Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

2. TREMESEN, or ALGIERS.

THe Kingdom of TREMESEN is bounded on the East with the River Ampsaga, (now called Ma••or) by which parted from the Kingdom of Tunis; on the West with the Kingdoms of Fesse and Morocco, from which separated by the River Malutha or Malva. So called from Tremesen or Teleusine, the chief City of it. Called also the Kingdom of Algiers, from the City so named, sometimes the Seat-royal of their Kings.

In the flourish of the Roman Empire, it had the name of Mauritania Casariensis: Mauritania, because a part of the Kingdom of Juba King of Mauritania, of which more anon; Casariensis, from Casarea the chief City of it, as that so called in honour of Augustus Caesar, on whom the Kings here∣of depended. Time made more antiently the Kingdom of the Masaesyli one of the most powerful Nations in all this tract, over whom reigned Syphax before mentioned; called therefore by Strabo, Masaesylilia, with good propriety; and corruptedly, Massylia.

The Kingdom extended in length from East to West, for the space of 380 miles, but of breadth not answerable: Is generally of the same nature (as to the Soil and Air) with the rest of Barbary; sufficiently fruitful towards the Sea, more barren and uncomfortable in the Southern parts. But mean∣ly peopled, by reason of the continual spoils made by the Arabians, who possess the Desarts; and the Cities of it much wasted by continual wars. Nor have the People any peculiar Character, but what belongeth to others of these Africans also.

Places of most importance in it, 1. Guagyda, inconveniently seated, as paying their accustomed tri∣butes to the King of Tremesen, their natural Prince, and contribution to the Arabians, who are here so numerous and powerful, that the Kings themselves of this small kingdom were fain to buy their peace of them at excessive rates. 2. Tigedent, somtimes famous, and abounding with men of learn∣ing; now almost forsaken, by reason of the ill neighbourhood of these Arabians. 3. Tebocrit, in∣habited for the most part by Weavers. 4. Bresch, the Inhabitants whereof use to paint a black Crosse on their cheek, and another on the palm of their hands: the reason of which custom they are ignorant of, but some conceive it to be a remembrance of their Christianity. 5, Ned-Roma, built as the people do pretend, by the antient Romans, as an Epitome or Abridgment of that mighty City, to which it is said to have some resemblance; and that imported by the name, which signifieth in their language, Like to Rome. Perhaps the same which Ptolomy calleth Novum oppidum or the New-town, then a Roman Colonie. 6. Batha, once a great City, since decaied by wars. 7. Oran, a noted Haven on the Mediterranean, said to contain no sewer then 10000 Families. Powerful at Sea, and much in∣festing with their Gallies the Coasts of Spain; till taken for Ferdinand the Catholick▪ by Peter of Navar A. 1506 since which time peopled & possessed by the Spaniards: In vain besieged by the Turks, A. 1562. 8. Masalquivir, a fair and capacious Haven on the same Sea also, and taken by the said Peter of Na∣var, about the same time. 9. Haresgol, in former times of much esteem amongst the Moors; but be∣ing destroyed by the King or Sultan of Cairoan, it bequeathed its greatness unto Tremesen, which after grew into renown. 10. Tremesen, once adorned with many beautiful Mosques, and five sumptuous Colleges, curiously wrought with Mosuick work. So populous, that there were reckoned in it 16000 families; and so well fortified, that it held out seven years against Joseph the great King of Fesse: not taken after that, though they were very much weakned by Abulthasen or Albohacen his son, suc∣cessor, under a siege of 30 moneths. By those, and the succeeding troubles it hath undergone, exceed∣ingly impaired both in strength and beauty. More antient, 11. Siga, an African City, and a Roman Colonie; the retiring place of Syphax and Bocchus, sometimes Kings of this Country. 12. Arsenaria, another Colonie of the Romans. 13. Jol, the seat-royal of king Bocchus, after such time as this country was conferred upon him by the Romans, on the taking of Jugurth: called afterwards Casarea, in honor of Augustus Caesar, whose Feudatories the Kings hereof were then accounted; or as some say, in honor of Claudius Caesar, by whom made a Colonie: the Metropolis of it also when a Roman Province, which from hence was called Caesariensis. Situate in or near the place where Oran now stands, which seemeth to have risen out of the ruines of it. 14. Saldae, a Roman Colonie also, out of whose ruines rose Algiers. 15. Algiers, by the Arabians called Gezeir, now the chief City of this Kingdom, situate near the Sea, in the form of a Triangle, with an Haven to it, but neither great, nor safe from the north∣winds, which do much annoy it. The buildings very beautiful; the publike Innes, Bathes, and Mosques, exceeding sumptuous; every Trade having a several place or street by it self. But that which is the greatest grace of it, is the situation of the houses standing in even streets one above another upon the rising of a steep Hill; so that the windows of one street or row of housing do all along overlook the tops of the other next beneath, which yieldeth to the Sea a most pleasant prospect. A City not so large, as strong; and not so strong, as famous. Famous for being the receptacle and retrait-place of the Turkish Pirats, who domineer so infinitely over the Mediterranean, to the great damage of the Merchants of all Nations, that frequent those seas. Famous also for the shipwrack which Charles the fifth here suffered, who besieging this Town, lost in the haven of it at one tempest, besides an infinite number of Karvels and small Boats, divers strong Gallies, 140 ships, a great many excellent peeces of Ordinance; such a number of gallant Horses, that in Spain the race of horses for service had like to have been lost for ever; and above half his men. It long enjoyed the benefit of proprietary princes, (but Homagers or Tributaries to the Kings of Tremesen) till such time as Selimes and Mahomet faling out, made the first, and that an irreparable breach in the Government. For Selimes, to strengthen his

