Campania

Sources from old books

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

Campania. (Book Campania)

CAMPANIA, called in French Comté de Champagne, was so called, from the broad and long fields thereof,* 1.1 as Gregory Turonensis noteth. For it is a very plaine and champion Country, and fit for tillage. The Territories of Brye, Burgundy, Carolois, and Lotharingia, doe encompasse it one every side.* 1.2 * 1.3 The skie thereof is very cleare, and the aire temperate. The fields do yeeld abundance of Corne, Wine, and all sorts of Cattle: and there are woods which do yeeld great store of game both for hauking and hunting. Campania is described both by it selfe, and also with the Principalities adjacent, and lying neare unto it. If it be considered properly by it selfe, it is twofold; the Lower, and the Higher. In the Lower is Tricassium, and the Territories which are commonly called Ivigny, Bassigny, and Vallage. Moderne Writers doe call that Tricassium, which is now called Troyes:* 1.4 It is a Citie neare the River Seyn. Antoninus calls it z 1.5 Tracasis, and placeth the two and twentieth Legion there: Ammianus names it Tricassa; Bede, Trecassa; Nithardus, Tricassinum: and anciently it was called Augusiobana Trecasium, as Ioseph Scaliger noteth. It is now a Bishops Seat, and hath a strong Castle for its defence. The County of Ivigny doth seperate Campania from Burgundy. The chiefe Towne thereof is Ivigny, which is under the jurisdiction of the Baylywicke of Troyes. Bassigny is so called, because it is the better part of the Lower Campania, for Bas signifies in French beneath. It is encompassed with the Rivers Matrona, or Marne, Mosa, and a little part of Mosella, and it is watered with more Rivers than the other parts of this Country. The Metropolis thereof is commonly called Chaumont en Bassigny, which hath the title of a Baylywicke, and a stately ancient Castle seated on a Rocke which is well fortified. These Townes are reckoned in it, besides Langres, of which I shall speake hereafter: namely Montigny, Goeffy, Nogent le Roy, Monteclar, Andelot, Bisnay, Choiseul, Visnory, and Clesmont; being all strong Townes, and the most of them fortified with Castles. The Territorie of Vallage is thought to bee so called from the faire and fruitfull Valleyes which are in it. The Townes of chiefe note are Vassy, neare Bloisa, in the Countrie of Guise; Fanum S. Desiderij, or S. Desire: and Ianivilla, or Ianville, the inheritance of the Familie of the Guises; some write it Iont-ville. There are also in the Territorie of Vallage Montirandel, Dentlerant, Le Chasteau aux forges, Esclaren, and others. The Higher Campania is called Le Pays de Partoys, having its appellation from a Towne commonly called Perte. It is a most fruitfull Country, abounding with Fruits, Wood, and Hempe. The Metropolis thereof is Vitriacum or Vitry, seated neare the confluence and meeting of the Rivers Saltus and Matrona. And there are also contained in it Argilliers, Lasaincourt, Louvemen, and other Townes. Thus we have taken a view of Campania by it selfe, now we are to describe the adjacent places, as the Dukedome of Rhemes, and Langres, and