Romania

Sources from old books

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

ROMANIA· (Book Romania)

ROMANIA is next to Bulgaria, which was so called from the chiefe Citty Constantinople, which was called also Roma ••va, or new Rome. It was heretofore called Thrace, either from Thra•es the Sonne of Mars, or from the Nimph Thrara, or rather, a feritate seu temeritate, from their wildnesse or rashnesse. It is parted from Macedon by the River Strymon; on the North is the River Haemus, on the other sides the Sea washeth it. This Country hath neither good ayre, nor soyle: and except it bee that part which lyeth toward the Sea, it is cold and unfruitfull. But by the •ea it hath fruit, and Corne. It hath few Apple trees, and but few Vines, which unlesse they be defended from the cold, the Grapes of them doe seldome come to maturity or ripenesse. It hath these Citties Abdera where Democritus was borne▪ also Nicopolis, Philippop•lis, Hadrianopolis, Trajanopolis, Selymbria, Perinthus, and many others. The Metropolis or Mother Citty is Bizantium, which was built by Pausanias, now they call it Constantin•ple, from Constantine, who made it the seate of his Empire. The Turkes call it Stampolda, as it were a large Citty. It is seated by an arme of the Sea, and it hath Pera over against it, which they call Galata, which was an ancient Colony of the Genuensians. There are divers Monuments of Antiquity in this Citty, some of which were brought thither from Rome. The chiefe are the Church of Sophia, which was built by the Emperour Iustinian. The Palace of Constantine. St. Lukes Church. A new Castle, a Colossus, a place to ride Horses, and many old Steeples. Two Rivers doe water it Cydrus, commonly called Machl•vam, and Barbises, also Chartaricon. The compasse of this Citty is 13. miles. And there are in it 700. thousand Inhabitants. This Country hath but few Rivers but those very famous, as Hebrus, Melanes, 〈◊〉, Arsas, B•••n••, and N•sla. It hath these Mountaines, Haemus, Rhodope, Orbelus, Pa•geus, and Messapus, these Countries are now subject to the Turke, who hath a Palace at Constantinople. Of whose power, and government I will speake briefly. There are about 200. whom the Turke every 4. yeeres doth command to gather thorow Greece, Walachia, Bosnia, and Anatolia, and his other Territories all the Christian Male Children, out of every Family, as a tenth due unto him, which they bring to Constantinopolis, Pera, and Adrianopolis, and deliver them to Citizens to bring them up, and the lesse hopefull they put forth to Country people in Bursia, and Caramania. All these are called Azamogla, or Iamogla, that is, innocent Infants, that know nothing, and when they are 8. yeeres old, 50. of the handsomest and hopefullest of them are placed in the Emperours Palace at Constantinople, which is called Saray, and there they are instructed in learning and rudiments of warre, untill they have attained to 20. yeeres of age. Out of these beside other Officers of the Court the Janitzaries are chosen, of whom there are 12000. who are the Turkes Garde. Out of the Janitzaries 3000. Spachoglani are chosen, who goe on the Princes right hand, and doe every one keepe 4. or 5. Horses for service. Hemus is a very high wood, so that from the top thereof you may behold the Euxine and Adrian Sea. The Inhabitants of this Country are yellow of complexion, long hayrd, couragious, fierce, and cruell: they are great drinkers, and doe love Wine.

1695. A New Body of Geography by A. Sewall & T. Child.

ROMANIA, Romania, aut Thracia.

WHEN the Eastern Emperors had establish'd their Seat in the Kingdom of Thrace, they gave the Name of Romania to this Province, and that of New Rome to the City of Constantinople, which was as so called from its Founder Constantine the Great. Romania is bounded on the North by Mount Balkan or Haemus, that separates it from Bulgaria, on the South by the Archipelago, on the East by the Black Sea, the Thracian Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmora, and on the West by Macedonia, being extended from the 41st Degree to the 44th Degree 30 Minutes of Latitude, for the space of about 70 Leagues and 110 from the 49th Degree 30 Minutes to the 57 Degree of Longitude.

