Santonia

Sources from old books

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

SANTONIA: OR LE PAIS DE XAINGTONGE. THE ECCLESIASTIC ALL STATE. Santonia hath a Bishoprick, namely of XAINTOGNE. (Book Santonia) SANTONIA, called commonly Le Pays de Xaintogne, or Xaintongeois, and by the ancient Inhabitants the Santones, the Marshalship of Guienna, hath on the North Poictou,* 1.1 on the East Limosin and Perigort, on the South the River Garumna, and on the West the Ocean, where are the Islands commonly called Les Isles d' Oleron, in which there are great store of Cunnies and Hares. Heretofore the boundes of Santonia were larger, which wee may collect out of the Author of the Ephemerides concerning the French warre, who writeth, that it reached almost to the borders of Tholous; and that in the great warre against Caesar, the Councell of the Princes of France did command, that twelve thousand men should bee levied out of it, when eight thousand onely were levyed out of Poictou, and ten thousand out of Lemosin. The Countrey of Santonia doth abound with Corne and Wine,* 1.2 and it is counted one of the best Countries in France, as sending forth many commodities into Spaine, England, and other Countries. The Santones were formerly seated heere, for Caesar with others mentioneth them lib. 1. de Bello Gallic. In some of his Bookes they are called Xantones: In his second Booke hee cals them Santoni; and lib. 3. de Bell. Civili, Santonae: Strabo calleth them Santonoi, and Ptolemie Santoones, as Stephanus writeth. The chiefe Citie of this Countrie is Santonum, which in the native Language is called Saintes, by a plurall termination, as all the other French Townes which end in S, namely Paris, Rheims, and others. It was built by the ancient French-men; and no doubt but that Towne which was anciently called Mediolanum is this Xantonum or Santonum: for Antoninus cals it Mediolanum Santonum: the Itinerarie Table corruptly cals it Mediolanum Saneon, and Strabo and Ptolemie call it Mediolanon. Besides, there are divers things which shew the antiquity thereof, as first many pieces of ancient wals standing heere and there▪ also famous Amphitheaters without the wals toward the West; thirdly in the Bridge over the River l 1.3 Caroutonum or Charente, which floweth by the Citie, there is an old arch with a double inscription, on one side whereof there are these words, Caesari Nep. Divi Iulii Pontifici Auguri; on the other are some letters which are almost worne out, so that nothing can be gathered from them. Lastly there are many ruines of an Aquaeduct in the high way from Mediolanum to Angeriacum. This Citie is called Santonus by Ausonius in his 23 Epistle, as also by Lucan (if I bee not mistaken) lib. 1. And the same Ausonius calleth the people Santones, Epist. 14. and 18: as also Tacitus lib. 5. hist. August. and Sidonius Apollinaris lib. 7. Epist. 6. It was called Mediolanum, for that the French-men (as T. Livius doth witnesse) did build it in the Countrie of the Insubres or Mediolanenses, which is very likely, that I may not say certaine with Causabone. If Strabo had more diligently considered and beheld the Countrie lying round about this Citie, hee would not have said, that it is sandie and barren, but that it is rich and fruitfull. The Citie is situated by the fertile River Carantonum, which riseth in a place commonly called Charemac, betweene the Townes Limoges and Angoulesme. It is an Episcopall Citie, whereof Belleforrestius numbreth 63 Prelates: S. Eutropius was the first, being sent thither by S. Clement. And hee, after hee had converted this people to the Ecclesiasticall Faith, suffered Martyrdome under the Emperour Domitian. The last is called by Belleforestius Tristamus Bisetus, or Tristand de Biset. There is in this Citie the Monasterie of the Friars of the blessed Virgin, founded by Godfry Earle of Santonia, and his wife Agnes Anno 1047. The thirtieth Bishop of Santonum, being called Petrus Confoulanti, did build and reedifie the Bishops house in the yeare 1102, and caused the wals of the Cathedrall Church to bee repaired. After Mediolanum (or as some Latine Writers doe call it Santonia) followes Rupella, called in their Language la Rochelle. This seemeth by the description of Ptolemie to be called Zantonoon akron, or Promontorium Santonum; but it is called by Villanovanus m 1.4 Blaye, which is interpreted Santonum Portus. This Citie is seated in the most fertile part of all France, neere the Bay of the Sea, which hath twice a day the Sea ebbing and flowing in it. It is not ancient, but lately built by the Kings of France, in regard of the commoditie of the Haven, and to represse the invasions of Pirates, who did waste the whole coast of Armorica. The conveniencie of the Haven here is so great, that the Citizens may have commerce with all Nations of Europe, and wage warre both