Theatrum orbis terrarum Abrahami OrtelI Antuerp. geographi regii. = The theatre of the vvhole world: set forth by that excellent geographer Abraham Ortelius

The ROMANE WORLD, OR The ROMANE EMPIRE.

AMmianus Marcellinus thus writeth in his foureteenth booke: At such time as triumphant Rome (which shall flourish as long as men do liue vpon the earth) began first to grow into credit and honour in the world, that it might still rise by degrees and lofty steppes into a firme league of eternall peace, vertue and fortune (which often times iarre) did fully consent and agree. For if either of them had opposed themselues, it surely had neuer come to that absolute height and greatnesse. The people of this city from the first infancy euen vnto the last of childhood, which was limi∣ted almost within the compasse of three hundred yeares, abode the bitter assaults and warres of their neighbours round about them: then hauing growen to a striplings age and past the rodde, after many outragious furies of Mars, it passed the Alpes and narrow sea. Being come to mans estate and best yeares, from all quarters of the wide world, it brought away the laurell the signe of conquest and triumph: but now being old and beginning to dote, and sometime only bearing the name of conquerour rather than winning ought indeed, it hath betaken it selfe to a more quiet kind of life. Therefore this city, reuerend for so many glorious conquests of stout and fierce nations, and for so many good and wholesome lawes which it hath enacted, hath now at last, like a kind and thrifty father, both wise and wealthy, committed her patrimo∣ny and possessions to the Emperours, as vnto her naturall sonnes, to be ruled and gouerned. And lately, although the tribes and wardes be idle, the hundreds and wapentakes still and qui∣et, and there be no dissensions in the Senate house, but that the more secure and calmer times, such as Numa Pompilius liued in, were come againe: yet in all parts of the world wheresoeuer, it is regarded as a Mistresse and Queen, in all places the reuerend gray haires of the graue Sena∣tours, euery where the very name of the Roman Nation is greatly esteemed and honourable. Thus farre Ammianus. Moreouer this you shall find in Sulpiciaes Satyricke poeme; Two things there are which raised great Rome to that height, valour in warre and wisdome in peace. As this Romane Empire, in the iudgement of all men, was esteemed very great and large, so also in∣deed it was; especially if you shall compare it with those which haue been in former ages, as that of the Assyrians, Persians and Grecians: Item, with those which since their fall haue sprong vp in their places, as namely, that of the Othomans, amongst the Turkes: the Sophies, amongst the Persians: of the great Cham, ouer the Tartars in Asia: and of Prester Iohn, as we call him, o∣uer the Aethiopians or Abyssines in Africa. But if you shall compare it with that Monarchy which Charles the fifth, Emperour of Rome, within the memorie of our fathers, established in di∣uers parts of the world, and Philip his sonne in our age hath enlarged, and shall by looking in∣to an vniuersall mappe of the Earthly globe, conferre and measure the greatnesse of this with those others, by the eie you shall plainly and truly discerne, that this for largenesse may not only be preferred farre before all those other forenamed, but also euen before that of the Ro∣manes. The kingdome of the Portugals, after that by diuers nauigations they had subdued vnder their obedience the marine tracts and sea coasts of East India, together with the ilands there about, if it did reach and were extended vp as farre within the land, as it commandeth a∣bout the shore, it might doubtlesse be accounted none of the least Empires. Seeing now there∣fore that this also at this day is vnder the obedience of the said K. Philip, who doth not see that this Empire is the greatest that euer was in the world?

Of the Empire of Rome, as it stood in his daies, Tertullian in his booke De Pallio, speaketh thus honourably: Reuera Orbis cultissimum huius Imperij rus est; that is, In very deed the whole world is nothing else but a farme well stocked and stored, belonging to this Empire. Lastly, Ouid, in his second booke De Fastis, thus writeth of it: Gentibus est aliis tellus data limite certo, Romanae spacium est vrbis & Orbis idem. All other nations, in the Earth their certaine bounds may name; The com∣passe of the World and Rome, they only are the same.

[illustration] map of the Roman Empire with an inset family tree or pedigree of the seven kings of Rome

ROMANI IMPERII IMAGO.

Originis, Incrementi, et Culminis Imperij Romani, breuis enumeratio.

Primo sub Regibus septem, Romulo, Seruio, etc. per annos ducentos & tres supra quadraginta, non amplius quam vsque Portum, at{que} Hosti∣am, intra decimum octanum miliariū Romanum processit Imperium Sub Consulib. verò, inter quos interdum Dictatores, et Decemuiri, ac Tribuni militares fuerunt, per annos quadringentos & septem supra quadraginta vs{que} trās Padum Italia est capta: Africa Hispaniae{que} subactae: Gallia, et Britannia tributarie sunt factae: Illyrici, Histri, Liburni, Dalmatae, sunt domiti. ad Achaiam transitum est: Macedones expugnati: cum Dardanis, Moesis et Thracibus est bellarum. ad Danubium est peruentum: ac in Asia (pulso Antiocho) primum pedem posuerunt Romani Mithrida∣te victo, regnum Ponti est captum, cum Armenia minori quam idem tenuerat. in Mesopotamiam progressum est; & cum Partbis foedus initum; contra Carduenos, & Saracenoe ac Arabas pugnatum: Judaea omnis victa: Cilicia et Sÿria, in potestatem redacta: ac tandem in Aegÿptum peruentum. Sub Impe∣ratoribus autem, a Diuo Augusto nempe ad Theodosij superioris, et Honorij ac Arcadij eius filiorum tempora, per annos quadringentos & quadraginta Cantabri, Astures, tota{que} Hispania sub iugum missa est Alpes maritimae, Cocciae{que} et Rhetiae Noricum, Pannoniae et Moesiae, Imperio accesserunt. Omnis ora Danubij in Prouincias est redacta Pontus omnis, et Armenia maior; Mesopotamia, Assÿria, Arabia & Aegÿptus, in Im∣perij Romani iuna concesserunt. At{que} hoc modo his Principibus viris, & populi Romani virtute, ac immortali eorū gloria, hoc Augustissimū Im∣perium ad summū fastigium perductum fuit; Cuius limites fuere ad Occidentē Oceanus, à Septentrione Rhenus et Danubius, ab Oriente Tigris, à Meridie Atlas mons, quae omnia in hac tabula ob oculos (historiae candidatis) ponuntur.

Ex Liuio, Dionÿsio, & Plutarcho, hanc ge∣nealogiam septem Regum desumpsimus, at∣que huic tabulae in historiae Romanae studioso∣rum gratiam adiecimus. In qua maxima linea est Regum: mediocres sunt coniugum: mintinae verò filiorum filiarum{que}. Circuli duplicibus cir∣cumferentijs descripti, masculos denotant; simplicibus autem, foeminas.

Diuina mens ciuitatem populi Romani egregia temperata{que} re∣gione collocauit, uti Orbis terra∣rum imperio potiretur. Vitruuius lib. 8.

Cum Gratia et Priuilegio.