Pilgrimage, Book 6 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Of the Kingdomes of Tremisen, Algier, and other places, anciently called Mauritanis Caesariensis.
THe Kingdome of Telensin or Tremisen, aIo. Leo.lib. 4 Maginus. Boterus. Dom. Niger. Strabo lib. 17.beginning Westward from the Riuer of Zha and Muluia; Eastward, it bordereth on the Great Riuer; Southward, vponupon the desert of Numidia; and Northward, vponupon the Mediterran Sea. It was by the Romans called Mauritania Caesariensis: the name came of the Inhabitants called Mauri, and of the Greekes, foreign some say bforeignof their colour, because it is obscure and darke. They were supposed to come hither first with Hercules out of India. More likely it is that cArias Mont. in apparatu. Tremel. & Ian.they descended of Phut, the sonne of Cham, Gen. 10.6. Pliny mentions a Riuer named Fut, in these parts, descending from Atlas. Salust saith dSalust. belt. Ingurth.they came with Hercules, but were not Indians but Medes: and the name Medi turned after into Mauri. Vitruvius eVitruuius lib: 8. cap. 2.nameth Mauritania, Maurusia. Ortelius fOrtel.Thesaur.testifieth, That in ancient coines it is read Mauretania, and so Tacitus gCornel.Tacit. hist. lib.2.readeth. Ptolomey diuideth it into Mauritania Caesariensis, which Victor hVictor. Persecutionis lib. 3.Vticensis calleth Maior, and Tingitania. Pliny iPlin lib.5. cap. 1. & 2.ascribes this diuision to Caligula; Dion, to Claudius Casar: of whom it was sirnamed a Caesariensis of the mother Citie Caesarea, where he planted a Roman Colony, before called Iol, the Royall seat of Iuba, a man famous, for that he first raigned ouer both these Mauritania's, but more famous for his learning, whereby hee still liueth in the learned moniments of Pliny and others; author of much of our African reports. He in his childhood was led in triumph at Rome; his father kCaesar. Comment. de bello ciuili Africano lib. 5. Orosius l. 6. c. 16. R. Volater. l. 12.Iuba, the successour of Bechus, had before slaine himselfe in the ciuill warres. Augustius restored him to his fathers Kingdome, to which he left his sonne Ptolomey, borne of the daughter of Antonius, and Cleopatra, whom Caligula slew, and then diuided Mauritania into two Prouinces, whereof this is called, as is said, Caesariensis of the Colony of Claudius Caesar. That which Procopius lPrecop. de bello Persico & Vandilico. lib. 4.hath written of the originall of these Maurusij, as he termes them, although in our first booke mentioned, here also may seeme to deserue relation. When Ioshua, or Iesus the sonne of Nun or Nane, had inuaded the Land of Canaan, the people fled into Egypt, and there multiplying, pierced into Africa, replenishing with people all that coast vntounto the pillars of Hercules, vsing a semi-phaenician dialect. For all the Sea-coast from Sidon to Egypt, was anciently called Phaenicia. They built the towne Tinge in Numidia, where they erected two pillars of white stone neere a great fountaine, wherein was ingrauen in Phaenician letters, Wee Flee from the face of Iesus the Theese, the sonne of Naue. These are supposed the first inhabitants of Africa, and for that cause Antaeus their King, which encountred in single combate with Hercules, was said to be the sonne of the Earth. Afterwards when the Phaenicians came hither with Dido, they were heere receiued for kindreds sake, and permitted to build Carthage; which after grew so mightie, that it subdued and expelled the Maurusy themselues. The Romans made the Carthaginians, and other Africans Tributaries, and caused the Maurusy to inhabit the furthest parts of Africa: But in processe of time they, obtaining many victories against the Vandils, seated themselues in Mauritania, til Iustinian remoued them. Thus farre Procopius. Paulus mPauli Diaceni lustinianus.Diaconus recordeth also the same history, sauing that he saith the Egyptians would not receiue them, and therefore they passed into Africa. The Maurusy in the time of Iustinian were destroyed, and captiued in such multitudes, that a Maurusian slaue was valued but at the price of a sheepe. The author of this was Salomon, an Eunuch, according to a prophecie which they had amongst thē, that one without a beard should destroy thē. But captiuitie could not much empaire their happines, whose very freedome was misery. nProcop. Eadem Coelius Rodig. l. 18. c. 38. Suidas saith that they were bold: & fought fleeing and returning vponupon aduantage, like as we read of the Parthians.For