Lombardy

Sources from old books

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

HItherto wee have described Italie in generall, now wee come to describe the severall parts thereof in particular. Some have devided Italie divers wayes. Augustus as Pliny witnesseth hath devided it into 11. Countries. Strabo doth part it into eight. Others into more, but we omitting them will follow the devision and method which Mercator hath propounded unto us. And the first is the Table of Lombardy, in which the Westerne part thereof, together with Valesia is described. It is now Euphoniae gratia, or for the sound sake call'd Lombardie, in stead of Langbardia, which was so called from the Langbardians, who came hither out of Germany in the raigne of the Emperour Iustinian: who for many yeeres together were seated on both bankes of the River Po. It was called heretofore Gallia Cisalpina. Gallia was inhabited by the Frenchmen, the Boyans, the Senonians, the Insubrians, the Cenomanians, and others, who inhabited all that part which is between the foot of the Alpes, & the River. That Rubicon was called Cis-Alpina, because it was on this side the Alpes, as the ancient Italians and the Romane Writers doe report, and the other was that which was inhabited beyond the Alpes. This Cis Alpina where it is most Northward, and lyeth neerest to the Mountaines, Pliny calls Sub Alpina, and Caesar calleth it the higher France for the causes before mentioned. Ausonius calleth it ancient France: Appian calleth it Italia Gallica, or Galatiken: the Register Booke of the Provinces calleth it the Mediterranean Italie: not because it lyeth in the Mediterranean Sea, but because it lyeth in the inward part of the Country: it is encompassed on the North, West, and South with the Alpes, and the Apennine: on the East with the Hadriatick Sea. Polybius and Pli•y doe make this Country to have a Triangular forme, the top whereof is the Alpes, and yet Plutarch in Camillus witnesseth that it is watered with many Rivers. Sidonius speaketh elegantly of this Country. Campi adeo culti & uberes intercedunt (de Pado loquitur) ut satis constet haud temerè alios repiriri aut natura feraciores, aut rebus necessarijs ad hominum vitam instructiores. that is, The Fields are so rich and fruitfull that doe lye on either side (for he speaketh of Padus) so that there are none more fertill, or that affoord more necessaries for the sustentation of mans life. Sigonius afterward addeth that the Ligurians and Etrurians were the ancient Princes thereof: afterward the Frenchmen: and lastly, the Romanes after whom the Gothes succeeded: and the Romanes againe after the Gothes: and after the Romanes the Langbards, as we may see in Sabellicus. Lib. Hist. Venetae 1. Decade 4. Strabo, Pliny, and others doe make Gallia Cis Alpina toward the West twofold, either Cis-Padana, commonly called Lombardia di qua dal Po, or Trans-Padana, della dal Po, because the one is on the hither side, the other beyond Po. But here we describe the Westerne part of the Alpine Lumbardy, which doth containe a great part of Lombardy Trans-Padana. This Country although it be Mountainous, and in some places wooddy, yet it is enriched with divers naturall gifts: for the Valleys and Champion grounds, are of a fruitfull soyle, having abundance of Corne, Wine, and other fruits. And Hills which beare excellent Vines. In the Woods also and the Mountaines there is good hunting of wild beasts. Here are many Citties and Townes: as Mediolanum, Crem•, Bergomum, Comum, Clavenna, Luganum, &c. which may be seene in the Table. It hath also more great Lakes than any other parts of Italy: among which is that which Pliny and Strabo call Verbanus, which the Italians, in regard it is greater than the rest, doe call Lago majore: and the Germanes Lang see. Strabo maketh the length of it 300. furlongs, and the breadth of it 30. furlongs. It is so deepe in most places, that it seemes to have no bottome. It doth breed excellent Fish, especially large Trouts and great Pikes, also Perches, and others. The Lake which Virgil and others call Laris Lacus, and Paul Diaconus and Antonius doe call Comacenus from the adjacent Citty, the Italians doe now call it Lago di Como, and the Germanes Chumer-see, it is greater than Benacus, and almost equall to Verbanus. Strabo writeth that the length of it is 300. furlongs, and the breadth 30. furlongs. But moderne Writers doe measure it otherwise. It runneth Northward unto the South, but somewhat bending Eastward. But betweene Verbanum and Larium, there are some lesser Lakes. As the Lakes Luganus, Gaviratius, Monatius, and others. These Rivers also doe water this Country, Ticinus, Adava, Serius, Tosa, Bremba, and many others. There are also divers Mountaines, as Lucumonis Mons, commonly called Lucmannier, Gothards Mountaine, and the greater Alpes of Lepontium: also the Rhetian Alpes, and many others. But so much hitherto: now it remaines that we should entreat of Valesia in the other part of this Table.

