in Ancient Geography, a noble city of Gallia Cispadana; a colony of Thessalians, on the Adriatic, in walled or a boggy situation, which proved a natural security to it. The houses were all of wood, the communication by bridges and boats, and the town kept sweet and clean by the tides carrying away the mud and foil. (Strabo). Anciently it had a port at the mouth of Ravenna the Bedes; Augustus added a new port, capacious to hold a fleet, for the security of the Adriatic, between which and the city lay the Via Caesars. In the lower age it was the seat of the Ostrogoths for 72 years; but being recovered by Narset, Justinian's general, it became the residence of the exarchs, magistrates sent by the emperor from Constantinople, for 175 years, when it was taken by the Longobards. It is still called Ravenna, capital of Romania. The seat of the western Roman empire was by Honorius translated to Ravenna about the year 404, and hence the country in which it stood was called Romania, in the pope's territory. It had a very flourishing trade till the sea withdrew two miles from it, which has been a great detriment. The fortifications are of little importance, and the citadel is gone to ruin. It is now most remarkable for the excellent wine produced in its neighbourhood. The mausoleum of Theodoric is still to be seen, remarkable for being covered by a single stone 28 feet in diameter and 15 thick. It was at Ravenna that the duke of Nemours fell, after having gained a most decisive victory over the confederate army, in 1511. See France, No. 129, and Modern Universal History, vol. xx. p. 324, &c.