CHAPTER XIII.

HISTORY OF ANCIENT ITALY.

SECTION I-Geographical Outline.

ITALY, in its earliest signification, was the name given to the small tongue of land between the Syllet'ic and the Nepetic gulfs, that is, the southern portion of Brut'tium; but it was gradually extended to include more northern provinces, until, in the reign of the Emperor Augustus, it was applied to the great peninsula included between the Alps, the Adriatic, the Tyrrhenian and the Mediterranean seas. It was also called Hespéria, from its western situation; Satur'nia, from the fable of Saturn's flight thither; Aus'onia and Enótria, from some of the most ancient tribes of inhabitants.

The most convenient division of the peninsula is into three portions: Cisalpine Gaul in the north, Italy Proper in the centre, and Magna Græcia in the south.

Subalpine Italy received the name of Gaul from the Gallic hordes that settled in the northern and western districts; it was called for distinction Cisalpine, or Citérior, because it lay on the side of the Alps next to Rome, and Togáta, because in a late age, its inhabitants began to use the tóga, or national dress of the Romans. From the Alps, this province at first extended to the city of An'cona, in the province of Picénum; but, in the later ages of the Roman republic, the river Rúbicon (Rugone), between Ravenna and Arim'inum, was considered the limit of its frontiers.

The principal Subalpine tribes were the Vedian'tii, inhabiting the small tract lying on the east bank of the Várus (Var), and extending from the territory of Nice (Nice), to the Maritime Alps, or that branch of the mountain-chain which joins the Western Mediterranean: the Vagæn'ni, north of the Maritime Alps near the source of the river Pádus (Po); and the Tauríni, at the other side of the Pádus, on which stood their capital, Taurásia, subsequently called Augus'ta Taurinórum (Turin).

North of the Taur'ini, and among the mountains, was the kingdom of Cottíus, who gave his name to the Cottian Alps. Thence to the Greek Alps, which extended to Mons Jóvis (Great St. Bernard), there were several warlike Gallic tribes, but none of any particular note in history.

Ligúria lay south of the river Pádus, extending to the Mediterranean sea, between the rivers Mácra and Várus. Its chief cities on the seacoast were Nicæ'a (Nice or Nizza), erected by the Massilians to protect their frontier against the Ligurian mountaineers: Pórtus Herculis

Mona'ci (Monaco), Al'bium Intemélium (Vintimiglia), Al'bium Ingan'num (Albengia), Sab'ata (Savona), Gen'ua or Jan'ua (Genoa), Por'tus Delphini (Porto Fino), and Por'tus Lúna (Golfo delle Spezie). Of these Gen'ua was the most important, being the great emporium of Ligurian commerce. The principal towns in the interior were Polléntia (Pollenza), As'ta (Asti), and Indus'tria (Tortona). This last city was called Bodencomágum by the earlier Ligurians, because it stood on the Po, which they named Boden'cus, a word in their language signifying "bottomless." Next to Liguria lay the district named Gallia Cispadána, or Gaul south of the Po; it was chiefly inhabited by the Boii, the Lingónes, and the Senónes. The principal towns of the Boii were Placentia, Par'ma, Mútina (Modena), and Bonónia (Bologna). The Lingónes possessed Raven'na, Faven'tia (Faenza), Solóna (Citta di Sole), and Cæ'sena; and to the Senónes belonged Arimin'um (Rimini), Pisaúrum (Pesaro), Séna Gal'lica (Sinigaglia), and An'cona.

Gallia Transpadana, or north of the Pádus, had the great Alpine chain on the north and west, between which and the Po it extended to the river Formio (Il Risano), which separated it from Istria. It was inhabited by the Oróbii, the In'subres, the Læ'vi, the Cenoman'ni, the Euganei, and the Ven'eti. The principal cities in the territory of the Oróbii were Con'rum (Conro), Bergamum (Bergamo), and Fórum Licin'ii (Berlasina); the In'subres possessed Mediolánum (Milan), Laus Pompeii (Lodi), and Fórum Intuntórum (Crema): to the Cenoman'ni belonged Brix'ia (Brescia), Cremóna, Man'tua, and Ver'ona: the Eugánei, owned Sábium, Vobern'a, Ed'rum, and Van'nia, cities long since demolished: and the Ven'eti were masters of Patávium (Padua), Vicen'tia (Vicenza), Ates'te (Este), Fórum Alliéni (Ferrara), Tarvisum (Treviso), Aquileía (Aquilea), Fórum Júlii (Friuli), and Tergéste (Trieste). In later ages, a horde, called the Carni, wrested from the Ven'eti the cities and country between the rivers For'mio and Talaven'tum (Piave).

