Tauris

Sources from old books

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of TAURIS and the trade thereof. Tauris, is the Metropolis of Media, and the summer seates of the Persian Sophies containing 16 miles in compasse, and including 100 thousand Inhabitants; it hath within late yeares beene three times conquered by the Turkes, and hath as often againe returned to the Persians, under whom now it resteth: first, by Selimus, then, by Soliman the magnificent, and lastly, by Osman Generall to Amurath the third; it is now in the possession of the Persian, and strongly fortified, and seated in a cold, yet wholsome Countrey, the Inhabitants more addicted to the making of silke, than to the sword; distant six dayes journey from the Caspian Sea; and indeed incompassed by severall great Townes of note, whose manuall labours are famoused over the world, as first Eres, whence came the fine silke called the Mamodean, now out of use; then Gilan abounding with lege silke; Sumachia, abounding in excellent carpets, whereto the people wholly addict themselves; then Arasse, the most eminent and opulent Citie in the trade of merchandise throughout all Servania, partly by the abundant growth of silke there nourished, and hence called Arasse, vulgarly Ardasse (2000 summes yearly going hence to Aleppo in Syria) and partly by the growth thereof; Galles, cottons, wooll, allom, some spices, drugges, and sundry other commodities; so that to make this place the happie scale of merchandise, Nature having plaid her part, there wanteth onely peace betweene the Kings of Persia and Turkie, which at present is denied them: the further manner of trade of that place, I am constrained for want of due information to omit, and referre what I have thereof collected to Persia.

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Tauris, Ecbatana, Tabresium, Tauresium, Tigranana, a great City of the Kingdom of Persia, called by the Inhabitants Tebris. It stands in the Province of Aderbuitzan; eleven hundred Miles from Constantinople to the East, and twenty five German Miles from the Caspian Sea to the South. Founded, (as the Persians all agree) in the one hundred and sixty fifth year of the Hegyra, in the year of Christ 786. In 849. it was ruined by an Earthquake. In 1490. the Princes of the Race of Sheitb-Sephi, removed to this City from Ardevil. In 1514. Selim, Emperour of the Turks, took it upon Articles, two years after the Kings of Persia removed to Casbin. In the time of Solyman the Magnificent, the City rebelled; assassinated the Turkish Governour, and Garrison; which was severely revenged by Ibrahim, (General of that Prince) in 1548. In the Reign of Amurath, it rebelled again; and was again taken and sacked by the Turks in 1585. In 1603. Abas, King of Persia, took it by Stratagem: ever since which, it has been under the Persians. The Learned Minadoi, (in his History of the Turkish and Persian War, pag. 311.) thus describes it. It is seated (saith he) on the North side of Mount Orontes; having Persia to the East, the Caspian Mountains to the West, and the Caspian Sea to the North: in a fruitful Plain; in a cold, snowy, healthful Air; abounding with all things needful for the Life of Man; enriched by great Caravans of Merchants, which pass to and fro through it; so populous, that it maintains two hundred thousand Inhabitants; yet without any Walls or Bastions, or the least defence against an Enemy: The Houses are low and mean: the Gardens, Fountains, Basars and Mosques, Magnificent and Sumptuous. Sir John Chardin, who saw this City, agrees with him: and adds, that a small River (called Spingicha,) runs across through it; and another called Agi, on the North side.

Long. 88. 00. Lat. 41. 19. //Paris Meridian was used in the book

Sir John Chardin estimated the Inhabitants to be five hundred and fifty thousand: so much has a long Peace improved it since Minadoi's time. It extends its Commerce over Persia, Turkey, Tartary, Moscovy, and the Biack Sea; consisting much in Cottons, Silks, Chagrines, Brocades, &c. which fills it well with Strangers. The Mosques are reckoned to two hundred and fifty; whereof some have been Christian Churches. The Capuchines had a convenient House built in this City in 1668. Without the City to the South, appear the Ruins of the Palace of the ancient Kings of Persia: and to the East, the like of a Castle, which was the Royal Seat of Chosroes. The Geographers generally affirm, Tauris stands in the place of the ancient Ecbatana. It is governed by a Beglerbeg, of great power and consideration in the Kingdom of Persia.