East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1859-06-16
The Battle Fields Of Northern
ItQtv,

Though regarded in Modern Geosraoe
ply as a part of Italy, the country which,
lies North of the peninsula, Lombardy,
and that part of Continental Sardinia
cast of the Alps, was known in Roman
History as Cisalpine Gaul.
For long time it was the centre of
hardy barbarious race who were the chief
enemies of Italy, and the obstacle and
terror of Rome. Here Brennis gathered
the wild hordes that poured down upon
Rome, massacred the Senators and Priests
in the Forum, hemmed the troops in the
Citadel, and retired only after destroying
the city.
1t was the last part Of Italy to be sub
dued, and then il was held as foreign
conquest, not as part of Rome. Ever
after it was the scsa.s sf contending ma
tionalities, and the great battles OF the
world were fought upon its soil, but not
for it; for no matter which side won, it
was still the victim of the conqueror.
The contest between Carthage and
Rome was fought here. Hannibal eros
sed the Alps, with the loss of half his
army, laid siege to Turn (Taurini) and
pitched his camp upon the Iicinus (the
Ticino), and then encountered. the army
of Scipio, who had thrown bridge over
the river. The Roman Consul defeated,
was compelled to retreat over the Po---
destroying the bridge behind him, to be
EE6gain defeated at Trebia, and to meet
fatal, and as it at first appeared, final
overF ow to Roman arms at Lake Thrasy-
mem.
The history of this campaign, as Ini-
nutey described at the time, and as Illus
trated by the Commentators on the Art.
of War, reads like campaign of Napo
con- Like the victories of the Monder8<
Con9ueror, it was followed by the subs
mission of all Gaul; which, versatile as
now, turned against its conquerors, when,
the fortunes of war began tochange. IA
1t was upon the Raudean plains, tho
seat of modern Milan, that Caius Mariux
defeated the Cimbri (101 B. CO. in a bal
tie which lasted three days, and whic
postponed for many centuries the barbaz
invasion.
Under the first Triunvirate Cisalpiij
Gaul fell TO the charge of Julius Casar
and when he passed the Rubicon, he wa3
regarded as having invaded Italy, and de-
| fed Rome.
In the fall of tho Empire the Goths
desoated this Northern region; and tho
Lombards, a tribe of Germans, who had
becninvitedin in, as sstipendaries,p proved even
more cruel than the Goths. They heldit,
undera succession Of twenty -onc Monarcls
for over two centuries.
In 962, OTno the Great, Saxon, was
crowned at Milan with the iron crown of
Lombardy, and at Rome with the golden
crown of the Empire. 1t is the crown Of
the Caesars that the Imperial I.sisse-- y
claim % essr ana they rcign over Aus
tia aud Germany, as Conquests Of the
Roman Grown. For several centuries
the German Empcrors were recognized
as the Sovereigns of all Italy. Then
CuARLEMAGSE annexed it to The Empire
of the Franks. Then again it fell to
4 Germany.
i The power of the Church broke this
supremacy. Ths Popes encouraged tho
Northern Provinces to revolt, and the
Lombard league was formed, which tri-
umphcd at the battle of Legnano in 1176.
and the peace of Constance gave freedom
the Italian cities, and laid the foundations
the Republics Of Genoa, and Florc> >ce.
and Venice. VISA
In CHS struggle FREprRlcK BARBAu
I burned Tortona, destroyed Crema,
razed Milan to the ground. The ,s
cities built Alessandria, the present I. (
OF -.ss sefn,e, v,rr,vnfs- w,,1IYlst
Northern invasion. This Italian t,imnph
was short-Iivcd; and the history Of 1taly
was one Of internal wars, altcrnatcd BY
1 tinvasions from without. 'r
The battle Of Pavia, another Of tho
great battles Of the world, was fo6eho
upon its soil, between CsARLxs the Vth
of Austria, and FnA>clE /. of France, Il,
which the latter was routed and t6k6l
prisoner, and wrote hotne 'sll was 1pntr
but honor" &n 8 = rf<1I}f
Continued On ~ rSee) Q7i