Central or Proper Italy extended along the Adriatic coast from the city of An'cona to the river Fren'to (Fortore), and on the Mediterranean side was limited by the rivers Mácra and Sil'arus (Sele). It comprehended Etrúria, Um'bria, Sabin'ium, Látium, Picénum, with the countries of the Vestíni, Marrucíni, Pelig'ni, Mar'si, Fret'ani, Samnítes, Hirpíni, Campáni, and Picentíni.

Etrúria was inhabited by two distinct races, that seem to have very slowly amalgamated, the Tyrrhéni and the Hetrus'ci. It was bounded on the east by the river Tiber, on the west by the Mácra, on the north by the chain of the Apennines, and on the south by that portion of the Mediterranean commonly called the Tuscan sea. It was divided into a dodecarchy, or government of twelve tribes and cities. These ruling cities in the most flourishing period of Etrurian history were, Volsin'ii (Bolsena), Clusium (Chiusi), Perúsia (Perugia), Cortóna, Aret'ium (Arezzo), Falérii (Civita Castellana), Volater'ræ (Volterra), Vetulónium (Grosseto), Rusel'læ (Cerveteri), and the cities of Veíi, Tarquiníi, and Ca're, which at present lie in ruins. There were many other places of importance in Etruria: on the seacoast were Lúna (L'Erice), Písæ (Pisa), Por'tus Her'culis Libur'ni (Livorno or Leghorn), Papulónia now in ruins, Tal'amon (Telamone), Centumcel'la (Civita Vecchia), and

Al'sium (Palo). There were besides, in the interior, Nep'ete (Nepe), Sútrium (Sutri), Fánum Voltum'næ (Viterbo), Hortánum (Orti), Herbánum (Orvieto), Senæ Julia (Saona), Floren'tia (Fiorenza, Firenze, or Florence), Pistória (Pistoia), and Lúca (Lucca).

Umbria was bounded on the south by the river Nar (Nera), on the north by the Adriatic sea, on the east by the Esis (Fiumicino), and on the west partly by the Tiber, and partly by the Bedesis (Il Roneo), which falls into the Adriatic near Ravenna. But the maritime part of Umbria having been early conquered by the Senonian Gauls, the cities it contains have been already mentioned in the account of Gallia Cispadána. The Umbrian cities on the Adriatic side of the Apennines were Sarsína, Urbínum (Urbino), Metauren'se (Castel Durante), Sentínum (Sentimo), and Cam'ers (Camerino). On the other side of these mountains were Igúvium (Ugubio), Mevánia (Bagagna), Spolet'ium (Spoleti), Tifer'num (Citta di Castella), Nucéria (Nocera), Assis'ium (Assisi), Hispellum (Ispello), Fulgin'ium (Foligno), Interam'nium (Terni), Narnia (Ñarni), and Ocric'ulum (Ocricoli).

The territory of the Sabines lay between the Nar, which divided it from Umbria, and the A'nio (Teverone), by which it was separated from Latium. It contained the city of Cúres, whose inhabitants, migrating to Rome, are said to have given its citizens the name of Quirites; Reáte (Rieti), Nur'sia (Norcia), E'retum (Monte Rotondo), and Amiter'num (Lamentaria).