the Counties of Catalaune, Ligny, and Motte, which are free within themselves, and not subject to Campania. The Dukedome of Rhemes (or the Duché Parrie, & Archivesche de Reims) is so named from a Citie which was anciently called Duro•ortorum, but now a 1.6 Rhemis. Ptolemy calls it Durocottorum: Strabo, Duricortora: Stephanus, Dorocotteros: and Caesar Durocortum Remorum. It is a free Citie of Campania: the Archbishop thereof is a Duke, and the first Peere of France; under whom are these Bishops in this Country: the Bishop of So•sson, of Chaalon, of Amiens, of Noyon, of Senlis, of Beaurois, and of Laon: In this Citie the Kings of France are inaugurated and * 1.7 annoynted with oyle. The Dukedome of Langres (or the Duché, Patrie & Evesché de Langres) hath a Citie which was heretofore called Andomatunum Lingonum, but is now commonly called Langres: Ptolemie calls it Andumatonon, and Antoninus vitiously Antematunum; Pentingerus his Itinerarie table, Andematunum; Tacitus Lingonum urbs and Gregory of Tours, urbs Lingonica. It is a Bishops See, the Prelates whereof are Dukes and Peeres of France. The Countie of Catalaune (or Euesché, Conté & Pairie de Chaalon) was so named from the Citie Catalaune: the later Writers doe call it Cathelaunum, but now it is called Chaalon en Champaigne: It is a Bishops See, situated on a plaine neare to the River Matrona, and adorned with high Towers, which stand up like aspiring Pyramides. In the Countie of Lignie is the Towne Lignium, venerable for antiquitie, neare the River Saltus. Concerning the Countie of Motte, (or Conté de la Motte) we finde nothing but the name thereof. The Countrie of the Briensians (whom Nithardus calleth Brionenses) is usually described with Campania, being an ancient Country, and now called la Brye. It beginneth at a Village called Cretelium, not farre from the bridge of Charanton, where Matrona mingleth with the River Seyn, the former whereof doth almost part Campania, and the latter Gastinois from the Briensians: for all that lyeth betweene these two Rivers, even to the Dukedome of Burgundy, is esteemed to be in the Countie of Brye. It was so called from a Towne, commonly called Brye or Bray, Conte Robert, which appellation it received from Robert, Earle of Brye, who had a mansion house there. The Cities of Brye are Castellum Theodorici, or Chasteau Thierry. Iatinum Medorum, or Meldarum urbs, which Ptolemy placeth by the River Matrona, and is now called Meaulx, and Provinsium or Provence, a Towne famous for sweet smelling Roses: the Archbishopricke of Sens, with the Towne of Pontium are reckoned and accounted a part of this Countrie. Under this Archbishop are these Bishops, the Bishop of Paris, of Meaulx, of Troyes, of Chartres, of Nevers, of Orleans, and of Ausoire or Auxerce. Senonum urbs, formerly called Agendicum, but now commonly Sens, is seated neare the the River Icauna, which in French is called Yonne. Besides these aforesaid Countries, which we have mentioned, Mercator reckoneth these following, namely, Barsur Seine, Auxerre, Viconte de Tonnerre, Pour suivent, Braine, Grandpre, Mailly, Vertus, Roussy, Retel, Ivigny, and the Baronie of Iamville.