they liued in smal base cottages, exposed to the Summer Sunnes, and Winter snowes, sleeping (except a few of the better sort) on the bare ground, alway wearing the same garment howsoeuer the season differed, and that torne and ragged: wanting bread and all other necessaries, neither grinding nor boyling that corne they had. Thus miserable were their bodies and their soules more. For they had neither feare of GOD, nor reuerence of men, nor respect of pledge, nor regard of oath, nor peace with any, but where feare constrained them. They had their women Prophetesses, which diuined by their sacrifices: a thing vnlawfull for their men to attempt. Of the numbers of their wiues they bragged, oIn Epistola ad Salomonem.that the Christiās which had but one wife, might feare the losse of their childrē, they which might hauehave fiftie wiues need not misdoubt issue and posteritie. And yet they were by many wars brought to smal numbers, and a few tribes or families. Leo pLeo.lib.4.saith, that after the Romans were expelled, the ancient Gouernours called Beni Habdulguad of the family of Magraua repossessed these parts: who were after dispossessed by Ghamrazen, Son of Zeijen, whose posterity raigned heere almost 380. yeares. But they were much vexed by the Kings of Fesse and Tunis. It was in later times called the kingdom of Telensin, or of Tremisen, stretching in length from East to West 380. miles, in bredth not aboue fiue and twenty. The Kings could neuer satisfie the Numidians couetise, whose friendship they hauehave with great cost sought. It hath two frequented hauen townes, Oram and Mersalcabir, both taken and holden by the Spaniards. They were taken in the time of Ferdinando King of Spaine; for which cause Abuchemmen the Telensin King was expelled by his owne subiects, and Abuzeijen placed in his roome, which he could scarcely warme before he was slaine by Barbarussa the Turke, who conquered this Kingdome. Anno 1515.But Abuchemmeu sought to Charles the fifth for aid, by whose helpe he recouered his Kingdome, and paid a tribute to the Emperour. But Habdulla his successour detained the tribute, and submitted himselfe vntounto Soliman the great Turke. Algior remained to Barbarussa.
This qMunster Cosniog.lib.6.Barbarussa or Barbarossa was a meane fellow of base cōdition, who in his youth sold cheeses in Spaine for his liuing, & by his industry attained to great matters. There rKnolles pag. 635.were of them two brethren, borne at Mytilene in Lesbos, their mother a Christian, their father a renegate Grecian, Horucius Barbarussa. and this Hariadenus Barbarussa. They first stole a Galliot, and so committing themselues to sea, by piracy vnderunder Camales, a Turkish Pirate, they grew rich: and from one Gally, came to hauehave a Nauie of their owne, with which they scoured the coasts of Barbary. At the same time sSurij Comment, in Annum 1534.two brethren contended for the Kingdome of Algier, one of whom requesteth aid of Horucius, who so helped him against his brother, that he helped himself to the Kingdome, by the murther of the King his patron and ally, which he did not long enioy, being taken & slaine of the Spaniards, and his head sent into Spaine. But his brother Hariadenus succeeding him, became mighty both by sea & land, to the great damage both of the Moores and Christians: and Soliman moued by his same, sent for him, and made him Admirall of all the Turkish seas, and sea-forces, vnderunder whom he grew dreadfull, not to these parts of Barbary alone, which he subiected to the Turk, but to those countries of Christendom which are washed with the Mediterran: euen Rome it self quaking for fear of a second Hannibal, who after so many ages should by sea from Africa auenge the angry ghost of old Carthage. In the yeare 1538. The Pope, Emperour & Venetians, had with ioynt forces set forth a Nauy of aboue two hundred & fifty saile against him, but by mutual discords (the wonted aduantage of the Turks against the Christians) they made themselues both sport and spoile to this Turkish Pirate. The sea could no longer endure the successe of this Barbarian, but mad to see the Christians vnchristian madnes, & vnwilling to submit his proud waues to the base thraldome of this base Turke, swelling with indignation, conspired with the neighbour element, which pretended equall quarrell for so often darkening his light, & poisoning his breath with those hellish smokes, and for vsurping those thunders, which had wont to be the airy priuiledge of his