Narbon

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

Narbon, a City of France in Languedoc, upon the River Aude, and an Archbishop's See. It is one of the most ancient Cities of that Kingdom. The Romans setled a Colony here, and made it the Capital of Gallia Narbonensis, and bestowed several Names upon it, as Narbo, Narbona, Narbo Martius, Civitas Acacinorum, Colonia Decumanorum, &c. It is situate in the midst of a low Plain, and watered by an Arm of the River Aude, which brings up Barges from the Sea, whence it is but two Leagues distant. The Romans had a great Esteem for this place; for we find that Crassus, Julius Caesar, Tiberius, &c. did People it three several times, and bestowed great Privileges upon it. The Pro-consuls had their ordinary Residence here, and honoured it with a Capitol and Amphitheatre, erected Municipal Schools, built Baths, Aquaeducts, &c. and fill'd it with all the Marks of the Roman Greatness: In acknowledgment of which favours, the Inhabitants erected an Altar in Honour of Augustus, as appears by an Inscription found in the XVI. Century. In 435, the Visigoths Besieged this City in vain; but it was Treacherously delivered to them in 462, by Count Agripin. And in 732, the Saracens took it from them, being admitted into the City as friends, but slew all, except the King. In 736, Charles Martel took it from the Saracens; since which it hath been subject to the Crown of France. The Cathedral Church is very ancient and famous, and is by some supposed to have been a Metropolitan See, since the Year 309. It is Dedicated to St. Justus and St. Martyr, and Renowned for its Organs, and the History of the Raising of Lazarus, painted by an excellent Hand. The City is well fortified, and hath onely two Gates. The Dukes of Septimania, were also Dukes of Narbon; and the Earls of Tholouse, who succeeded them, used the same Title; and the City and Diocess was governed under them by Viscounts. Gaston de Foix, King of Navarre, in 1468, bestowed the Viscounty of Narbon upon John his second Son, who Married the Sister of Lewis XII. by whom he had Gaston de Foix, kill'd at the Battle of Ravenna in 1513. This Gaston exchanged the City and Lordship of Narbon with his Uncle, for other Lands in 1507, by which means it became United to the Crown of France. Pontanus Itinerar. Gall. Narbonens. Jul. Scalig. de claris Urbib. Galliae. Elias Vinet. Narbon. Votum. La Perriere. Annal. de Foix. Of the Councils held at Narbon, consult St. Marth. Gallia Christiana. D. Marca, Archbishop of Paris, hath published and cleared several Antiquities of this City in the VII. and VIII. Chapters of his Marca Hispanica, Printed at Paris, in Fol. 1688.