Látium was at first restricted within very narrow limits, being bounded by the Tiber, the A'nio (Teverone), and the Circæan promontory (Monte Cercilli); but after the subjugation of the Æ'qui, Herníci, Vol'sci, and Ausónes, it was extended to the Líris (Garigliano); and hence arises the distinction between Old and New Látium. The chief cities of Old Látium were ROME, Tíbur (Tivoli), Prænes'te (Palestrina), Tus'culum (Frascati), Aric'ia, Lanúvium (Citta Lavina), Al'ba Lon'ga (Albano), Lauren'tum (Paterno), and Os'tia. There were, besides, four Latin towns, of which the ruins can now scarcely be traced, Gábii, Antem'næ, Collátia, and Ar'dea. The chief cities of the qui were Car'sula (Arsuli), Valéria (Vico Varo), Subláqueum (Subiaco), and Al'gidum, now in ruins. To the Herníci belonged Anag'nia (Anagni), Alátrium (Alatri), Ver'ulæ (Veroli), and Ferentínum (Ferentino). In the country of the Volsci were An'tium, Cir'cæ, and Sues'sa Pométia, all three long since ruined; Anx'ur (Terracina), Vel'itræ (Veletri), Priver'num (Piperno), Aquínum (Aquino), Casínum (Monte Cassino), Arpinum (Arpino), Fregel'la (Ponte Corvo), and Interam'na (L'Isola). The Ausónes possessed Caréto (Gaeta), Fun'di (Fondi), and For'miæ (Mola).

Picénum extended from the Adriatic to the Apennines, between the E'sis (Esino) and the Aternus (Pescara). The chief cities of the Picen'tes were Ancóna, As'culum (Ascoli), Interam'nium (Teramo), and A'tria (Atri). Several other nations besides the Picen'tes were included within the boundaries of Picénum. Of these, the Vestíni possessed An'gulus (Civita di Sancto Angelo) and Avella; the Marrucíni owned but one city, Téate (Chiete); the Peligni possessed Corfin'ium, now in ruins, and Sulmo (Sulmona); the Mar'si, in the interior of the country, close to the Apennines, had only one important town,

Marrubium (Morrea). On the southern seacoast were the Frentáni, whose chief cities were Ortóna, Anax'onum (Lanzano), and Histónium (Guasto d'Amone): the Samnites possessed the country between the territory of the Frentáni and the Apennines; their chief cities were Bovíanum (Boiano), Eser'nia (Isernia), Sepínum (Sepina), Allífæ (Alifi), and Tel'esia (Telesi). Finally, the Hirpíni held the south western side of the Apennines, and possessed Beneven'tum (Benevento), Equotúticum (Ariano), and Comp'sa (Conza).

Campánia, the most pleasant and fruitful division of Italy, extended between the territories of the Samnites and Herpíni and the Mediterranean from the river Liris to the promontry of Minerva. On its coast were Liter'num (Torre di Patria), Baíæ (Baia), Misénum (Monte Miseno), Parthen'ope or Neap'olis (Naples), and Sorren'tium (Sorrento), together with the cities of Herculaneum and Pom'peii, overwhelmed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius. In the interior of the country were Cápua, Sues'sa Aurun'ca (Sessa), Venáfrum (Venafro), Casilínum (Nova Capua), Teánum Sidicínum (Tiano), Calátia (Cajazzo), Cáles (Calvi), Atel'la (Aversa), Acer'ræ (Acerra), Nóla and Nucéria (Nocera). Between the promontory of Minerva and the river Sil'arus (Sele) was a small district inhabited by a Picentine colony, whose chief city was Salernum (Salerno).

Magna Græcia, so called from the number of Greek colonies that settled in it, comprised Apúlia, Lucánia, and the territory of the Brut'tii. Apúlia (La Puglia) extended from the river Fren'to (Fortore) to the Japygian promontory (Capo di Leuca), at the southeastern extremity of Italy. It was divided into three portions: Daúnia, lying between the Fren'to and the Aúfidus (Ofanto); Peucétia, stretching from the Aúfidus to the isthmus between Brundúsium and Taren'tum; and Japy'gia, or Calábria, comprising the southeastern peninsula of Italy, or the heel of the boot to which Italy has been fancifully compared.

In the first two divisions were Teánum Ap'ulum (Civitate Tragonara), Sípuntum (Siponto) Lúceria (Lucera), Ar'pi (Foggia) As'culum Ap'ulum (Asicli), Venúsia (Venosa), Acheron'tia (Acirenza), Canúsium (Canosa), Can'næ (Canna), Salápia (Salpe), Bárium (Bari), and Egnátia (Terra d'Anazzo). The chief cities of Calábria were Brundúsium (Brindisi), Hydrúntum (Otranto), Callip'olis (Gallipoli), Neritum (Nardo), and Alétium (Lezze).