side, implored the aid of Hairaccius Barbarossa, a noble Pirate; who taking his best advantage, slew the disjointed Brethren, and setled himself in the kingdom: which he had scarce made warm, when he left it to Hairadine Barbarossa his brother, An. 1514: This Hairadine drove the Spaniards out of Bugia, and was so renowned for Martial prowesse, that Solyman the magnificent made him Lord High-Admiral of his Fleet: which office, when to the prejudice of Christendome he had fortunately and for long time undergone; he died lamented, and made the Turk the heir of his kingdom; the king∣dom of Tremesen being made subject to the Turks much about that time. 16. Tetuan, and 17. Sargel, situate Westward of Algiers; Towns of Trade and Pyracie.

The old Inhabitants of this Kingdom, when a Roman Province, were the Herpiditani, Taladusii, Thalesssii, Malchubii, Maccurebi, Chituae, and others of as little note; the most predominant Nation being the Masasyli, over whom (and in that over all the rest) reigned Syphax, spoken of before; unfortunately famous for his tragical love to Sophonisba; for whose sake siding with the Carthagini∣ans against the Romans, he was vanquished and sent prisoner to Rome. His kingdom given to Masi∣nissa King of the Numidians, continued in his line till the death of Jugurth; and then bestowed upon the Kings of Mauritania, part of whose kingdom it was reckoned in the following times, till made a Province of the Empire by the Emperor Clandius. Won from the Romans by the Vandals, and then by the Saracens, it followed the fortunes of these last, while they stood and flourished: But growing into many distractions, and every Sultan or Provincial Governour shifting for himself, it became a Kingdom, under the stile and title of the kingdom of Tremesen. The majesty of it much impaired by Abulthasen or Albohacen king of Fesse, who brought it, not long after, under his command. Recovering after some short time its former liberty, it became a Kingdom once again, and so con∣tinued till the time of Abuchemen; who incurring the hatred of his people, because by his supine neglect the Spaniards had surprised and taken Oran and Masalquivir, their two best Havens, made an easie passage for his brother Abuzeiden to the Regal diadem. Abuzeiden scarce well setled, lost it to Hairadine Barbarossa, An. 1515. He to Charles the fifth, by whom Abuchemen was restored, becoming Homager and Tributary to the Crown of Spain. But his successor Abdulla, weary of the Spanish ser∣vitude, put himself under the protection of Solyman the magnificent, as a Prince of his own Religion; to whom at his decease he left the possession of his Kingdom also; ever since subject to the Turks; whose Beglerbeg or Supreme Officer for these African Provinces, resides for the most part in Algiers, and hath 40000 Timariots under his command.