THe second Table of Lombardy containeth the County of Tirolis, and Marca Tarvisina. The Country of Tirolis is so named from the Towne Tirolus, which was heretofore very faire. It lyeth betweene the Rivers Athesis, and Oenus, and betweene the Alpine Rocks: on the North it is enclosed with Bavaria, on the South with Lombardy: on the East with Marca Tarvisina, and Forum Iulij: on the West with Helvetia. It was heretofore a part of Rhetium. This Country although it be enclosed with Alpes, and extendeth it selfe thorow the Rhaetian Rockes, yet it is rich in fruits, and all things necessary to life, as also it hath great store of Gold, Silver, and all kindes of Mettals, which are drawn out of the bowels of the Mountaines, the tops whereof are crowned with vast Woods, and full of great store of wilde beasts: the Hills and Cliffes, are full of fruits and Vines: the Valleys are watered with Fountaines and Rivers, and full of Heards and Flocks of Cattle. And therefore this County may be equal'd and compared not onely to a Dukedome▪ but also to a Kingdome. It was joyned to the House of Austria, in the yeere 1460. by Rodolph the Sonne of Albert Duke of Austria. The Chiefe Citty is Oenipons, commonly call'd Inspruck, on the right hand banck of the River Oenus, being the seate of the Prince, and the Parliament of Austria is kept here. There are also the Towne Ma•••am, by the Royall Castle; and Bolzanum a Mart Towne of Tirolis. Halla is a Town by the River Oenus famous for making of Salt: B•ixia is an Episcopall Citty by the River Isacus where the River Rientius doth disburden it selfe into Isacus. There is also the old Citty T•iden•••• by the River Athesis, which Pliny and Strabo doe place in the tenth Country of Italy, some would have it built by the Frenchmen; and so •••gus delivers. It is supposed that it was so named from Neptunes Trident. For as the Randenensians doe worship Saturne, so the Tridentines did worship Neptune, whose effigies and statue may be yet seene in the Church of B. Viglius, on that side which lyeth toward the Market. Theodorick King of the Ostrogoths did wall this Citty with faire freestone. And hee fortified the Castle of Tridentum on the other banck of the River in Verrucā in like manner. Afterward wh•• 〈◊〉 Ostrogothes were expelled out of Italy, the Langbards did posse••• as a Dukedome. But Desiderius King of Langbards being overcome by Charles the great, it came againe to bee under the Emperours Jurisdiction; and the Emperour did enlarge it, by the accession and addition of the Towne Ripa neere Benacum, with some Valleys and Villages. After him Charles the Saxone gave to the Church the whole County of Tridentum, together with a faire Valley, and the Towne B•lzanius. And the Earle of Tirolis was made Defender and Protector thereof. And from that time the Bishop had Jurisdiction over both. The Citizens doe speake partly the Germane language, and partly the Italians: and which is seldome seene in Frontiere Citties, they speake as pure language, as in the middle of Germany, or in the middle of Italy. In this Citty that famous Counsell was celebrated, in the yeere 1546. under Pope Paul the third. This Country is watered with two speciall Rivers, Oenus and Athesis. The other may rather be called Rivulets than Rivers. Here are no particular Mountaines, for they are all called by one generall name the Rhetian Alpes, although they are afterward distinguished by their proper names. Here are also many woods: as Grinwald, Hosgarten, In der Aich, Milrinald Forrest, Vnser Frawen Holtz, &c.

