Turcomania

Sources from old books

1630. Relations of the most famous kingdomes. London. by Giovanni Botero.

Turcomania, in times past a part of the greater Armenia.

Turcomania comprehendeth no small portion of Armenia major: what remaineth is accounted in Georgia. Upon the North lieth Colchis, (now Mongrelia:) Upon the West Euphrates, and the lesse Armenia upon the East that remainder of the greater Armenia, which is counted in Georgia; Upon the South Mesopotar••a (now Dierbechia) with the people Curdi. It is invironed with Mountaines, and beautified with plains, amongst the which Periander, (now Chalderan) Antitaurus (now Mons-nigor) are most renowmed. It is generally exceeding fertile, and stored with Cattell, but marvellously subject to deepe snowes.

The people by nature are much given to theft and spoile, as descending from the Tartars, and so at this day lead their lives, living in Tents and Hovels attending and pasturing their cattell; Yet some of them inure themselves to tillage, and mechanike Trades, in weaving of Chamblets, and Hangings, watered and unwatered: of the like qualities. are the Curdi, and some suppose that these Curdi inhabit the ancient seats of the Chaldeans, whereupon it is called at this day Curdistan by the Turkes and Persians, but by the Arabians Kelaan, that is to say, Chaldea.

Georgia, by the Barbarians termed Gurgistan, comprehendeth the ancient Iberia, with part of the greater Armenia, and peradventure Atropatia. Upon the West lieth Mengrelia, upon the North Zuiria (once Albania), upon the East the middle Atropatia (now Siruan,) upon the South that part of the greater Armenia, which now is called Turcomanta.

For the greater part it is covered with Mountains, Woods, and thickets, and in that regard inconquerable for the difficulties of the mountainous passages. It is notwithstanding fertile, and adorned with many large plaines and vallies, from whence arise many famoused Rivers, as Cirus and Araxis, springing from the Mountaine Taurus, and running thorow the whole Province, untill at last it disgorge it selfe into the Caspian.

The Inhabitants are termed Georgiani, of S. George, whom they advow their Patron and Advocate. But this is but a vulgar errour, seeing both Plinie and Mela make mention of the Georgiani, one hundred yeares before the birth of Saint George, the famous souldier and martyr. They are Christians, according to the Greeke Church, with some small difference. They are very populous and warlike, strong of body, and valorous in fight, even untill our times, mantaining their libertie in the midst of the Mahumetans, sometimes following the fortunes of the Turkes, sometimes of the Persians. But at this day, they have not onely lost their wonted libertie, but also many Fortresses and Cities, as Testis, Lori, Clisca, G•ri, and Tomanis, and withall, some of of them have imbraced the Turkish infidelitie.

1676. A most exact and accurate map of the whole world by Donald Lupton.

XXVI. Turcomania,

N. Tartary, S. Mesopotamia and Assyria, W. Euxine Sea Cappadocia, and Armenia minor, E. Media and Caspean Sea hath

1 In that Part called Armenia major, equally composed of hills and dales, rich in Cattle and Fruits; famous for rich Tapestries, Grograines and watered Chamlets, which by a priviledge under Mahomets own hand above other Christians, they sell all over Turky, using the Armenian tongue, Christened by St. Bartholomew, are,

first the Rivers,

1. Aruxes, wich runs from Armenia to the Caspian Sea; and
2. Cyrus.
3. Cambyses.
4. Euphrates, now Frat, a violent stream cut into Channels, least it should drown the Country.
5. A swift River, affording an easie passage in a few rafts, born up with Goat-skins, blown up with wind to Bagdat, running long under ground, in whose and Euphrates circlings lay Eden.

The Mountains

1. Abos.
2. Periardes.
3. Ʋdalespes.
4. Antitaurus.
5. Montes Moschici.
6. Niphates.
7. The Gordian Mountains, or Ararat.

The Towns;

1. Artareta now Corin where the Battle was fought, 1514. which the Turks call the day of Doom; the place called the Calderan fields.
2. Sebastia now Suassia, seated on Euphrates.
3. Tigrane certa on the River Nicesorius.
4. Arcamasola.
5. Cholna.
6. Baraza.
7. Arsarata.
8. Theodosiopolis.
9. Colonia.
10. Strong Clamassum on the Euphrates.
11. Charz made impregnable in three weeks, 1579.
12. Well garrisoned and Ammunition'd Vau, a Frontier against the Persians.
13. Well fortified Arminig held by the Persians.

2. In Colchis famous for Vines and Gold (E. Iberia, W. Euxine Sea, N. Tartary, S. Armenia the greater) formerly, now the rude people Barter one Commodity for another, with a language of their own; besides the River Phasis navigable eighteen miles into the Country, whence came our Pheasants; was

1. the famous Mart Dioscurias, where the Romans kept 130 Interpreters to correspond with people of 300 Languages that traded there.
2. Phasis, on the same River, now Phassum, the residence of the Turkish Beglebergh.
3. Neapolis and Alvati.

3. In Iberia, E. Albania, W. Colchis, N. Mountains Caucasus, called so from the River Iberus running through it, now Georgia, woody and fruitful; the people war-like, christened by Constantine the Great, and now divided between Mahumetanism and Jesuitisme, since 1614. is

1. Cremen.
2. Cachete.
3. Trtala.
4. Altuncala, or the strong Golden Castle.
5. the impregnable Archichelech.
6. The large and well fortified Testis Lori, and Tomanis (rich in Corn, Cattle, and Fruits, with Forts commanding all passages.)
7. Glisca and Biscapar.

4. In Albania, W. Iberia, E. Caspian Sea, naturally fruitfull, affording three reapings for once sowing, where people formerly could not tell an hundred, and understood not weights and measures, or money, reverencing old age, but not speaking of the dead: Gray from their Child-hood, and seeing as well by night as by day, is nothing remarkable; but the Rivers Albanus and Cyrus, and the City Derbent neer the Caspian Sea, now Demircan or Iron Gate with Sabran, and Sancta Maria, all, or most of these places under the Turks.