Lucánia lay between the Sílarus and the Laüs (Laino). It was divided from Peucétia by the Bran'danus (Brandano), and from Calábria by the upper part of the Tarentine gulf. On the Mediterranean, or Tyrrhenian sea, stood Pæs'tum or Posidónia (Pesto), Vélia (Pisciotta), and Buxen'tum (Policastro). On the Tarentine gulf were Metapon'tum (Tere di Mare) and Heracléa, called also Syb'aris and Thurii (Policore). The inland cities were Poten'tia (Potenza), and Grumen'tum (Clarimonte).

Greek colonies occupied the southwestern peninsula of Italy. Their chief cities on the western coast were Ceril'li (Cirella), Clamp'etia (Amantea), Tom'sa (Torre Loppa), Lamétia (Sant Euphemia), Scyllæ'um (Sciglia), and Rhégium (Reggio). On the eastern coast stood Lócri Epizephy'rii (Jeraces), Caulónia (Castel Veteri), Scylacéum (Squillaci), Cróto (Crontone), Petil'ia (Belicastro), and Rusciánum (Rossana).

The chief cities of the interior were Consen'tia (Cosenza) and Hippónium, called by the Romans Vibo Valentia (Mont Leone).

The chief Italian mountains are the Alps, which extend round the north of the peninsula in an irregular chain about eight hundred miles in length; and the Apennines, which go through Italy from the Maritime Alps to the straits of Sicily. The Massic, Gaurian, and Garganian mountains are detached ridges, celebrated for theiy fertility; and Vesuvius, near Naples, has been long remarkable for its volcano.

From the Alps flow the Pádus (Po), the Drúria (Dora), the Sessítes (Sessia), the Ticínus (Tessino), the Ad'dua (Adda), the Ol'lius (Oglio), the Min'crus (Mincio), the Tan'arus (Tanaro), the Trébia, and the Rhénus Bononien'sis (Reno di Bologna): all these are tributaries of the Pádus. The Ath ́esis (Adige) has also its source in the Alps, but it falls into the Adriatic. The Ar'nus (Arno) and the Tiber flow from the Apennines into the Mediterranean: the tributaries of the latter river are the Clánis (Chiana), the Nar (Nera), and the A'nio (Teverone). Besides these, there are the Líris (Garigliano), separating Látium from Campánia; the Vultur'nus (Voltorno), in Campánia; the Sil'arus (Silaro), severing the territories of the Pincentíni and Lucáni; the Syb'aris (Cochile), and the Cráthis (Crati), in Lucánia; the Aúfidus (Ofanto), in Apulia; and the Ater'nus (Pescara) and Metaúrus (Metauro), in Picénum.

Italy has ever been celebrated for its fertility and beauty; its inhabitants were once the triumphant conquerors and lords of the known world; but ages of misgovernment have blighted this lovely peninsula, and it is now among the most degraded and miserable countries in Eu

rope.

SECTION II.-Historical Notices of the early Inhabitants of Italy.

CHRONOLOGY UNCERTAIN.

THE earliest inhabitants of Italy appear to have been branches of the great Pelasgic nation. Of these, the Enotrians occupied the south of the peninsula, the Sicilians possessed the plain of the Tiber, and the Tyrrhenians were settled in Etruria. In process of time, the Enotrians were subjugated by Hellenic colonies, the Sicilians subdued by some mountain-tribes who took the name of Latins, and the Tyrrhenians conquered by the Hetrusci, a people that probably descended from the Rhætian Alps.

Between Enot'ria and Tyrrhénia was the territory of the Opicans or Oscans, called also Ausonians. Their language was intelligible to the Latins; for the Latin tongue is compounded of Greek and Oscan. To this race the 'qui and Vol'sci appear to have belonged.

The Latins, according to tradition, were driven down the A'nio by the Sabines, and they in their turn expelled a great portion of the Siculians from their habitations, who proceeded southward, and passed over the strait of Messina into the island which took from them the name of Sicily. In the old legends these Latin conquerors are called Sacráni; they were also named Priscans and Cascans. From the latter name, and the similarity of language, they must have been a branch