THe third Table of Lombardy followeth, in which Pedemontium, the Marquiship of Montisferrat, and the Dukedome of Genoa are describ'd and delineated. Ped•montium is the first, which is so called, quod ad pedem sit montium, because it is at the foote of the Mountaines, or the Alpes, which doe devide France and Sabaudia from Italie: it is commonly call'd Piamonte. It is bounderd on the East with Padus; on the South with the Ligurian Alpes: on the West with the Alpes of France: on the North with Duria and Riparia. This Country is full of fruitfull pleasant Hills, which doe yeeld excellent Corne, Wine, and other fruits. And it hath Mines of Iron neere Turinum, and of Marble neere •aisana. Here the Turinians dwelt heretofore, who were well knowne to Polybius, Livy, and Plutarch; and also Strabo, Pliny, and Ptolemy doe place them in the ninth Country of Italy, and doe make them to be of the stock of the Ligurians. Afterward this Country began to be called the Taurinian Dukedome under the Langbardians, who having reduced it into a Province, made it a Dukedome. After them it came to be under the government of the Kings of Italie: and afterward of divers other Princes: especially of Sabaudia: and the Country of France: it was much wasted in the time of the warres betweene the Emperour Charles the fifth, and Francis King of France. The chiefe Citty of this Country is the ancient Citty Taurinum, which Ta•itus, Pliny, and Ptolomy doe call Augusta Taurinorum. Antonius saith in many places that this Citty was called Taurinorum from the people, it is commonly called Turino. Stephanus the Gramarian would have it so called from a Bull, which was the armes of the Massilians, whose Colonie it was: it lyeth at the mouth of Duria on Padus, in a foure square figure, and hath foure Gates, and many faire Aedifices or buildings, and it hath plenty of all things. The chiefe Church is consecrated to Saint Iohn Baptist, besides which there are some 20. other Churches, or thereabouts, also there is the Dukes Palace; and a famous University, in which Erasmus Roterodamus was made Doctor of Divinity. This was one of the first Citties in Italy, which had a Printing house: it is also a Bishoprick. Neere the Hill there is Rivoli, a populous Towne: and a little farther neere the River Po there is the Towne Carignano: A little higher betweene the Rivulets and Aviliana there is the faire Monastery of Saint Antonius Ravisinus: and a little from thence neere the Monastery of Saint Ambrose, there is Susa, which the most doe reckon to be in Saubaudia. Neere to Po, sixe miles from the mouth of Sangonus there is a Towne, which they call in their Country speech Pinarolo, which is very rich, and hath a sumptuous Monastery: a little above there is Petrosa: and on the left side of the Fountaine Sangonus there is Pagellato, and Bricasse, on the right side of the Mountaine Bobius. Not farre from the River Pelice, which runneth into Po, there is Villa Franca, where a Bridge doth joyne both the Bankes of the River Po. There are also by the Springhead or Fountaine of Padus, Revello, and Paisana, and a little farther Critio: and a little farther Mambrin•, where the Valley of Po beginneth. The Inhabitants doe call it Valle di Lucerna, from a Castle which is there of the same name.

