Monza

Monza (anc. Modœtia), a town of Italy, on the river Lambro, 9 miles by rail NNE. of Milan. The ancient capital of the Lombard sovereigns, it owed much of its early importance, and its chief public edifices, to Theodelinda; and in the middle ages, in spite of thirty-two sieges, it was conspicuous for the wealth of its numerous citizens and nobles, and the extent of its cloth-trade. The cathedral, founded in 595 by Theodelinda, contains many interesting relics of this great queen. Humbert I. was assassinated here by Bressi, 29th July 1900. The famous Iron Crown, removed to Vienna in 1859, was restored in 1866 (see CROWN, Vol. III. p. 589). The town has also an interesting town-hall (1293), a royal palace (1777), and manufactures of cottons, hats, leather, &c. Pop. 18,000.