The ancient Thracians at first had their particular Kings, then became Tributary to the Macedonians, and were made subject to the Romans by the Proconsul Caius Scribonius Curio. Afterward they were compelled to submit to the Destiny of the rest of Greece, and fell under the Tyranny of the Turks, who are now the only absolute Masters of all their Country since the taking of Constantinople by Mahomet II. A. D. 1453.

The Winds that blow from the Coasts of the Black-Sea, often render the Air cold, which nevertheless doth not hinder the Plague from being very frequent in these Parts. The Country brings forth much Corn and Fruit, and even affords Wine in some Places, together with Mines of Silver, Lead and Alum in the Mountains, and golden Sands in the Channel of the Mariza. Great quantities of Fish are caught on the Coasts, and more especially of Oisters. The Mariza is the only River of Note, and takes its rise at the foot of Mount Rhodope in Macedonia. Moreover, at the distance of 4 or 5 Leagues from the Coasts lies the Lake of Bastogna, which expatiates about 24 Leagues in compass.

The Government of this Province, at present, appertains to the Beglierbeg of Rumelia, and the Grand Signior maintains therein certain Cadies or Judges to administer Justice in the principal Cities. The Religion of the Greek Church is generally embrac'd here, notwithstanding the Persecution of the Mahometans. The Jews, in like manner profess theirs with much Liberty, besides some Roman Catholicks.

CONSTANTINOPLE, Constantinopolis, heretofore call'd Byzantium, and at present Stamboul by the Turks, is the Metropolis of Romania, and the chief Seat of the Grand Signior or Ottoman Emperor, as it hath been before of the Eastern or Grecian, being most advantagiously situated on the Thracian Bosphorus, as it were for an universal Empire, overlooking both Europe and Asia, and commanding the Euxine or Black-Sea, and the Propontis or that of Marmora. Its Harbour is likewise so deep and capacious that the Turks name it by way of Excellency The Port of the World. And indeed the great Bassin lying between Constantinople and Galata, makes the finest Haven in the Universe, round which one may take a View of the City itself to the S. the 2 Boroughs Fondukli and Tophana to the North, the Town of Scutari to the East, and Galata to the West, affording the most magnificent Object that can be seen or imagined; for the Buildings, extended in Form of an Amphitheatre, so as to be discerned all at once, the Mixture of Cypress-trees, the Houses of painted Wood, and the Domes of the Mosques, erected on the highest Ground, contribute much to the Beauty of this admirable Prospect.

