Valachia

Geography

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  1701 A system of geography by Herman Moll - Turky in Europe.jpg

Sources from old books

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

VALACHIA was so called from the Flaccians, a Nation of the Romanes. For the Romanes having overcome the Getes, brought thither a Colonie under the conduct of one Flaccus, whence it was first called Flaccia, and afterward Valachia. The Alpes and a continued ridge of Mountaines doe devide it from Hungary and Transilvania. It hath on the East a Lake full of Fish, which the River Pruth maketh: on the South it is bounded with Danubius; and on the West it toucheth upon Transilvania, by the Towne Severine, where there is Trajans Bridge, which had 34. Piles. On the North it is bounderd with the small River Hoina and Ister, and so the Country bendeth over against the Iland Pauce well knowne to Writers, which they now call Barillana. But Valachia, although it be encompassed with high Mountaines, yet it yeeldeth all things necessary. Moreover, it is rich in Mines of Gold, Silver, Iron, and Salt. Neither doth it want Vineyards, but it hath divers kindes of Cattle, especially excellent Horses and Ginnets. Here is the Towne Teniovizza where the Vaivode resideth. There are also other Townes, as Braila, and Trescortum, not farre from which there is Brimstone digged, of which they make Candels, as of waxe. The other parts of this County doe consist of Villages, the Rivers Hierasus, which the Inhabitants call Pruth, Hoyne, Danubius, and others.

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

VALACHIA, Valachia, aut Dacia Alpestris, is bounded on the North by Moldavia, on the South and East by the River Danube, and on the West by Transylvania, extending it self in form of a Triangle for the space of about 52 leagues from North to South, and 90 from East to West. The Air is temperate, and the Soil brings forth Corn, Grapes and other Fruits in great abundance. In the Pastures are bred Horses of an excellent kind, Oxen and numerous Flocks of Sheep; insomuch, that a very considerable Traffick for Leather is here maintain'd with the Polanders and Muscovites.

But this Principality hath been always more especially famous for Horses, insomuch that the Waywood hath sometimes maintain'd 3000 Horse-guards; and, at a short Warning hath been able to bring an Army of 6000 Horse-men into the Field.

But the Forests in like manner afford much variety of Game, besides Mines of divers sorts of Metals. The principal Rivers are the Aluta or Olt, the Tel•sch, the Jalonicza and the Missovio, which run almost in a parallel course and fall into the Danube. This Province hath a Waywood for its Governour, who is elected or approved by the Grand Seignior: He is sometimes styled Hospodar, that is to say, Chief General of the Militia, and pays every year to the Turks a Tribute of 70000 Ducats, altho' he is sometimes oblig'd to disburse 100000. to maintain himself in his Principality. The Valachians observe the Rites of the Greek Church, and acknowledge the Patriarch of Constantinople as their Metropolitan.

The Inhabitants fancy themselves to be the true Offspring of the Romans; and their Assertion seems to be confirm'd by the Idiom of their Language▪ which in many Words and Phrases comes nearer the ancient Latin than the modern Italian, altho' of late it hath been much corrupted with Russian, Dalmatian, Croatian and Turkish Expressions. As for the Government of the Country, its own Princes or Waywoods have always exercis'd the Soveraign Authority, who as long as the Kingdom of Hungary continu'd in a prosperous State, were wont to put themselves under the protection of that Monarch. In the year, 1391. the Turks first invaded Walachia, and at length in 1415. compell'd the People, that had gallantly defended themselves in several Rencounters, to submit to the Ottoman Yoke, which the Waywood attempted to throw off about 10 years after; but being soon reduc'd to extremity, was again oblig'd to swear Allegiance to the Grand Seignior, and to promise to assist the Turkish Forces in all their Expeditions against the Christians. Walachia continu'd in the same state till the year, 1595. when Sigismund Bathar Prince of Transylvania secur'd both this Principality and his own from their accustomed Bondage; however, the Inhabitants were not long able to maintain their Liberty, and therefore have ever since contentedly paid their Homage, without attempting another Revolt.

TERGOWISCH or TERWISCH▪ TARVIS, Tergovistus, Triphulum, Tiriscum aut Taros, the capital City of Valachia, wherein the Waywood usually keeps his Court, is seated on the River Launiza amidst the Marshes, towards the Confines of that part of Bulgaria which lies beyond the Danube, and was heretofore subject, together with the adjacent Territories, to the Dominion of the Kings of Hungary, being distant 60 miles from Nicopolis or Nigeboli to the North, somewhat more from Brassaw or Cronstadt, a Town of Transylvania, 94 from Hermanstadt to the South-east, 140 from Jassy to the Southwest, and 200 from Belgrade to the East.

