

I VKNTO. 



10 i 



colony with Latin right*, and received the name of Beneventnm, to 

 avoid the evil augury conveyed by the old name to Roman ears. As 

 Roman colony Beneventutn coon became a flouruhing place, and in 

 the aeeood Punic war (us well as on many aubiicqucnt occasions) it was 

 an im]>ortant military position. Close to the walla of the town tin \ 

 defeated the Carthaginians under Hanno in B.C. 214; and again in 

 BLC. 213 Hannu'a camp, with nil its accumulated store* and plunder, 

 waa stormed and taken l>y Q. Fulviua. Although iU territory was 

 frequently ravaged by the Carthaginians, Beneventum was one of the 

 eighteen Roman colonies which, in B.C. 209, voted men and money to 

 enable the Romans to continue the war. Colonies were settled in 

 Beneveutum in oftortimes by Augustus and Nero, and it continued 

 to be an important city during the empire. Its prosperity was 

 probably in great part owing to its position on the Appion Way. The 

 Roman emperors often visited it. 



The city was taken by Totilo, who razed its walls, but they were 

 soon after restored, and the city (till continued wealthy and the capital 

 of all the surrounding provinces. 



The site of the Kurculn? Caudinsc, or Caudine Forks, as the pass 

 was called, in which the Roman army on its way from Colatio, the 

 modern Cajazzo, to Maleventum, was obliged to surrender to the 

 Samnitcs, has long been a disputed question in connection with Bene- 

 ventum. By some the pass was said to be between Arpaja and 

 Monteaarchio, by others between Arienzo and Arpaja; but some 

 observing travellers had remarked that the localities did not by any 

 means correspond to the description of that celebrated defile given 

 by Livy (ix. 2-6). Cluverius however pointed out a more probable 

 spot, in a narrow defile watered by the river Isclerus (now Faienza), 

 which flows into the Voltnrno near Duceuto. Late travellers who 

 have examined this defile have confirmed the assertion of Cluverius. 

 The Isclerus, a small mountain stream coming from the south-east 

 above Cervinora, crosses the high road between Arpaja and Monte- 

 nrchio, and then enters a long and narrow defile between Mount 

 Taburnus and a branch of the Tifata ridge ; and after passing by Mojano 

 and Santa Agata del Qoti, enters the plain of the Volturno, into 

 which it flows nearly opposite Calatia, or Cajazzo. This was the most 

 direct way for the Romans from the bonks of the Volturno to Male- 

 ventum. This pas* has two narrow openings, one near Mojano and 

 the other near Santa Agata, with a small plain between, formed by 

 the receding sides of Mount Taburnus ; while the valley of Arpaja, 

 through which the high road passes, has only one narrow defile, and 

 has three openings instead of two, and moreover has no stream running 

 through it (See a Memoir on the subject by J. P. Qandy, in Keppel 

 Craven's ' Tour,' with a small map of the localities.) This conclusion 

 is at variance with that of the majority of Italian antiquaries, who 

 consider the pass between Arienzo and Arpaja to be the Caudine 

 Forks ; and Mr. Blewitt, in his ' Handbook for South Italy,' adds in 

 corroboration, that this pass is still locally called Forchia, 



Beneventnm was taken in the 6th century by the Longobards, who 

 established here a dukedom, which included all their conquests in Sam- 

 nium, Campania, and Apulia. The dukes of Benevento, owing to their 

 vast possessions and their remoteness from the Longobard capital, Pavio, 

 were almost independent When Charlemagne destroyed the king- 

 dom of the Longobards, the duchy of Benevento maintained itself as 

 an independent state, and its dukes assumed the title of Princes. 

 They were often at war with the Greeks, the Franks, and the Saracens, 

 and also with their neighbours of Naples. The principality was 

 afterwards split into three, Capua and Salerno having become inde- 

 pendent of llcncvcnto. The Normans took Benevento and gave it 

 up to the pni>e, who bestowed on the Norman chief the investiture 

 of Apulia and Calabria. The popes however allowed the old princes 

 of Benevento to remain as feudatories of the Roman See until 1077, 

 when l~indti Iphiift, the last prince of Benevento, died, leaving no heirs. 

 From that time Benevento has remained under the direct dominion 

 of the jwpes, and although it bos been repeatedly seized by various 

 kings of Naples it has always been restored on making peace. In 

 180fl Napuleon h.-ivin.- I Naples took Benevento also, and 



gave it I.. Talleyrand with tin- title of Prince, but it was restored to 

 the pope in 1815. Benevento is governed by a cardinal sent from 

 Rome, with the title of Legate. Near Betieventn the famous l.:it tit- 

 took place between Manfred and Charles of Anjou (February 26th, 

 1286), in which Manfred lost his crown and his lift-. Ho was borlM 

 >>n the hanks of the Calere, under a heap of stones thrown upon him 

 by Charles's soldiers ; but his remains were afterwards disinterred by 

 .nler of the bt.hop of Conenia, and carried to the banks of th- river 

 Verde on the bonier* of Atiruzzo. (Dante, ' PurgaUirio,' canto iii.i 

 Charles's soldiers after the battle pillaged Benevento, whi. -h 1,:,.| 

 offered no resistance, murdered most of the people, not sparing old 

 mm, children, or priests, violated the women, and partly destroyed 

 the town. 