This famous City was first founded by Pausanias, a Lacedaemonian General, about 660 Years before the Nativity of Jesus Christ, afterward sackt and ruined by the Roman Emperor Severus, and at length re-edified, A. C. 313, by Constantine the Great, the Son of Helena, who caused it to be beautified with a Capitol, a Cirque and an Amphitheatre, together with many spacious Courts, Portico's and other stately Edifices, according to the Model of old Rome. Moreover he established a Senate therein, built divers magnificent Churches, endowing them with considerable Revenues, founded a College, drew thither the Greatest and most Learned Men of all Parts of the World, by Largesses and liberal Stipends allowed to them, and begun a Royal Library, furnished with a great Number of Volumes; which were increased by his Successors to 120000. before it was burnt, under the Consulship of Basiliscus. The City of Constantinople is built in a triangular Figure, almost in Form of a Peninsula, and its Walls are washed on 3 Sides by the Sea, as being bounded on the North by the Bay formerly called Cornu or Chrysoceras, on the East by the very Mouth of the Strait or Bosphorus, on the South by the Propontis, and only on the West by the Continent of Thrace. The first of these Angles lies toward the East, at the End of the Promontory of the Bosphorus, called The Point of the Seraglio; the second to the South on the Propontis, at the extremity of the Walls, that are double toward the Land, and fortified with strong Towers; the third is the lower End of the Port turning from West to North, on that part of the Gulph, which bears the Name of the Blaquernies: This was a Suburb, where formerly stood a stately Palace and a Church, erected by the Empress Pulcheria in Honour of the Virgin Mary. Two Winds are here only predominant, viz. the North and South; for when the former blows nothing can come from the Sea of Marmora; but the Ships sailing from the Black-Sea, have a very fair Gale: On the contrary, when a southerly Wind reigns, none can come from the Black, whilst there is a free Current from the Sea of Marmora or the White-Sea. Insomuch that these Winds are, as it were, the two Keys of Constantinople, that open and shut the Passage for Vessels, and when both cease, small Pinnaces are row'd with Oars. In fine, Constantinople stands on 7 Hills, raised by its Founder in imitation of ancient Rome, and is extended for the space of 14 miles in compass, affording an Habitation to almost seven hundred thousand Persons of both Sexes. It was also adorn'd, fortified and enlarged by other Emperors; for in the VIIIth Century the double Walls toward the main Land were almost 2 Leagues round, those next the Propontis somewhat more, and those on the Side of the Gulph and Port little less. The Emperor Anastasius enclos'd the Suburbs (every one of which might be justly esteemed a Town) and all the Houses within 20 Leagues of the City, with a prodigious Wall, 20 foot broad, which began at Pont-Euxin, and reached to the Propontis. Furthermore, Constantine divided his New Rome into 14 Quarters, resembling those of the Old, every one whereof was beautified with sumptous Buildings, viz. the Acropolis or Fortress that commanded the Entrance of the Harbour, where the Seraglio now stands; the Pharos or Watch-Tower, the Gallery of Justinian; the Bagnio's of Arcadius, Zeusippus, Constantine and Anastasius, the Senate-House; the Hippodrome or great Cirque; the Churches of S. Euphemia, Anastasius and S. Acacius Martyr; the Arsenal; the Palaces of Constantine, Theodosius, Eudoxia and Arcadius; the Imperial Place, encompassed with a double Rank of Galleries, supported by fair Pillars; the grand Obelisk of Thebes in Egypt; that of Constantine the Great, with the Pillar of Porphyry, on which was erected his own Statue, made of a Colossus of Apollo, brought from Athens; the Theodosian Basilica and Pillar; the Statue of Arcadius on Mount Xerolophus; the Court of the Capitol; the golden mile, whence all Ways begun; the Temple of the Apostles founded by Constantine, and rebuilt by Justinian, wherein were the Emperor's Tombs, and on the Ruins of which Mahomet II. raised the stately Mosque still bearing his Name; the Town of Justinian, &c. besides the famous Church dedicated to S. Sophia, that is to say, the Divine Wisdom, one of the Master-pieces of Architecture, which was exactly described by Procopius, and deserves a more particular Narration.

