Calabria

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

Calabria, a Province of Italy in the Kingdom of Naples, with the Title of a Duchy. It is very different from what it was formerly, and is less Spatious than it was in the time of the Messapians, descended from one Messapus, who gave his Name to the Country; which afterwards took that of the Calabrians come from Great Greece. That part of the Country n•ar the Gulf of Tarentum was Inhabited by the Salentins, and in after times the Name of Puglio was made use of to signifie the Country that was between the Ferentins and Calabria, as Cluvier Remarks; so that in them days Calabria contained all that end of Italy between the Adriatick and the Mediterranean Sea, viz. the Land of Otranto, of Barry, the Basilicata, and all that which is about the Gulf of Tarentum. Now the Calabria comprehends the Country of the Brutians, and a part of Great Greece, called so because a great many Greeks Established themselves there. It lies most Southward of any place in Italy, and is of Sicily side, from which it is seperated by a little Channel: It has the Gulf of Tarentum and the Ionian Sea to the East and South, and the Tuscan to the West, and the Basilicata to the North. It is divided into Higher and Lower; In the Higher is the Isthmus, so Renowned in History for the Wall that Licinius Crassus built against Spartacus Chief of the Rebellious Slaves, which was in the year 681 of Rome, and 73 before the Birth of Jesus Christ: Cosenza is the Capital of this part of Calabria; the other Towns are Rossano, an Archbishops See, Cassano, St. Marco, Bisignano, and several others which are Bishops Sees; and the Town of the Sybarites, so Famous in Antient Writing, was of this part of Calabria. The Low Calabria has St. Severina and Reggio both Archbishops Sees, Cotrene, Isola, Belcastro, Taverna, Nicastro, with several other Bishops Sees; The Principalities of Maida, Satriona, Mileto, Roccella, Seiglio, Silla, and St. Agatha, with Semnaria where the French defeated Ferdinand of Aragon in 1496. and Gioia where the French themselves were beaten in 1503. Calabria is not equally Fertile in all its Parts; for there are some that are barren, as others are of an extraordinary good Soil. Its Situation renders it very important. It was under the Roman Yoak, and afterwards Subject to the Emperors of Constantinople, until the Sarracens made themselves Masters of it in 827, and made Incursions into the rest of Italy, until the Famous Robert Guichard, a Norman, beat them out of it in the XI Age. He was made Duke of Apuleia and Calabria in 1059. and Died in 1085. He had a Brother that settled in Sicily. Robert his Second Son had Calabria, which he left to William, who left it to Robert II. his Kinsman, who was King of Naples and Sicily, Famous for his Courage and Conquests. He Died in 1152. with the Honour of having subdued Apuleia, Calabria, Sicily, and part of Africa, which is signified by this Verse that he got Ingraven in the Blade of his Sword.

Apulus & Calaber, Siculus, mihi servit & Afer.

Since that time Calabria was made a part of the Kingdom of Naples, and the Sons of the Kings of that Kingdom bore the Title of the Dukes of Calabria, as Charles Son to King Robert, John of Anjou Son of King Renatus, Nicholas Son to the same John, &c. Calabria is subject to terrible Earthquakes, as those it had from 1638. to 1641. whereof there is a particular Relation under this Title, Historico racconto Dei Terremoti della Calabria del Anno 1638. to 1641. dal Agalio de somma. Pliny, Ptolomy.