Tripoli, Africa

The Kingdom of Tripoli is a historical region located on the Barbary Coast, stretching along the Mediterranean Sea. It is known for its strategic location between Barca and Tunis, trade, and maritime activities. It is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the region of Billidulgerid to the south. The region's geography, economy, and culture are shaped by its coastal position and arid climate.

Etymology and other names

The Kingdom of Tripoli is also referred to as "Regnum Tripolitanum" in Latin. The name "Tripoli" distinguishes it from Tripoli in Syria. The region is part of the broader Barbary Coast and is historically significant for its trade and piracy.

History

The Kingdom of Tripoli has a rich history influenced by various civilizations, including the Romans, Arabs, and Turks. It served as a significant trade hub and was often contested due to its strategic location. The region was infamous for piracy, particularly during the 17th century, when it became a refuge for pirates targeting Christian merchants in the Mediterranean.

Geography

Tripoli lies between the two Syrtes—the Lesser Syrtes (Gulf of Capes) to the west and the Greater Syrtes (Gulf of Sydra) to the east. It is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the desert region of Billidulgerid to the south.

Cities and Settlements

The principal cities and settlements of Tripoli include:

1. El-Hamma: A settlement inland, known for its therapeutic lake, which is said to cure leprosy.
2. Capes (Tacapa): An ancient city located at the mouth of the River Triton, where it flows into the Lesser Syrtes. It has strong walls and a castle, but its port is dangerous and unsuitable for large vessels.
3. Zoara (Pisida): A dry region between Capes and Tripoli, where the land is so barren that the inhabitants must irrigate it. It produces barley, lotus fruit, and little else. The locals trade wool with Arabs to produce cloth and other goods.
4. Tripoli (Old and New):
   • Old Tripoli (Sabrata): Once a grand city, now in ruins, with only remnants of stately buildings and hamlets.
   • New Tripoli (Oea): The principal city of the kingdom, well-maintained despite its many ruins. It has a well-organized layout, with mosques, colleges, and hospitals. The city is fortified with walls, ramparts, and two forts. Its port is a hub for commerce and piracy.
5. Lepeda: A city of some repute, historically significant during the Roman era.
6. Sebeicum: A coastal city near which three small islands are located.
7. Ethamma: A Roman-built city near Capes.
8. Zaora: A settlement known for trading chalk and clay with neighboring cities.
9. Machres (Mahara): A village at the mouth of the Gulf of Capes, recently fortified with a citadel.
10. Casarnacar: A coastal settlement mentioned in the texts.

Natural Features

• Rivers:
  • Triton: Flows into the Lesser Syrtes near Capes.
  • Salines, Mescata, Mascar, Capes: Other notable rivers in the region.
• Lakes:
  • Lake near El-Hamma: Known for its medicinal properties, particularly against leprosy.
• Gulfs and Syrtes:
  • Lesser Syrtes (Gulf of Capes): Separates Tripoli from Tunis. Known for its dangerous sandbanks and shallow waters.
  • Greater Syrtes (Gulf of Sydra): Separates Tripoli from Barca. Equally treacherous for navigation.
• Islands:
  • Gerbes (Zerbi): A sandy island near the mouth of the Gulf of Capes. It is approximately 4–5 leagues in circumference and known for its lotus fruit, figs, olives, and grapes. The island has a castle and small villages but produces little grain.
  • Sydra: An island located in the Greater Syrtes.
  • Three small islands near Sebeicum: Mentioned but not described in detail.

Geographical Challenges

• The region is marked by dangerous sandbanks along the coast, particularly near the Lesser and Greater Syrtes. These sandbanks are infamous for causing shipwrecks due to their unpredictable depths.
• The land is predominantly barren and arid, with limited agricultural output. Inhabitants rely on irrigation to grow barley, dates, and fruits like lotus, figs, and olives.

Notable Landmarks

• Tombs of Philenes (Arae Philenarum): Located on the mainland near the Greater Syrtes, these tombs historically marked the boundary between Africa and Libya, as well as between the territories of the Carthaginians and Cyrenians.

Demographics

The population of Tripoli is diverse, consisting of Arabs, Berbers, and other ethnic groups. The inhabitants primarily live in coastal cities and rely on trade, agriculture, and piracy for their livelihoods. Many rural areas are sparsely populated, with nomadic tribes frequently raiding settled communities.

Economy

The economy of Tripoli is based on:

• Trade: The region exports dates, lotus fruit, linen cloth, and saffron. It also engages in the slave trade, particularly with Ethiopia.
• Agriculture: Limited to barley, fruits, and olives due to the arid climate.
• Piracy: A significant source of wealth, especially in the 17th century, when Tripoli became a haven for pirates.