by Sea and Land against their enemies: for it is capable of many ships, it hath a great conveniencie for their going in and comming out, and is a safe and excellent harbour for them: This Citie is thought to be impregnable by the strength of man, for a great Bay of the Ocean doth fortifie the South side thereof, the North side the marishes and boggie places (commonly called Salantes) doe strengthen: and the other parts are fortified with wals, ditches, towres, and strong Forts, which have severall names, so that no Ordnance or Cannon can make a breach into it. It is a free Citie, which former Princes and others have adorned with many and great immunities and priviledges, and especially those which belong to Sea affaires, for the Citizens chuse a Maior and Aldermen out of their owne Corporation, which governe the Citie, and they are not compell'd to admit of any n 1.5 forreine government, neither are they kept in awe by any Garrison of Souldiers. Rochelle did sustaine a grievous seige, in the 1573, by Henry of Valois Duke of Anjou, and afterward King of Poland and France, of whom all Historiographers doe make mention. In this siege, he did use the thunder and lightning of Ordnance both by Sea and Land, as also furious assaults, stormes of shot, scaling Ladders, underminings, and all manner of engines which could bee invented or used. And on the besieged side, you might have seene men, women, and children with great courage of minde sustaine the furious assaults of their enemies, and with constancie and cheerfulnesse repaire the ruines of the wals, keepe down those that would have ascended up, drive back their enemies to their trenches, pursue them, and at last fight it out, for the most part, with good successe. Moreover you might have beheld them wearying the besiegers with daily sallying out upon them; and lastly subsisting after nine assaults, in which though their enemies did fight valiantly, yet they were enforced to retire with great losse. At length the Ambassadours of Polonia comming the 15 of Iune, that they might bring with them Henry Duke of Anjou, whom the States of the Kingdome had chosen for King, God used this as a meanes to free Rochelle, being now exhausted and drawne drie of Corne, and being weakned in warlike fortifications, besides the losse of many thousand men, for now the King by Articles of peace confirmed by his royall solemne edicts did grant, that Rochelle, Montalban, Nemansum, and other Cities which did defend themselves, should bee free to use their owne o 1.6 Religion, such an event had this grievous siege, which endured almost for seven moneths. In which time more than twentie thousand men perished in conflicts, sallies, besieges, by wounds, hunger, and sicknesse. Rochelle is a constant Seate for presidiall Senatours, and other Lawyers. The other Cities & Townes of note in Santonia, are commonly called S. •ean d' Angely, Ponts or Pont l' Oubleze, Blaye, Taillebourg, Borbesieux, Brovage, and Iosac, S. Iean d' Angely, otherwise called Angeliacum and S. Ioannes de Angeria, is a new Citie, although it be one of the speciallest and greatest of all Santonia. It renewed its name from an Abbey, which was built in that place, to the honour of S. Iohn the Baptist; the foundation whereof happened to be in the reigne of King Pipin, who kept his Court in the Pallace of Angeria, neere the River commonly called Boutonne, in the Countrie of Alnia; for hither (as they say) came certaine Monkes out of the Holy Land, who brought with them the head of S. Iohn Baptist, by whose comming, the King obtained a famous victorie over his enemies, and therefore in remembrance thereof hee built in that place where was the Pallace of Angeria, the Abbey of Saint Iohn, there placing religious men, and endowing them with great revenues, that they might there devote themselves to the service of God: now by this meanes people flocking thither, and building round about the Abbey, by degrees it began to be a Citie, as it is now at this day, and was called by the name of S. Iohn. All these things happened about the yeare of our Lord seven hundred sixtie eight, while Pipin waged warre against Gaifer King of Aquitania, whom hee overcame, as it may bee read in the Historie of the Foundation of this Abbey. This Citie the Duke of Andegavium or Aniou did besiege in the yeare 1569, and it was yeelded to him after 50 dayes siege, the King granting the Citizens th•se conditions: That they should march forth of the Citie with their Armour, Horses, and Colours displayed. Santonia raiseth great store of money by its Corne, which the Spaniards every yeare doe transport from thence, or Merchants which fell it unto them. And the Citie of Rochelle is very rich, in regard of its neerenesse to the Sea, and especially because of the traffick of the English and Dutch, whose shipping doe often arrive there.