But the Ornaments of Constantinople are altogether ruin'd and defaced, since it unhappily fell into the Turks Hands, so that the Footsteps of Constantine's City scarcely remain in the place on which it stood; for the Streets are narrow and uneven, and the Houses so low that they may more rightly be termed Cabbins, so that very little of their ancient Grandeur is retain'd, excepting the Seraglio or Royal Palace of the Grand Signior; those of some Noblemen, some Turkish Mosques, publick Bagnioes, Hospitals and Carvansera's, which are indeed magnificent Piles of Building, together with the remainder of the Porphyry Pillar, the Ruins of the Palace of Blaquernes, and about 2 or 3 more, besides the Church of S. Sophia; which noble Fabrick was first erected by Constantine the Great, but being consum'd with Fire, A.C. 530. it was rebuilt and much enlarged by the Emperor Justinian, within the space of 6 Years. It is environed with Pillars of curious Workmanship and beautiful Galleries, the Roof being adorn'd with Mosaick Painting, and the Sides and Floor lined with an excellent sort of Marble. Its length (as they say) from East to West, at first consisted of 260 Feet, and its heighth of 180, so that it was capab•e of containing 36000 Persons at once; but this largeness hath b•en much diminished since the Turks kept it in their Possession, by whom it is turned into a Mosque, and scarcely any other Part of it remains than that which is properly called the Chancel. It would be too tedious here to exhibit a Narrative of all the Accidents and Revolutions that happen'd in this Noble City since its Foundation by Constantine, to the Time it was taken by the Turks, there being never an Age that it was not afflicted with a Plague, Earth-quake, Fire, Civil Wars, Inroads of barbarous Nations, and many other Calamities. For in the Year 446. it was oppressed both with Plague and Famine, the Grand Church was burnt, and a great number of People were slain in an Uproar in the Cirque. In the next Year it was shaken by a terrible Earth-quake, which continued 6 Months, and overthrew divers Houses, Under the Reign of Leo, surnamed the Old, and the Consulship of Basiliscus, in 465. a very considerable part of the Town was almost destroyed by Fire, which brake forth violently for the space of 5 Furlongs in length and 14 in breadth, consuming all the Temples, Palaces, Houses and Statues that stood in its Way. When Justinian govern'd the Empire, about A. C. 557. a furious Earthquake had like to have prov'd its utter Ruin; at which Time strange subterraneous Noises were heard, and when they ceased the Air was agitated with horrible Whirl-winds, that made a hideous rumbling, and quite overturned several Churches: Which gave occasion to Justinian to re-edifie them more magnificent than they were before. Constantinople hath also been often besieged by the Saracens and other Barbarians, and no less frequently taken, more especially by Constantinus Copronymus, in 744. and by the French in 1204. who retained it in their Hands, under Emperors of their own Nation, during 58 Years, until Michael Palaeologus found means to surprize the Town, in 1261. when it still had its particular Embellishments, which have been long ago quite spoiled; nevertheless it is at present one of the richest, most populous and largest Cities of Europe. Mahomet II. Emperor of the Turks made himself absolute Master thereof, on Tuesday the 27th of May, A. D. 1453. after having slain Constantine, the XVth of that Name, and last Emperor of the Grecians, who perished, together with the Flower of their Nobility, in most couragiously defending that renowned Metropolis, which was built by the first Constantine to be a second Rome.

As for the Ecclesiastical State of Constantinople, its Bishoprick (according to the Opinion of most Historiographers) was at first Suffragan to that of Heraclea, but afterward this Place being made the Seat of the Eastern Empire, its Church in process of time, became the Metropolitan to that on which it before depended, and the Prelates of Heraclea had the Privilege to consecrate those of Constantinople, as the Bishops of Ostia did those of Rome. Moreover the Bishops of Constantinople assume the Title of Patriarchs, and the IIId Canon of the IId Council held therein allows them the first Place of Dignity after those of Rome, as being the second Rome; not to mention, That John, surnam'd the Younger, having exercised an encroached Authority over the Eastern Patriarch, first styled himself the Oecumenick or Universal Pope; but was stifly opposed on this account by Gelasius and S. Gregory, Bishops of Rome, the former of whom termed it A new Ʋsurpation, and the other more passionately call'd it, A proud Name, full of Blasphemy, Error and Venom: Which Dissention happen'd A. C. 595. Divers Councils have been likewise assembled at Constantinople, the first whereof, or second General, was held A. C. 381. by 150 Bishops, under the Pontificate of Damasus, and the Reign of Theodosius the Great; the main Design of this Convention being to maintain the Doctrine of the Council of Nice, which had been impugned in several false Synods, to condemn the Errors of Macedonius, and to re-establish orthodox Prelates in the See. The second Council of Constantinople, which is the fifth General, was convened in 553. under Pope Vigilius and the Emperor Justinian, on purpose to quiet the Commotions in the Church, raised about the Affair of the 3 Chapters and the Books of Origen. The third of Constantinople, or the sixth General Council was call'd by Pope Agathus, in the Time of Constantine Pogonatus, against the Heresie of the Monothelites, who acknowleding two Natures in Jesus Christ, yet asserted that there was but one Operation and one Will: They were condemned in this Council, held in the Chappel of the Royal Palace, called Trullum. It began on the 7th Day of November, A. C. 680. and ended on the 16th of September, in the Year ensuing. The fourth Council of Constantinople, or the eighth General one, was assembled in 869. against the Patriarch Photius, under Pope Adrian II. the Emperor Basil the Macedonian in the East, and Lewes Son of Lotharius in the West. Indeed the Greeks do not admit this Council, but another that the same Photius, being replaced on the See of Constantinople, after the Death of Ignatius, summoned in 879. and presided therein (as they say) over 383 Bishops. Besides these General, there were several particular Synods, more especially one conven'd by Constantine Copronymus, in 754. against the Adoration of Images, which consisted of 330 Bishops, and continued from the 10th of February to the 8th of August. Another was held in 842. under the Emperor Michael Porphyrogenneta, where Image-Worship was re-establish'd.