The city of Tripoli serves as a major commercial center, trading with Sicily, Malta, and other Mediterranean regions.

Culture

The culture of Tripoli is influenced by its Arab and Turks rulers. The region is known for its:

• Architecture: Mosques, colleges, and hospitals adorn the cities, though many structures are in ruins due to frequent conflicts.
• Cuisine: Lotus fruit was used to make a sweet, short-lived wine, while dates and saffron were staple products.
• Crafts: Local artisans produced woolen cloth and other textiles.

Government

Tripoli is governed by a Bassa (Pasha) under the authority of the Turkish Empire. The Bassa holds the title of Beglerbeg and rules from the city of Tripoli, which functions as a semi-autonomous city-state. The region is heavily taxed, with revenues coming from trade, agriculture, and piracy.

Military

The city of Tripoli is fortified with walls, ramparts, and towers, while smaller towns rely on local garrisons for protection.

Education

Little is known about formal education in Tripoli during this period. However, the presence of colleges and mosques suggests that religious and scholarly activities were part of urban life.

Transportation

Transportation in Tripoli relies heavily on maritime routes due to its coastal location. The region's ports, such as Tripoli and Capes, facilitate trade and piracy, though they are often hazardous due to shallow waters and sandbanks.

Sources from old books

1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome.

THE Kingdom of TRIPOLI takes up the just moiety of the Coast of Barbary from Capes unto Egypt, and divides it self into two principal parts or Provinces, which bear likewise the Title of Kingdoms, to wit, Tripoli and Barca. Tripoli is between the two Syrtes, now the Sands or Banks of Barbary. These are Gulphs of different greatness, but of the same nature; infamous for the Shipwreck of Vessels lost on their Flats or Rocks: among which the depth of the Water is very unequal, and changes often, there being sometimes much, sometimes a little, and sometimes none at all. The Little Syrtes, now the Gulph of Capes, separates Tripoli from Tunis: The Great Syrtes, now the Gulph of Sydra, divides it from Barca; this towards the East, the other towards the West, and on the South it is bounded with Billidulgerid, and on the North with the Mediterranean Sea. Its principal Cities are El-Hamma, Capes, Zoara, the two Tripolies, Old and New, Sarmana, Lepeda, &c. 1. El-Hamma is in the Land, Capes and the rest on the Sea; between El-Hamma and Capes is a Lake excellent against Leprosie. 2. Capes of Old Tacapa hath good Walls, and a good Castle; but its Port dangerous, and incapable to receive either many or great Vessels; it is scituate at the fall of the River Triton into the Lesser Syrtes. 3. Zoara, of old Pisida, between Capes and Tripoli, hath its Land so dry, that the Inhabitants are forced to water it, and yet will scarce produce any thing save Barley and some Fruits; among which, Lotos, with which they make an excellent Metheglin, but it lasts good not above 9 or 10 days. Flesh is here very scarce, they not having wherewith to feed Beasts. The Arabs frequent their Markets, and serve them with Wools, wherewith they make Cloaths and other Manufactures. 4. Tripoli the Old, of old Sabrata, and which the Arab of Nubia calls the Tower of Sabrat, hath only some Hamlets, and Remnants of fair and stately Edifices. 5. The New Tripoli, of Old Oea, is better maintained, though it hath many Ruins, by reason of the divers changes it hath had. The disposition of its places, Streets, and the order of its Buildings is agreeable, being adorned with many fair Mosques, Colledges, Hospitals, &c. The Inhabitants subsisted only on their Commerce, which is of what they got from their Palm-Trees, Lotos, and Linnen-Cloth, which they uttered in Africa, Sicily, and Malta; besides their black and Ethiopian Slaves, which they sold; till of late they have much enriched themselves by Piracy, it being the usual retreat for Pirates, who infest these Seas, and do much mischief to Christian Merchants on the Coasts of Italy, Sicily, and elsewhere. 6. Lepeda is in some repute, as it was in the time of the Arab of Nubia, and more under the Romans: Farther is the Great Syrtes, at the bottom of which is the Isle Sydra, which communicates its name to the Gulph; and on the Firm Land are the Tombs of Philenes or Arae Philenarum, which set the Limits between Africa and Libya; and afterwards between the Estates of the Carthaginians and the Cyrenians; and in fine, of the Eastern Empire against that of the West: And, 7. Sebeicum, a City near the Sea-shoar, nigh to which are three small Isles. Along the Coast are some Isles, among which that of Gerbes is well known; formerly it was joyned to the Firm Land by a Bridge. It had two Cities; now hath nothing but one Castle worth notice, and many Hamlets which gather little Corn, but much Fruits; among the rest Lotos, so sweet and pleasant, that the Companions of Ʋlysses having tasted them, sought no longer to go into their Country. This Isle hath about 18000 Paces circuit, yields one of the greatest Revenues to the King or Bassa of Tripoli, by reason of the confluence of Merchants, who fetch thence Cloth and divers Scuffs, and carry them to Alexandria in Egypt, &c. one of the principal parts of the Revenue of the same Bassa, is the Saffron of the Mountain of Garian, which is on the South of Tripoli: And this Saffron is found the fairest, and the best of all others.

