a duchy of Germany, bounded on the south by the Adriatic sea, and that part of Istria possessed by the republic of Venice; on the north, by Carinthia and Stiria; on the east, by Slavonia, and Croatia; on the west, by Friuli, the county of Gorz or Goritz, and a part of the gulf of Venice; extending in length about 110 miles, and in breadth about 100. Its area is about 4700 square miles, and it contained 409,504 inhabitants in 1807. It had its ancient name Carnia, as well as the modern one Carniola, from its ancient inhabitants, the Carni, a tribe of Scythians, otherwise called Japides, whence this and the adjacent countries were also called Japidia.

Carniola is full of mountains, some of which are cultivated and inhabited, some covered with wood, others naked and barren, and others continually buried in snow. The valleys are very fruitful. Here are likewise mines of iron, lead, copper, and cinnabar; salt must be had from the sovereign's magazines. There are several rivers, besides many medicinal springs and inland lakes. The common people are very hardy, going barefooted in winter through the snow, with open breasts, and sleeping on a hard bench without bed or bolster. Their food is also very coarse and mean. In winter, when the snow lies deep on the ground, the mountaineers bind either small baskets, or long thin narrow boards, like the Laplanders, to their feet, on which, with the help of a stout staff or pole, they descend with great velocity from the mountains. When the snow is frozen, they make use of a sort of irons or skaits. In different parts of the country the inhabitants, especially the common sort, differ greatly in their dress, language, and manner of living. In Upper and Lower Carniola they wear long beards. The languages chiefly in use are the Slavonian or Wendish, and German; the first by the commonalty, and the latter by people of fashion. The duchy is divided into the Upper, Lower, Middle, and Inner Carniola. The principal commodities exported hence are, iron, steel, lead, quicksilver, white and red wine, oil of olives, cattle, sheep, cheese, linen, and a kind of woollen stuff called mahalan, Spanish leather, honey, walnuts, and timber; together with all manner of wood work, as boxes, dishes, &c. Christianity was first planted here in the eighth century. Lutheranism made a considerable progress in it; but, excepting the Walachians or Uskokes, who are of the Greek church, and style themselves Staraverzi, i.e. old believers, all the inhabitants at present are Roman Catholics. Carniola was long a marquisate or margravate; but in the year 1231 was erected into a duchy. Carniola was ceded to France in 1859, but was restored to Austria in 1874.