The territory of Benevento is limited within narrow boundaries, 



ri"ing an area of only S3 square mile* ; it extends some seven 



ht mile* along each of the two valleys of the Habato and 



t.alore. and contains 14 villages : the population of the whole territory 



111 1M:! w "- The country is hilly, but fertile in com. fruit, 



and pasture, and it abounds with game. The river Sabato supplies il 



with fish, 



Tbe etty of Benevento is surrounded by walls about two miles in 



circuit, and has an old castle at its eastern extremity ; the streets 

 are narrow and stt ii.-iin many fine mansions; the climate 



is subject to fogs in winter and oppressive heat in summer. Bene- 

 ventum gave title to a bishop from the earliest age of the church ; 



Coin from UriiMi Museum, actual size. Copper ; weight 100 grains. 



its first bishop, St Potimus, is said to have been a disciple of St 1 

 The see was erected into an archbishopric in the 10th century by 

 Pope John XIII. The cathedral is an old and vast building, and a 

 fine specimen of the Romanesque or Lombardo-Saracenic style. Its 

 vault is supported by 54 fluted columns of Parian nun-hie, 4 of gray 

 granite, and 2 of verde antique, which ore believed to have belonged 

 bo temples of the Roman period. The middle gate of the church is 

 of sculptured bronze, of good workmanship, and representing scriptural 

 subjects: it is said to have been cast in the year 11 JO. A bas- 

 relief of a boar adorned for sacrifice, now fixed on the outside wall 

 of the church, is supposed to be of very remote antiquity. Some 

 writers say it is a representation of the Culydoni:m Itoar, and the gift 

 of Diomedes himself, the reputed founder of this and many other cities 

 in south Italy. Adjoining the cathedral is the orchiepiscopal palace. 

 In the square before it stands a small granite obelisk, which according 

 to Cluunpollion belongs to the reign of Uomitian. There are several 

 other churches and convents, a seminary, and a town-house, which is 

 a fine structure. The old monastery of Santa Sofia, now suppressed, 

 was rich in archives, chronicles, and other historical records, which 

 have been lost or dispersed in the vicissitudes of the country. The 

 church adjoining the monastery is an octagon, and is adorned with 

 eight granite columns. In the court of the cloisters is a well, the 

 mouth of which is hewn through a very large capital of the Ionic 

 order. The church of La Santissima Annunciata is also adorned 

 with ancient columns and marbles. The citadel, which is ouUide the 

 walls, dates from the 1 2th century ; it is now used as the residi 

 the Delegate. There are some remains of an amphitheatre and of a 

 Roman bridge, and many inscriptions, rilievi, and other ancient relics. 

 But the most interesting monument of antiquity is Trajan's triumphal 

 arch, which was erected in honour of that emperor by the senate in 

 A.D. 113 ; it forma one of the city gates on the road to Puglio, and 

 '' ' .lli-d the Porta Aurea. It is a single arch of Parian marble, and 

 entire with the exception of part of the cornice ; both its aides are 

 adorned with four Corinthian pillars raised on high pedestals. The 

 frieze and panels as well as the interior of the arch are cover.'. 1 

 with rich sculpture, representing Trajan's achievements and his 

 apotheosis. The figures ore in alto-rilievo, and exquisitely executed ; 

 but unfortunately most of them are damaged, and there is hardly 

 one of them entire. Do Vita has given an engraving and a description 

 of this arch, which is one of the finest in existence. To the went of 

 the town is the Ponte Lebroso, over which the Appion Way passed 

 before entering the city. The Calore is crossed by a handsome 

 bridge of six arches built by Pope Pius VI. after a design by Vanni- 

 telll Orbilius, the teacher of the poet Horace, won a native of 

 Beueventum. 



(Borgia, Mcmnirc Ittoriche <lc Senertnlo ; I>o Vita, Thuaunu 

 Anlii/uilatum Rrncrcntaatiruw, '2 vols. fol. Rom. 1754-64; Dictionary 

 I; and Human ii,i,:i,-><\,li'i Ulcv. itt's Handbook for South Italy.) 

 ' IJKVFELD. [Rins, HAS.] 



BENGAL, a Urge province of Hindustan,' which also gives title 

 to the principal presidency of BritUh India, and contains the seat of 

 the supreme government 



Boundaritn. The province of Bengal is bounded S. b\ 

 Bengal and the district of Midnaporo in Orissa, K. )>y th. I: i .,,. 

 .in]. ire, N. by Ncpaul and Bootan, and \V. by the province of Kuhar. 

 It is situated between 21 and 27 N. lat, and 88" and 93 E. long. 

 The length of the province from east to west may bo estimated at 

 350 English miles, and its average breadth from north to south at 

 300 miles: the area is estimated by Major Kcnuell at 97,244 square 

 miles, or upwards of 10,000 square miles more than Great Britain. 



From its geographical position Bengal is not much exposed to 

 foreign invasion. The sea-coast, which forms nearly the whole 

 southern boundary, is guarded by shallows and impenetrable woods. 

 It has only one considerable port, and that is-difficult of access. The 

 eastern boundary is protected by a llt, the breadth of which varies 

 from 10 to 20 miles, and which is covered throughout with the i 

 and most luxuriant vegetation, forming an impassable barrier. On the 

 north rises a chain of lofty mountains, containing a scanty and half- 

 civilised population. Even on the west the natural barrier is n( ; 



Characlrr of thr S<,il. -The general character of Bengal is that of a 

 level country ; there are no hills of great elevation in the province. 

 The districts in which some elevations occur are, Chittagoug and 

 Tiperah on the cast, Silhet on the north-east, and Birbum on 

 the west 



