Brunswick, City

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Brunswick or Brunsvic, upon the Oker, Brunopolis Brunsriga and Brunonis vicus, a City of Germany in the Lower-Saxony, Capital of the Dutchy of Brunswic. It's pretended that it was built about 868 by Brunon Son to Alphonsus Duke of Saxony, who gave his name to it. The Emperor Henry the Fowler augmented it since, and divers other Princes have contributed in rendering it one of the beautifullest Cities of all Germany. It's form is almost square, and it is half a German League in circuit. The River of Oker divides it into two. Here are 5 or 6 fair Places, and fine Houses, amongst which the Town-House is very magnificent, and several Churches that are all in the Protestants hands. For the Inhabitants of Brunswic were among the first who subscribed Luther's Doctrine. The chief of these Churches is that of St. Blasius. Brunswic was one of the chief Hanse Towns, and governed in manner of a Republick, pretending to have bought its Liberty from the Dukes of Brunswic, which they have opposed vigorously, taking Arms to assert their Titles, but this City had always the advantage. In the 16th Age Henry the Young besieged it, in 1542, 1550, and 1553. It suffered much during these Sieges; but with the help of their Confederates, still maintained its liberty. In 1569 the Disputes that were betwixt the Dukes of Brunswick and that City, were accommodated amicably upon these Conditions, that Duke Julius Son to Henry the Young assented to, viz. That the Senate should render to the Duke the whole Bailiwick of Assemburg near Wolfembuttel; That the Duke should also surrender the Bailwicks of Eich and of Wenthausen to the two Consuls, in the name of the Republick, and that he should renounce for him and his Heirs all claims to Sate and the Old-street, which Henry his Father pretended to be part of the City of Brunswic, morgag'd by his Ancestors, but not sold to the Senate. This Agreement did not fully compose the Differences, for Frederic-Ulric laid Siege to Brunswic and pressed it furiously in 1614, but the Hanse Towns and the Dutch rescued it from this danger. The Duke levying new Forces the year following, forced it to render him Homage in 1617, so seemed to have put an end to all the Differences, which most of his Ancestors had with this City. But his Successors pretending other Rights, took their Measures so well, that they entirely subdued Brunswic in 1670. It was then very strong, they have fortified it regularly since, and put it in a condition of being no more able to revolt. In the mean time the numerous Garison which they keep there, and the noise of Arms, have driven thence most of the Merchants, and put a stop to the Trade. Brunswic is seated in a Plain, surrounded with a double Wall, and 2 deep Ditches, and in some places with 3, in the rest its fenced by Morasses between the Ditches, it hath a thick Rampart round the Town, planted with divers sorts of Trees. Bertius, l. 3. Comment Germ. Thuan.