Valachia

Sources from old books

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

VALACHIA was so called from the Flaccians, a Nation of the Romanes. For the Romanes having overcome the Getes, brought thither a Colonie under the conduct of one Flaccus, whence it was first called Flaccia, and afterward Valachia. The Alpes and a continued ridge of Mountaines doe devide it from Hungary and Transilvania. It hath on the East a Lake full of Fish, which the River Pruth maketh: on the South it is bounded with Danubius; and on the West it toucheth upon Transilvania, by the Towne Severine, where there is Trajans Bridge, which had 34. Piles. On the North it is bounderd with the small River Hoina and Ister, and so the Country bendeth over against the Iland Pauce well knowne to Writers, which they now call Barillana. But Valachia, although it be encompassed with high Mountaines, yet it yeeldeth all things necessary. Moreover, it is rich in Mines of Gold, Silver, Iron, and Salt. Neither doth it want Vineyards, but it hath divers kindes of Cattle, especially excellent Horses and Ginnets. Here is the Towne Teniovizza where the Vaivode resideth. There are also other Townes, as Braila, and Trescortum, not farre from which there is Brimstone digged, of which they make Candels, as of waxe. The other parts of this County doe consist of Villages, the Rivers Hierasus, which the Inhabitants call Pruth, Hoyne, Danubius, and others.