GALLATA is remarkable for its situation on the South-Side of a steep Hill, jetting out into a Promontory on the North-Side of the Harbour. It may well be esteemed a large City, in comprehending the Suburbs that lie to the East, West and North, altho' the compass of its Walls takes up no great space of Ground. It is also very populous, being inhabited more by Christians and Jews than by Turks, the Houses are thick and the Streets narrow. On the Top of the Hill stands a round Tower, adorn'd with high Spires, and cover'd with Lead. In this Place is established a common Mart for Merchants, who have a fair Caravan Serai, or Store-house, leaded and beautified with Cupaloes; wherein are exposed to sale certain Woollen-Cloaths called Londros, and divers other sorts of Merchandize. On the North-Side of Galata are the Suburbs named PERA by the Grecians, that is to say, beyond, by which Name they sometimes comprehend Gallata and all the adjacent Habitations beyond the Harbour from Constantinople. It consists of one large Street, that runs northward, and is crossed by several others, affording a Seat to the Foreign Ambassadors, Envoys and Residents.

SCƲTARI, or Scudaret, is seated over-against the Haven, between two Promontories of the Seraglio and Gallata, being a very large Town, and supposed to be the Chrysopolis and Dianae Forum of the Ancients, altho' there do not now remain any Monuments of Antiquity. It is beautified with a Royal Mosque, built and endowed by the Sultaness-Mother, as also a House of Pleasure, or Palace of the Grand Signior: And not far from hence, on the Brow of a Hill, one may take a very fair Prospect toward Constantinople, Gallata, the Propontis and the Bosphorus.

CHALCEDON, Chalcedon was built by the Megarians (according to the Report of Strabo and Eusebius) in the XIIIth Olympiad, A.Ʋ. 69. A.C. 685. and some Years before Byzantium. Indeed it was once a very considerable City, and dignified with the Title of a Metropolitan See. Theramenes the Athenian found means to surprize it at the same time whilst Alcibiades took Byzantium, AƲ. 345. Afterward Mithridates, King of Pontus, having subdued Bithynia, besieged Cottas in this Place A. Ʋ. 680. but was repulsed by the Roman Consul Lucius Lucullus. In the IVth Century, viz. A. C. 363. Precopius, who pretended to derive his Original from Julian the Apostate, made himself Master thereof, and having entred privately into Constantinople, usurped the whole Empire, until Valens caused him to be put to Death, and gave Orders to demolish the Walls of Chalcedon, which hath since degenerated into a small obscure Town, called Cadiqui by the Turks, altho' it is still known among the modern Greeks by the Name of Chalcedona: Neither is it now famous for any thing but some ancient Sepulchral Monuments, and the Memory of two considerable Councils, the first of which was held there in the 20th Year of the Reign of Constantine the Great, A. C. 327. and the other conven'd on the 8th Day of October, 451. wherein 630 Bishops were present, who condemned the Errors of Eutyches, deposed Dioscorus Patriarch of Constantinople, and erected Chalcedon into an Archbishop's See.