THE fourth and last Table of Lombardie doth present to your view Romandiola, and the Dukedomes of Parma, and Mantua. The first is Romandiola or Romanula, which was so called by the Pope and the Emperour Charles the great. The bounds of Romanula on the North are the Moores or Marshes of Verona, and Patavina, even to the Mouth of the River Po, together with a part of the Hadriatick Sea: on the East Isaurus together with Picenum, on the South the Apinnine, with Etruria, concerning the Western bounds there are different opinions. Some goe no farther than the River Vatrinus on this side of Fo••m Crrn•lij: some passe over to Scultenna, now Panarium, and there they stay. Wee will follow the latter, and make the length thereof to bee 110. Miles or thereabouts betweene Folia and Panarium: and the breadth almost 96. Miles, betweene the Apennine and the Marshes before mentioned. Concerning the qualitie of this Country Leander writeth that it hath a very good soile, yeelding all kinds of fruites both for delight & necessary use. Here are large fields planted with al kinds of fruite bearing trees, pleasant Hills full of Vines, Olives, and Figgs, Woods full of fruite, Meddowes full of grasse, and Bushie thickets fit for hunting, also many wholsome waters, many Salt-pits, both neere the Shoare side, and within the Countrie, also Mettalls Mines, and innumerable other excellent guifts of nature, which would be tedious to rehearse. There are some famous Citties in this Country and many Townes. The chiefe are, that which Ptolemy and other call Arminum, the Inhalitants doe now call it Rimini, and the Germanes Rumelen. It was so so called from the River which watereth it. Others have other derivations. It aboundeth with plenty. The Haven was heretofore very faire, large and capable of Shipping, but now it receiveth onely small vessells being filled & choaked up with sand. There is also Cervia a Sea Cittie, heretofore called Phicoles. The Cernians for the most part are Salt-makers, of which they make so great gaine, that the Pope hath yearely from thence 60, thousand Crownes. There is also Ces•na, which Ptolemy calleth Caeseni. Strabo, Caesena, and now the most doe call it Caesena and some Cesnadigo, and lastly Cesna. It is now a very populous Citty, and in former time it was enlarged on the West and Noth sides, by Bernardine Rubrius of Parma. There is a strong Castle seated on a Hill on the South side of the Cittie, which was built by the Emperour Frederick the second: Sarsina is an ancient Cittie at the foote of the Apennine, where Plautus was borne. Ravenna which Strabo calleth Raovenna and Ptolomy Ravennai, is an ancient Cittie. Concerning the situation whereof Strabo writeth much Lib. 5. There are under the Archbishop hereof, the Bishop Adriensis, Comaclensis, Cerviensis, Foroliviensis, Foropompiliensis, Vellimensis, or Fille, Cesenatensis, Saremensis or Sarsinatensis, Faventinus, Imolensis, Mutinensis, Bononiensis, Reginensis, Parmensis, and Barcinensis. There are very good Meddowes and Pastures by this Cittie, which doe yeeld grrat stoare of Milke, Butter, and Cheese. Forum-Livij is now called Forli. It is a Citty that excelleth both for Situation, and plenty, being seated betweene the two Rivers Ron•us and Montonus, and hath a good ayre. Forum Cornelij commonly calld Imolais seated by the River Santernus, the soyle round about it is fruitefull, and yeeldeth great store of Corne, Wine, Oyle, and other fruites. Bononia is an ancient noble Cittie, commonly calld Bologna, it is seated at the foote of the Apennine, by the River Rhene, and the Torrent Aposa runneth through the middle of the Cittie: it lyeth all against the East, on the South side it hath Vine-bearing hills, on the other sides faire fruitefull Meddowes. The ayre is not very wholesome. The compasse of it is 7. Miles. It hath 12. Gates, and Magnificent houses, and Noblemens Pallaces. The Emperour Theodosius did institute an Universitie here, in the yeare 423. Now we come to Ferraria, concerning the name whereof there are divers opinions. But it is most probable that it was called from the Inhabitants of Ferrarida, which was beyond Po, who were translated hither in the yeare 423. by the Decree of the Emperour Theodosius: at what time it was a Village without walls, and afterward about the yeare 658. it was walled about by Smaragdus, Exarchus, and by degrees it was so much enlarged, that at length it became a noble Cittie. The Bishoprick was translated hither by Pope Vitellianus about the yeare 658. and 12. neighbouring Villages made subject unto it by the Emperour Constantine the 2. who gave it also many Priviledges. It is now called Ferrara. And it is seated on the Banck of the River Po which watereth it on the East and South sides. The ayre is thick, in regard that it is situate in the Marshes. It hath straite, long, broade streetes, the most whereof the Marquesse Leonell caused to be paved with brick, and it is wonderfully beautified with publike and private buildings. There is a greate Church, and two Castles, the one by the River, the other over against S. Georges Church, which is the Dukes Seate: and both are well fortified: it is populous, and aboundeth with plenty of all things, and it is one of the pleasantest Citties in Italie, being the head seate of the ancient and noble family of the Atestines. The Emperour Frederick the second did institute heere an University in contempt of Bononia. It hath a greate Plaine round about it but barren. I passe by the other Citties of Romandiola and the lesser Townes.