BRASCOW, BRACSLOW or BRASGOW, is a considerable City toward the Northern-part of Valachia, being dignified with an Episcopal See, under the Metropolitan of Colocza, and distant 47 miles from Targovisch to the North.

The State of the Republick of RAGƲSA, Ragusina Ditio, is situated in Dalmatia, on the Coasts of the Adriatick Sea or Gulph of Venice, and extended in its greatest length from North-west to South-east for the space of 100 miles, but its breadth scarcely includes 25. This Country is not very considerable, as comprehending within its Jurisdiction only the City of the same name, the Town of Stagno, and two or three Burghs, together with the Peninsula of Hyllis or Sabioncello about 30 miles in compass, the Island of Melita or Melada, and some others. The Town of Stagno and Peninsula of Sabioncello, were granted to the Ragusians by Stephen King of Bosnia, A. D. 1333. as we are informed by Joannes Lucius a learned Writer.

RAGƲSA or RAGƲSI, Ragusium, named also Dubrounich by the Sclavonians, the Metropolis of the Republick and the See of an Archbishop, is well built, and enclosed on one side with a steep Rock; on the other it is advanced on a small point of Land into the Adriatick Sea. Some Authors believe it to be the Epidaurus of the Ancients; but others affirm, with greater probability, That it was founded by the Epidaurians after the destruction of their City, the Ruins whereof are yet to be seen at the distance of 6 miles from thence to the East, and commonly called Ragusi Vacchio or old Ragusa. However, the City of Ragusa is at present very populous, and one of the chiefest Marts of Dalmatia, altho' extended only one mile in compass. It is well fortified with a strong Castle and other Bulwarks, and environ'd with large Suburbs. It hath also a safe Harbour near the Island of Lacroma, about half a mile from the Town, and another very capacious bearing the name of Santa Croce, not far from thence to the East.

The Government of this Republick is almost like to that of Venice, and the Inhabitants are so tenacious of their Liberty, that they change their Doge, or supream Magistrate, every Month, and enjoyn the military Officers to maintain their Post only six Weeks. On which account the Gentlemen are not permitted to wear a Sword, nor to live out of their Houses, without giving notice thereof to the Senate. Moreover Strangers, and chiefly the Turks, are lockt up at night, within their several Apartments. Neither are the Gates of the City ever open, but for three or four hours by day in Summer-time, and not above an hour and half in Winter. The Senate is composed of 60 Senators, who cannot transact any Affair, unless 40 of them at least are present in Council. Actions or Suits at Law at their first Commencement are usually brought before six Members of the Senate, from whom there is an Appeal to the College of 30. who are no Senators; but if the Decree be for Sums exceeding 500 Crowns, the Appeals are finally determin'd by the Senate. As for Criminal Matters, they are judg'd by a Magistrate or Officer, from whom lies an Appeal to a Court consisting of six Senators; so that in case a Sentence or Decree be confirm'd there, the Trial is terminated; but if it happen otherwise, the Cause falls under the proper cognizance of the Senate. Lastly, Political Affairs of lesser moment are decided by the Governor, together with six Assessors of the Senate; and these 6 Senators execute the Office only for a year. The Judicial Proceedings of this Republick are drawn up in Latin, but the Lawyers plead in Italian, or the vulgar Language of the Country. The State causeth 12500 Hungars to be paid yearly to the Grand Seignior, on condition, That the Citizens may be exempted from all manner of Taxes and Imposts whatsoever throughout the whole Turkish Empire, wherein they have likewise ten Colonies, viz. in Servia, Bulgaria and Thrace, and enjoy the free exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion. Besides the said Tribute, which the Ragusians are constrain'd through fear to render to the Turks, they are oblig'd to allow a certain Revenue or Stipend to the Venetians, the Pope, Emperor and King of Spain, by vertue of a mutual Stipulation or Compact ratified between these States. Ragusa is very obnoxious to violent Earthquakes, and hath often suffer'd much damage thereby, more especially in the years 1614 and 1667. when the greater part of the City was overthrown; but it hath been since well rebuilt, and its Grandeur daily encreaseth.

STAGNO, Stagnum, is a small City of Dalmatia, yet dignified with a Bishop's See under the Metropolitan of Ragusa, from whence it is distant 30 miles to the North, being situated on the Coasts of the Adriatick Sea or Gulph of Venice, where it hath a commodious and safe Harbour.