Serbia

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.

SERVIA, which Lazius calls the higher Maesia, is a Country betweene Bosnia and Bulgaria. Some suppose that this was the Triballians Country: and that these people came hither, at the declining of the Graecian and Romane Empire. Cuspianus and Volaterranus doe write that the Trojans did inhabit Servia and Rasica. The chiefe Citty of Servia was Sinderovia, which some doe call Spenderoben, and other Simandria, or Semendria, the Turkes doe call it Semender, and the Hungarians Zendrow, which lyeth not farre from Belgradus by the bankes of Danubius, and it was taken by the Turkish Emperour Amurath, in the yeere 1428. and reduced into a Sangiacate under the Beglerbeg of Buda. There are also the Townes Vidina, which the Turkes call Kiratovum, which is seated by the Mountaine Argentarus. Also Novogradum on the borders of Servia, which some do call the new Mountaine, it hath an impregnable Castle. There is also the black Mountaine, in which there are Silver Mines. There are also Samandria, and Prisdena, where the Emperour Iustinian was borne. Also Stonibrigadum, and Belgradum, heretofore called Taurunum.

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

SERVIA, Servia aut Maesia superior, & BULGARIA, Bulgaria

THE ancient Maesia contained these two Provinces, excepting that its Limits were not so far extended toward the East, but at present this Country advanceth as far as the Black Sea, by reason that the Territories of the Dobrussian Tartars have been joyned to those of Bulgaria. They are bounded on the North by the Danube, on the South by the Mountains, that separate them from Greece and Romania, on the East by the Coasts of the Black Sea and Romania, and on the West by the River Drin and Bosnia. Their extent from East to West, that is to say, from Bosnia on the same Sea, consists of about 150 leagues and 60 in their largest breadth from North to South, viz. from Walachia to Albania. They are situated between the 42d Degree 40th Minute, and the 45th Degree 20 Minutes of Latitude; as also between the 43d Degree and the 45th of Longitude, so that the Air is very temperate and healthful, and the Soil no less fertile, altho' the greater part thereof is untill'd, by reason that the Turks deprive the Peasants of almost the whole Fruit of their Labour. Cattle and most sorts of Fowl are here sold at a dear rate; neither is the Bread good, as being baked in many places under Ashes: The chief Rivers are the Save, which receives into its Channel the Streams of the Drin and the Morave, which in like manner intermixeth its Waters with those of Nissava, but at length, after a long course falls into the Danube.

The Inhabitants of these Provinces are Cruel, very much inclin'd to Robbery and Drunkenness, more especially the Servians, who carry away Children on purpose to sell them to the Turks for infamous Uses. The Bulgarians are not so inhuman, being somewhat more civilized. However, both these Sorts of People are famous on the account of their great Courage and Magnanimity. These Provinces were at first go•ern'd by certain particular Kings and Princes until Mahomet II. Emperor of the Turks, subdued them, and they depend at this Day on the Jurisdiction of the Beglierbeg of Rumelia. About 30 or 40000 Roman Catholicks reside in these Territories, and are very poor: The Grecians inhabit the Towns, and are more numerous; the Mahometans dwell in the Burghs and Villages: But the Jews engross to themselves almost the whole Traffick, and have many Synagogues.

SERVIA.

BELGRADE, or Grischish-Weissemburg, Alba Graeca, aut Alba Bulgaria, the Metropolis of Servia, is seated on a Hill in the Country of Rascia, a little below the Place where the Save and the Danube intermix their Waters, at the distance of 160 miles from Hermanstadt to the South-west, 165 from from Buda to the South-east, 230 from Sofia to the North-west, 280 from Vienna to the South-east, and 540 almost West of Constantinople. It is well fortified with a Castle and divers other regular Works, and was erected into an Episcopal See, under the Metropolitan of Antivari by Pope Innocent X. Some Authors believe it to be the same with the Taurinum of the Ancients; but since this Town was more remote from the Confluence of the Save and Danube, it is more probable that Belgrade only sprang up out of its Ruins, not far from that old Station.