middle regiōs: these both agreed in their disagreeing with tempestuous fury to spoile the spoilers: the winds from the Acroceraunian hills, and the seas on the Dalmatian shore, so girt in the Turks, with their equall vnequall siege, that twenty thousand of them were captiued and shut vp in Neptunes prisons, to become food to his family, and the new conquerours on eueryevery shore, made their markets of Turkish commodities, and by wrackes testified to the Earth, that they had wrecked themselues on her and their enemies. And yet did Barbarussa recouer himselfe by new forces, and hauing wonne Rhegium; came to Ostia, where he rode three daies; the Romans trembling meane while, and ready to leaue Saint Peter alone to locke out the Turkes if they came, So much more fortunate were his proceedings, then of Hali Bassa, who in the fight at Lepanto lost his life and Nauy, whereof tKnolles saith fortie sunke; an hundred threescore and one Gallies and sixtie Galliots taken. pag. 883. Michael Isselt, Com. in Ann. 1571.eightie fell to the seas share, and an hundred and thirty saile to Don Iohn and his partners; the greatest blow that euer the Turke at sea receiued, and had the greatest uKing Iames in his Poem of Lepanto.Homer to sing it. But me thinkes I feele some Cynthius pulling me by the eare, & asking if the Pirats hauehave robbed me of my Religion, the most proper subiect of my discourse. Truly that irreligious crue while they seeke to winne other things, care not to lose that. But this Algier hauing beene of old, and still continuing a receptacle of Turkish rouers, could not be passed ouer, especially in these Piraticall times, without some obseruation, being also the gate whereby the Turkish forces first entred into Barbary. Iohn xIo.Leo.lib.4.Leo writeth a little otherwise of Barbarussa and Algier. The Moores call this Citie Gezeir, the Spaniards Algier: and of old was called Mesgana of that African family which founded it. It containeth yIt hath now eightie thousand persons, as Boterus affirmeth.about foure thousand families: the buildings very sumptuous; Innes, Bath-stoues, and Temples very beautifull: eueryevery occupation hath a seuerall place by it selfe. It hath adioyning plaines very pleasant and fertile, one whereof is fiue and forty miles long, and almost thirtie broad. For many yeares it was subiect to the Kingdome of Telensin: but hearing that Bugia was gouerned by a King, they submitted themselues to him, paying him a tribute, otherwise in manner free. Then did they build themselues gallies, and molested with Piracies the Spanish Ilands of Maiorica, Minorica, and Ieuiza. Ferdinando therefore prouided an Armada against them, and built a Fort within shot of the Towne: whereupon they requested peace, and promised tribute. But Barbarussa, when Ferdinando was dead, was sent for by the Citizens, and made Captaine ouer all their forces. He soone after murthered Selim Etteumi an Arabian Prince, which had beene created Gouernor of Algier, when Bugia was taken by the Spaniards: & possessed himselfe of the gouernment, & there coyned money, calling himselfe King; the neighbouring people yeelding him obedience and tribute. This was the beginning of Barbarussas greatnes: and at the most part hereof Leo was present, and lodged in his house which had beene Embassadour from Algier to Spaine, from whence he had brought three thousand bookes written in Arabian. And whiles I was at Tunis, I heard that Barbarussa was slaine at Telensin, and his brother zThis was Hariaden the Turkish Admirall.Cairadin succeeded. It was told me also that the Emperour Charles the fifth had sent two armies to surprise Algier, the first whereof was destroyed in the plaine, the second slaine and made slaues by Barbarussa, in the yeare of the Hegira 922. Thus farre Leo. In the yeare 1541. aN c. Villagagnon. de bac expedit. Sury Comm.in Ann. 1541.Charles himselfe with his Imperiall Nauy passed the seas, to like both purpose and effect, more ouercomming himselfe in the patient bearing his losses, then his enemies whom he sought to assaile. He was moued to this expedition by the complaints of his subiects, against the Turkish Pirats, which vnderunder Asanaga, Barbarussa's Lieutenant, infested all those seas. But the tempestuous weather both at land and sea disappointed him, and after the losse of many, both men and shippes, was forced to returne, and, to make roome for his souldiers, caused his horses (their gallant breed notwithstanding) to bee cast ouerboord.