ABDERA, or Asperosa, lies on the Shore of the Aegean-Sea, between the Mouths of the Rivers Nessus and Hebrus, about 15 miles from the Bistonian Lake to the East. It was built by Abderus the Son of Diomedes, and had been for some Time a Colony of the Tejans; altho' others affirm that its Name was taken from Abderus, one of the Companions of Hercules, torn in Pieces by Diomedes's Horses. The Clazomenians raised it to so high a degree of Grandeur, that it was proverbially termed Abdera the Beautiful; nevertheless, the Inhabitants are accused of Stupidity by Cicero, and the Horses that fed in the adjacent Meadows often ran mad, which gave occasion to the Proverb, Abderitica Mens, to denote a Lunatick Person. Some Authors have observed, That the Frenzy with which these People were seiz'd, was usually the effect of a preceeding Fever, and that they were wont to walk about the Streets singing Verses and acting Stage-plays. Moreover their Territories were so much infested by Rats and Mice, that they were at length obliged to depart thence, and transplant themselves into Macedonia.

GALLIPOLI, Gallipolis stands at the Mouth of the Propontis, in the Thracian Chersonese, on a Strait of the same Name, otherwise call'd S. George's Arm, and the Straits of the Dardinels, but formerly the Hellespont, 110 miles from Constantinople to the South. It is a large Town, extended 5 or 6 miles in compass. This Place was heretofore much more considerable than it is at present, and very little remains of its ancient Splendor. It hath two Bays on the North and South, convenient for Galleys and Boats; but the Southern seems to be more safe and capable of containing Ships of greater Burden: On the Shore are also some dry Stations for Vessels. The Town appears more advantagiously from without than within, as does most of those in Turkey. For the Mosques or Churches, and Bezestans or places of Traffick being adorn'd with Cupalo's cover'd with Lead, and Minarets or high slender Steeples, together with the Groves of tall Cypress Trees afford a very pleasant Prospect: But the Houses are low built generally of Wood and Earth, the Streets narrow, and often cover'd with Wood to keep off the Sun. This place is not populous with respect to its bigness, yet the number of Inhabitants is reputed to amount to 12000 Turks, four or five Thousand Greeks, and as many Jews.

TRAJANOPOLI, Trajanopolis a Town of Thrace, bearing the Title of an Arch-Bishoprick, was at first call'd Zernis, and afterward receiv'd its Modern Name from the Emperor Trajan. It is distant 58 miles from Maximianopoli to the West, 23 from Aprio to the East, and 86 from Adrianople to the South-East.

ADRIANOPLE or ANDERNOPOLI, Adrianopolis, aut Hadrianopolis took its Name from the Emperor Adrian, by whom it was repair'd, A. C. 122. and is seated on three low Hills near the Confluence of the Rivers Darda, Tomagia and Mariza, at the distances of 140 miles from Constantinople to the West; 165 from Sofia, 390 from Belgrada, 550 from Bu•a, 75 from Philippopoli, and 80 from the Coasts of the Archipelago to the North. It heretofore bore the name of Oresta, from that of Orestes, the Son of Agamemnon, its supposed Founder, and is at present called Endrem by the Turks, who made themselves Masters thereof under Amurath I. A. D. 1362. since which time it continued to be the Royal Seat of their Princes, until Mahomet II. Sirnamed the Great took Constantinople from Constantine Paloeologus, the last of the Eastern Emperors, 91 years after. The Grand Signior as yet often resides in this City, (which is very fair and large, and well built,) by reason of the Plague that frequently rageth at Constantinople.