Aquileia, a village of the Austrian Coast-land, circle of Gorz, a few miles from the Adriatic and from the Italian frontier. It occupies a portion of the site of ancient Aqui-leia, a city founded about 182 B. C. by the Romans at the E. extremity of Transpadane Gaul, as a defence against the northern barbarians; or possibly somewhat earlier by the Gauls, in which case, however, it soon fell into the hands of Rome. It is said to have derived its name from aquila, an eagle, which appeared as a favorite omen to its founders. It was a powerful military post in the time of CAesar. In Strabo's time it was the great emporium of Roman trade with Rhaetia, Noricum, Panno-nia, I stria, and Dalmatia, roads running from the town into those countries. Maximin laid siege to Aquileia, but, failing in the attempt to take the place, he was slain by his own soldiers, A. I). 238. In 452 it was taken by Attila, and razed to the ground; its inhabitants fled to the lagoons on which Venice now stands. It was afterward retaken from the Huns by Nar-ses and partly rebuilt. It was an important episcopal see, and several councils were held there.

The bishops of Aquileia assumed in the 6th century the title of patriarch, and for several centuries carried on a contest with the popes, who in opposition to Aquileia established the patriarchate of Grado. The patriarchate of Aquileia was not abolished till 1751. In the middle ages the place gradually dwindled down to a state of entire insignificance.