1695. A New Body of Geography by A. Sewall & T. Child.

The Kingdom of TRIPOLIS. Regnum Tripolitanum.

THis Kingdom is situated between Barca and Tunis; it reaches from South to North about 60 leagues, and from East to West 200 from the mouth of the River Salines to the River Capes.

The Air is much of the same temperature with the Kingdom of Barca, the Soil of it is very barren in most places, bearing nothing but Dates. Sanuhy says, that it produces plenty of Lotus, whose fruit is much sweeter than Dates, and the Inhabitants make excellent Wine of it. They have also Citions, Lemons, Oranges and Figs, especially about the City of Tripolis; as also a certain Fruit which the Arabians call Abhosis, it is about the bigness of a Bean, and hath a tast like Almonds; they make nothing but Sugar of it.

The people of Tripolis maintain themselves by their Trade and making of Stuffs; they that live about the River Capes, use Husbandry and Fishing. They are much burthened with Taxes by the Arabians, and Bassa of Tripolis. The people of Zaora live by selling Chalk and Clay to their neighbouring Cities, and they of Ethamma live by Theft and Robbery.

The most remarkable Rivers are Salines, Mescata, Mascar and Capes. Upon the Coast of Tripolis, these are two dangerous banks of Sand; the biggest lies over against the Province of Essab in the 29 D. of Latitude, and 48 of Longitude; the lesser is about the Isle of Querquenes in the 32 D. of Latitude, and 43 of Longitude. This Kingdom is governed by a Bassa, who is honoured with the title of a Beglerbeg.

The most considerable Cities of the Province of Tripolis properly so called, are 1. Tripolis, which stands upon the Mediterranean, and hath a very convenient Port in the 30 D. of Latitude. It is called Tripolis in Barbary, to distinguish it from Tripolis in Syria. There is the new and the old, the new is built near the old in a Sandy ground; this City is not very big, but well peopled, inclosed with Walls, and flanked with several Towers, with Ramparts, and two Forts, the one on the South side, and the other on the North; it is the chief City of the Kingdom, and seat of the Bassa: It is a kind of a Commonwealth under the protection of the Grand Seignior, and an harbour for many Pyrates.

Capes, or Caps, anciently Tacape, is a very ancient City, built near the Gulph of the same name, encompassed with Walls, and defended by a Castle.

Machres, or Mahara, is a Village standing on the mouth of the Gulph of Capes; the Inhabitants have lately built them a Cittadel.

Ethamma is a City built by the Romans, not far from Capes.

Zaora is built upon the same Coasts, as is also Casarnacar.

In the Province of Essab there is but little Corn, but plenty of Dates, Olives, and Saffron, the best in the World; which is sold always for a third part more than that which comes from other places. In the Province of Mesrata, or Cyrene, the City Corone, or Cyrene, is most remarkable: 'Tis almost all a Desart: The Pyrates rob their Coasts, and the Arabians their In-land, yet the Inhabitants of Mesrata are rich by reason of their trade, which they have with the people of Europe and Negro's. They are entirely subject to the Turks. The Land bears plenty of Corn and Dates. The Peasants called Bereberes dwell in Booths or Hutts made of Palm-branches. As to the Islands, there is none worth our notice, except that of Gerbes, or Zerbi. It lyes near the mouth of the Gulph of Capes, about 200 paces from the little Syrtes, or banks of Sand, in the 31 Deg. and 30 min. Latitude. It is about 4 or 5 leagues round. It hath only some small Villages on the North side, defended by a Castle, where the Turks have a Garrison. The Soil is very Sandy and bears no Corn, but a little Barley: It produces plenty of Figs, Olives, and Grapes, which they dry and make merchandize of.