Amurath II. Emperor of the Turks, was here defeated, in the Year 1439. And his Son, Mahomet II. lost an Army consisting of 250000 Men before the same Place, in 1456. which formidable Forces were broken and entirely ruin'd by a Stratagem of tha• renowed General John Corvinus Huniades; for having suffer'd a Party of Turks to enter the Town, whilst they were plundering, he made a Sally, suddenly seized on their Cannon, and turned them against the main Body of the Enemies, of whom 40000 were slain on the Spot, and the rest betook themselves to Flight, leaving all their Baggage and Ammunition behind. In 1521. Solyman, surnam'd the Magnificent, made himself Master of Belgrade, after a Siege of 2 Months, Lewes the young King of Hungary having then scarcely attain'd to the 15th Year of his Age, and the other Christian Princes being hotly engaged in mutual Broils. The Turks slighted it for many Years after, but in 1686 began to repair its Fortifications, after the loss of Buda. In 1688. the Duke of Bavaria, having received Orders from the Emperor, passed the Save with a puissant Army, discomfited 6000 of the Flower of the Turkish Troops, and on the 10th Day of August continued his March toward Belgrade. Whereupon the Infidels setting Fire to the lower Town abandon'd it, and left an old Bassa to command the upper Town and Castle, which were thrice successively storm'd by the Imperialists on the 6th of September, insomuch that at the 3d Assault they carryed the Place, and at first put all they met to the Sword, until about 7000 being cut off and thrown into the River Save, the Bassa and 3000 others obtained quarter, by reason that they had set 200 Christian Slaves bound with Fetters between themselves and the Imperial Troops, of whom about 4000 were kill'd and wounded during the Siege. They found there 70 Pieces of Ordnance, besides great store of Plunder, altho' the Burghers had been for a long Time removing their Effects, and 1000 Boats were conveyed down the River the Day before the Lower Town was burnt.

In 1690. the Imperial Forces being attackt by the French King on the Rhine, the Grand Visier took an Opportunity to invest Belgrade, October 3d, with 60000 Men, the Garrison, then consisting of 6000 Germans, well furnished with necessary Provisions, who made a resolute defence, and slew a great number of Turks; but on the 8th a Bomb falling into the Magazine, blew it up, together with 1700 Soldiers, just ready to mount the Guard; soon after the other Store-houses were likewise fir'd, part of the Walls blown up, and the Trenches filled with the Rubbish, so that the Enemies easily rushed in by whole Squadrons, sparing none that stood in their Way. Thus was the Town and Castle destroy'd by the Fire, and the Governour, only with 300 of his Soldiers found Means to escape, with much difficulty. The Turks have since refortified the City, and as yet retain it in their Possession.

Nissa, a Town of very great Importance on the River Nichawa, near its fall into the Morava, distant 140 miles from Belgrade to the South-east, as also 15 German miles from Scopia to the North, 12 from Giustandel to the West, and 42 from Thessalonica to the North-west. The Imperial Forces, under the Conduct of Prince Lewes of Baden, gained a memorable Victory here, over the Turks, on the 24th Day of September, A. D. 1689. so that the Town surrendred the next day, and the whole Provinces of Servia and Albania submitted to the Emperor. But it was retaken by the Turks in 1690. after a Siege of 3 Weeks. It is naturally strong, by reason of its advantagious situation, and capable of being much improv'd by Art, being also adorn'd with 5 Turkish Mosques, and environ'd with a very fruitful Country.

SEMENDRIA, Semenbria or Senderow, was heretofore the Capital City of Servia, and sometime a Bishop's See, but is now almost ruin'd. It stands on the Banks of the Danube, 24 miles from Belgrade to the East, and was taken from the Imperialists by the Turks, A. D. 1690.

SCOPIA or Ʋscopia, is situated partly on a Hill and partly on a pleasant Plain, at the Foot of Mount Orbelus near the Banks of the River Varatazar, and the Confines of Macedonia. It was first a Bishop's See, and afterward erected into a Metropolitan. It is also at present a populous and Trading City, adorn'd with many fair Houses and Mosques, besides some neat Sepulchral Monuments. The most considerable Houses are furnished with Carpets to tread on, curiously painted and embroider'd. The Avenues are also set off with Trees, Hills and Valleys, affording a very delightful Prospect. The Inhabitants not long since were chiefly Asiaticks, plac'd there by Mahomet I. and according to the Report of the Germans 60000 in number, besides 400 Jews. For this City, in the Year 1689. being abandon'd by the Turkish Bassa and the Citizens, was taken by General Picolomini for the Emperor of Germany. But in regard it was only walled, and fell into the Hands of the Imperialists, when the Summer-Season was far advanc'd, they pillaged it, and set it on Fire. It is distant 60 miles from Nissa to the South, 66 from Sofia almost to the West, and 200 from Belgrade to the South-east.