Bari

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

Bari, a Town of Italy, in the Kingdom of Naples, situated upon the Adriatick Sea, and is Capital of a Province called the Land of Bari, some call it Barum, Barium, Bario, and Baretum. It has the Title of a Duchy and Archbishoprick, which has under it Bitunto, Malfetta, and 5 others. It is a very ancient Town, and is mentioned by Pliny, Ptolemy, and several other ancient Writers. Since the fall of the Roman Empire it was often taken by the Saracens, and other Barbarians, after which the Grecians became Masters of it. But after that Meles Duke of Bari had made Apuleia and Calabria Revolt against the Graecians, it had Dukes of its own, that payed Homage to the Kings of Naples; they were Crown'd and Consecrated in St. Nicholas's Church in Bari. Pope Urban II. held a Council in Barri on the first of October, 1098, where St. Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury Disputed against the Greeks upon the Union of the Latin and Greek Church. This City pretends to the Body of St. Nicholas Bishop of Mira, one of those who oppos'd the Arrians in the first Council of Nice. This Town is 20 miles S. E. of Trani, 25 N. E. of Cirenze, and 124 E. of Naples.