Thus doth Algier still continue a sinke of Pirats; and now saith Maginus, there are in it not many lesse then fiue and twenty thousand Christian slaues; which in likelihood at this time are encreased. Tripoli is also a seat of a Turkish Viceroy or Beglerbeg, and of Turkish Rouers. In the Kingdome of Telensin is the desert of Angad, wherein are store of Roes, Deere and Ostriches, Arabian theeues, and Lions. The Castle of Izli was sometime stored with Inhabitants, and stately walled. Since, it was inhabited with religious persons, much reuerenced by the Kings of Telensin, and the Arabians, which giuegive free entertainment for three dayes vntounto all trauellers. A little off runneth a Riuer, out of which they water their fields, which else would yeeld them no fruit. Guagida betwixt two stooles had vnquiet sitting, paying tribute both to the kings of Telensin, & the Arabiās. Ned Roma was built by the Romans, as the name testifieth, for Ned signifieth like; & like it was, if Historiographers faile not, vntounto Rome. Heere and at Tebecrit dwelt great store of Weauers. Haresgol was sometime famous, but being destroyed by a King and Patriarch of Cairaoan, it bequeathed as it seemeth the greatnes therof to Telensin, which after grew in renowne. This towne giues name to this Kingdom. When Abu Tesfin reigned, it had in it sixteene thousand families. Ioseph King of Fesse besiege… it seuen yeares together, and almost famished them: but he being slaine by treason, they found victuals enough in their enemies camp (which they assailed & spoiled) for their reliefe. Forty yeares after Abulhesen King of Fez after thirty months siege tooke it, & beheaded their King. Here are many and beautifull Temples, hauing their Mahumetan Priests and Preachers. Likewise here are fiue Colleges most sumptuously built by the Kings of Telensin & Fesle, curiously wrought with Musaike worke, for the Arabian Muses & Students, which hauehave their maintenance there. Their Bathes & Innes Iomit. A great part of this City is inhabited with Iewes, distinguished by their yellow Turbants from the other Citizens, which being very rich, in the yeare of the Hegira 923. were robbed and brought to beggery. The Turks bGi.Bot.Ben.are now Lords thereof, between whō & Charles the fift, who had vndertaken their protection, the City is much impaired, as also by the wars betwixt the Seriffe & the Turk. Barbarossa subiected it. Batha is a great City, or rather was such: now ruined by wars. Not far hence in Leo's time kept a famous Heremit, much esteemed for his holinesse: who in short time grew so rich in horses & other cattell, that none in that region were cōparable to him. He paid nothing, nor any of his to the King, or to the Arabians, because they supposed him a Saint. I was told by his disciples (saith Leo) that the tenth of his corne is eight thousand bushels a yeare. cA rich Heremite.He hath fiue hundred horses and mares, ten thousand small cattel, and two thousand oxen, besides that, he hath yearely sent him from diuers parts of the world, of almes and offering, betweene foure thousand and fiue thousand duckats. His fame is spread ouer Asia and Africa. His disciples are fiue hundred, which dwell with him, and liue at his charge, to whom he enioyneth neither penance nor labour, but to reade ordinary prayers: and giues them some names of GOD to obserue in their prayers, which they are to mumble so many times a day. For which cause multitudes resort to him to be his disciples, which after such instruction he sends home againe. He hath an hundred tents, some for strangers, some for shepheards, & others for his family. This good and lusty Heremit hath foure wiues, & many slaues, and by them many sons & daughters gallantly attired. His children also hauehave wiues and children, in so much that the whole family of this Heremite and his sons exceed fiue hundred. He is honored of the Arabians; & the King of Telensin is afraid of him. I, being desirous to know him, was entertained of him three daies, & supped with him eueryevery night in secret roomes, where he shewed me among other things, bookes of Magike & Alchimy: and would hauehave proued to me that Magike was a true Science, whereby I thought him to be a Magician, because I saw him so much honored, and yet vsed neither sayings nor doings, but those inuocations of GOD by certaine names. Thus farre Leo lib. 4.
