NOVA´RIA(Νουαρία, Ptol.: Novara), a considerable city of Cisalpine Gaul, situated on the highroad from Mediolanum to Vercellae, at the distance of 33 miles from the former city. ( Itin. Ant. pp. 344, 350.) It was in the territory of the Insubres (Ptol. 3.1.33); but its foundation is ascribed by Pliny to a people whom he calls Vertacomacori, who were of the tribe of the Vocontii, a Gaulish race, according to Pliny, and not, as asserted by Cato, a Ligurian one. (Plin. Nat. 3.17. s. 21.) No mention is found in history of Novaria previous to the Roman conquest; but it seems to have been in the days of the Empire a considerable municipal town. It is reckoned by Tacitus (Tac. Hist. 1.70) among the firmissima Transpadanae regions municipiawhich declared in favour of Vitellius, A.D. 69; and was the native place of the rhetorician C. Albucius Silus, who exercised municipal functions there. (Suet. Rhet. 6. ) Its municipal rank is confirmed also by inscriptions (Gruter, Inscr. p. 393. 8, &c.); and we learn from Pliny that its territory was fertile in vines (17.23. s. 35). After the fall of the Western Empire Novaria is again mentioned as a fortified town of some importance; and it seems to have retained its consideration under the Lombard rule. (Procop. B. G. 2.12; P. Diac. Hist. Lang. 6.18.) The modern city of Novarais a flourishing place, with about 16,000 inhabitants, but has no ancient remains. [E.H.B]