an ancient and celebrated town of Italy, in the duchy of Milan, and capital of the Pavesan, with an university and bishop's see. It was anciently called Ticinum, from its situation on that river. It lies 20 miles to the southward of Milan, and contains about 30,000 inhabitants. It was formerly the capital of the Longobardic kingdom, and is still remarkable for the broadness of its streets, the beauty and richness of some of its churches, for its university founded by Charlemagne, and for several other literary institutions. The bishop's see, which was once the richest in Italy, is now dependent on the pope; and upon the whole the city is gone to decay. The few objects within it worth the public attention belong to the clergy or monks; and the church and convent of the Carthusians are inexpressibly noble, the court of the convent being one of the finest in the world. It is defended by strong walls, large ditches, good ramparts, excellent bastions, and a bridge over the river Tassio. In the centre of the town is a strong castle, where the duke of Milan was wont to reside. It was taken by the duke of Savoy in 1766; by the French in 1733; by the French and Spaniards in 1745; but retaken by the Austrians in 1746. It fell into the hands of the French in 1796, was recovered by the Austrians in 1798, but surrendered again to the French in 1800; and formed a part of the kingdom of Italy, till the peace of Paris in 1815 restored it to the Austrians. E. Long. 9. 5. N. Lat. 45. 10.