with a sort of Fortification, and appertains, together with a Territory of 4 or 5 Miles in extent, to a Duke, who takes his Title from thence, and is Lord of the Manour.