Oran is dOran.subiect to Spaine, taken of Peter Nauarre. 1509. It hath ten thousand families. The Turkes in vaine assaulted it, An. 1563. Their Piracies procured this Spanish thraldome: vntounto which Mersalcabir, a most famous Hauen, is also subiect.
Tegdemt eTegdemt.is as the Arabian name signifieth, ancient. It sometime was famous & aboūded with men of learning & Poets. But he which would further be informed of the Cities of this Kingdome, let him reade Leo. The people of Bresch vse to paint a black crosse on their cheeke, & another vponupon the palme of their hand. The same is obserued of diuers others, which yet know not the reason therof, being Mahumetans. The story saith, that the Gothes inuading and ruling these parts proclaimed freedome from tribute to all such as would become Christians, a badge of which Christianity was this crosse, still kept, now their Religion is lost.
The gouernment of these parts is, as is said, Turkish, The Beglerbeg hath chiefe title, but the Dinano hath chiefe power of iudgments and iurisdiction. The Corasan or Captaine of the Ianizaries, being in many matters as great as the Beglerbeg. The Beglerbegs of Algier and Tunes make their principall profits of their places (which they hold three yeares, hauing first bought them at a deare rate) by their Piracies, which with ioynt consent they exercise on these seas, all in manner being fish that comes to net, if they meet them conueniently notwithstanding any league, or peace holden with the Grand Signor. They also giuegive entertainment to such Pirats of other places as resort to them, either to sell their ill-gotten goods, or to ioyne their strength with them. As of late fPirates.Dansker and Warde hauehave beene famous in this infamie; the first, after his seruice with them and for them, receiuing his reward, by them suddenly killed at Tunes (where he was knowne notwithstanding his disguising himselfe, with purpose to hauehave surprised their Fleet): the other (a shame to our Countrey, of which he was) grew so rich by his Piracies, that he shewed at one time to (the Author of these reports) Iohn Pountesse, a bagge of Iewels, containing almost halfe a bushell, besides his other purchases: And at last, that the end might manifest the wickednesse of these proceedings, gMany English Christians vnworthy either of these names, turne from that faith (which they neuer had, but in profession) to professe themselues (for hell) Turkish.he became an Apostata and Renegado from his Faith; and soone after died at Tunes: leauing his goods (for his goodnesse he had left before) vntounto the Turkes, his body vntounto a forren sepulchre, and his soule; let Pirats and Robbers (if they thinke they hauehave any soule) say whither.
Algier was by Barbarussa subiected to the Turke, about the yeare 1534. Tunes An. 1574. three and twentie year after that Tripoli, in Barbary, another cage of like birds, and seat of a Beglerbeg, was taken from the Knights of Malta by Sinan Bassa. These Kingdomes the Turke hath in Africa, besides the great Kingdome of Egypt, and what he hath taken from Prester Iohn. In Egypt hKnolles.are said to be an hundred thousand Timariots, or horse-mens fees, which for that tenure of their land, without any charge to the Great Turke, are to serue where it pleaseth him to employ them. In this Kingdome of Algier are fortie thousand.