CAMPANIA, THE STATE ECCLESIASTICK. (Book Campania (ecclesiastical))

Here is the Archbishop of Rhemes, under whom are eight suffragan Bishops: as the Bishop of Laon, a Duke and Peere of France: the Bishop of Chalon an Earle and Peere of France▪ the Bishop of Suesson, the Bishop of Terwaen, whose Seate was translated to Boulogne, the Bishop of Amiens, the Bishop of Noviomagum, or Noion, an Earle and Peere of France: the Bishop of Senlis, and the Bishop of Beauvais; an Earle and Peere of France.

Here is also the Archbishop of Sens, under whom are seven Bishops, to wit, the Bishop of Paris, of Chartres, of Orleans, of Nivers, of Auxerre, of Trois en Champaigne, and of Meaux.

CAMPANIA. (Book Campania (county))

• 1.1CAMPANIA called in French Comté de Champaigne, is derived as I have said before, if we shall beleeve Graegorius •uronensis, from the great and spacious Field wherof it consisteth. For it is a very plaine and Champion Country.* 1.2 The Territories of Brie, Burgundie, Carolois, and Lotharingia doe encompasse it on every side. The Tricasses, Lingones, the R•mi, the Catalaunians, the Meldae, the Senones, and others, who are now worne out of memory, were heretofore seated in this Country. The Tricasses nominated in Plinies chiefest Bookes, Ptolemy calls Trikasstoi, and Ammianus Tricassini, as also in certaine Panegyricks and in the Inscription of an ancient Stone. Hericus calleth the Trecae in the life of S. Germane, and others call them by contraction Tresses. Their City is called Tricassium, and commonly Trois en Champaigne. Those which Caesar, Pliny, and others doe call Ling•nes, Ptolemy calls Do•gones, and the same Pliny, Faederati. That Province which containes their City which is Langres, is now called La Duché, Patre and Evesche de Langres. Those which Caesar calleth R•mi, Ptolemy calleth Rhem•i; Pliny Faederati, and the Country in which is their City of Rhemes is called Duché Pairie, and Archenesché de R•ims, as wee have before mentioned. The Learned doe thinke that the Cathelaum mentioned in Amianus Marcellinus should bee written Catalauni. And so they are nominated in Eutropius his Bookes. Their City is now called la Evesché de Challon. In the Catalannian Fields. Atilla King of the Hunnes (in the yeere from the building of the City of Rome 1203. and after the birth of Christ 450.) was overcome by the Romanes, Gothes and Frenchmen, under the conduct of their Captaines Actius Patricius, Theodoricus and Merovaeus, there being slaine on both sides 162000. except 90000. Gepidaans and Frenchmen, who were slaine before. Iornandes cap. 36. doth delmeate and set forth these Fields, and the place of the Battell. The Meldae Pliny calleth Liberi: Strabo Meldoi: Ptolemie Meldai: and an Inscription engraven on an ancient Stone, Meldi. Strabo precisely maketh them and the Leuxovians to bee the Parokeanitae, which are in the middle of the Country where there is now the Towne Meaulx neere the River Matrona. The Senones which are celebrated by Caesar, Pliny, and others. Ptolemy calleth by the same name, and placeth them in Gallia Lugdunensis. Strabo thinketh that there are other Senones neere to the Nerviais, towards the West. The former of them did make those horrible incursions into Italy so much spoke of, and they did moreover wage a most fierce warre against the Romanes in the yeere from the building of the City 364. which they called The Senonick French warre. Their Captaine was Brannus an Nobleman of France. After the Fight or Battell, they entred the City of Allia, and there having slaine all they met, and wasted all with fire, they besieged for many moneths the Capitall, into which the Romane youth had fled for their safegard: but at last having made a peace with them for a certaine summe of money, contrary to faith and promise they were partly slaine, and partly put to flight by M. Furius Camillus the Dictator, who entred the City with an Army. All these things Livie Lib. 5. Florus Lib. 1. cap 13. and many other Writers doe delineate in their proper colours. Campania is honoured with the title of a County, and was once the Inheritance of Eudo Nephew to Gerlo the Norman by his Sonne Theobaldus:* 1.3 This Gerlo was he that accompanied into France Rudulphus or Rollo the Norman, to whom Charles the Simple granted Neustria which was afterward called Normandie. After Eudo there succeeded in a right Line, Stephen, Theobaldus the 2. whose sonne Theobaldus the third dying without issue, there succeeded him his Cosin germane Henry surnamed the large, the sonne of Stephen King of England, who was Brother to Theobaldus the second. Henry had a sonne who was Earle of Campania, and the other Territories, but he dying without issue, his Brother Theobaldus invaded the County, and writ himselfe Count Palatine of Campania. This Theobaldus being afterward made King of Navarre upon the death of Grandfather by the Mothers side, brought the County to belong to the Crowne, and left Henry his Successor both in Campania, and in that Kingdome. Lastly, Ioane Daughter and Heir to this Henry being married to Philip the Faire King of France, Campania and the other Provinces were united to the Crowne of France, from which they were never after separated. Campania as I have already spoken, is usually now describ'd both by it selfe, and with the Principalities adjacent and lying round about it. As it is considered properly and by it selfe it is twofold the Lower, and the Higher. In the Lower is Tricassium, and the Territories which are commonly called Ivigny, •assg•y, and Vallage. Moderne Writers doe call that Tricassium, which is now called 〈◊〉. Th•se who were heretofore Earles of Campania, from this City were called Earl•s of Tricassium. It is one of the greatest and fairest Cities in this Kingdome. The Latitude thereof is 47. degrees, and some few minutes, towards the North. It is a Bishops Seate, and Belles••rr•tius reckons 83. Bishops thereof. Among these was that famous Lu•••, whom Sidonius Apollinaris praiseth for his vertues, (Lib. 6. Ep. 1.4. 〈◊〉 9.) as also Paulus Diaconus (in Marciano) Bede (Lib. 1. Histor. cap. 17.) and others. This City hath a large Jurisdiction, and it is the seate of a President, of Counsellors, of Judges, and others of the Kings Officers. The Townes have reference to it, namely, Bar Sur Seine,* 1.4 Mussil •••tique, La ferté Sur Auge, N•gent, Pent Sur Seine, Fruille, Chastel, and S. Florentin, being all Townes of Campania. The Territory of Ivigny separateth •ampania from Burgundie. The chiefe Towne thereof is Ivigny, which is under the Jurisdiction of the Bayliwick of Tricassium. Bassigny is so named because it is the better part of Lower Campania, as we have before declared. The Metropolis thereof is named from the bald Mountaine, which Ivonus mentioneth (Ep. 105) commonly call'd Chaum•nt on Bass•gny. It hath an ancient Castle seated on a Rock and well fortified, the Tower on the West side whereof is called in French Donyon and La haulte fueille. This Castle the Earles of Campania did heretofore make their Palace. No River runneth by it, nor affordeth water unto it, but that which Cesternes doe yeeld, and a Fountaine at the foote of the Tower. There are also in Bassigny the Townes of Montigny, Go•ssy, N•gent le Roy, Monteclar, Andelot, Bisnay, Ch•iseul, Visnorry, and Clismont, being all strong Townes, and the most of them well fortified with Castles, besides Andomatunum Lingonum, commonly called Langres, of which we shall speake in an other place. The Territory of Vallage, is supposed to be so called from the Valleys in it which are both faire and fruitfull. The Townes of chiefest note in Vallage are first Vasscium, or Vassy, neere Blois, in the Country of Guise. Francis Duke of Guise comming hither in the yeere 1562. was the Author of that Vasseian Massacre, mentioned by the French Historiagraphers, wherein many that professed the reformed Religion were slaine on the Kalends of March. Not farre from thence there is a kind of earth found of which B•le Armenack is made. The second Towne of not is S. D•••re or Dedu••, which was taken by the Emperour Charles the fifth, and afterward a peace being concluded was restored againe to the French. It hath a strong Castle. The third is the Towne of Ian•••ille, (or as some write is •o••t ville) which some doe fabulously report was so called from Ianus. It belongeth to the Families of the Guises. Prye, so called from a Towne commonly named Brye, or Bray Counte Robert, is reckoned by some with Campania. The Country of Brye although it were heretofore and also now is very wooddy, yet in fertility and fruitfulnesse it is not inferior to any part of Campania. For it hath a cleare skie, and a sweete and temperate ayre. It is watered with great, wholesome, and fruitfull Rivers. The Cities of Brye are Castellum Theodorici, Iatinum, Medorum or Meldarum, now called Meaulx, Provinse, and others. Castellum Theoderick, commonly called Chasteau Thierry is the Metropolis of the Country of Brye, having a Baily and President in it. It hath also a Bishops Seate, of which Belleforrestius reckoneth 101. Bishops, the last of which number was Ludovicus Bresius. Provinsy a Towne famous for the sweete red Roses that are in it, and for the Rose-cakes, and Rose-water which are made of them in the Summer time. Here are some ruinous Monuments of Antiquity. And so much shall suffice concerning Campania.