Andaluzia

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

ANDALVZIA. Jn which are the Countries of HISPALIS and GRANADA. (Book Andaluzia) ANDALUZIA is a part of Hispania Baetica, it is supposed that it was heretofore called Vandalia from the Vandals,* 1.1 a people of Germany, who formerly came into these parts. Therefore some having searched more nearely into the name do thinke it was called Andaluzia, quasi Wendenhuys, that is, the house of the Vandals, yet Marius Aretius doth thinke it was called Andaluzia quasi ante Lusitania, the letters being somewhat changed. On the East it hath Granada, on the North New Castile, on the West it is bounded with the Diocesses of Badaios and Silvis, & the River Anas; and on the South it looketh toward the Atlantick Sea. The chiefe part of it is the jurisdiction of Hispalis. This hath on the East Corduba, on the West Algarbia, on the North it cleaveth to that part of Portugall which is called Magistratus S. Iacobi. And the other part toward the South is enclosed with Gades, and the Mediterranean Sea. It is in a temperate and flourishing Climate, and is miraculously fertile in bringing forth Corne,* 1.2 Wine, Oyle, and all kindes of fruits, with which it replenishes forraine Countries. Spaine in these parts that are encompassed with the Sea (as Pliny saith) may be compared with Italy: which commendations wee suppose may be chiefly understood of that part which looketh toward Hispalis, as being exposed to the Sea, and the gentle Westerne gales of winde. And indeed this Countrie so aboundeth with all kind of things,* 1.3 & therein so farre excells all the Provinces of the World, that Pliny had worthily preferred it before Italie, but that he being an Italian would not disgrace his owne Countrie. Here is great store of all kindes of Cattell, and especially of Cunnies. Wee said before, that Andaluzia tooke that name from the Vandalls, because they being driven out by the Gothes seated themselves in this place: though afterward being thrust out from hence, they went into Africke. Thus it was: Rodericke the 25 King of the Gothes,* 1.4 in whom the line of the Kings of the Gothes was extinguisht, did send one Iulianus an Earle to Mauritania Tingitana as Governour thereof: and in his absence did violate his daughters chastitie, making a whore of her; which when her father heard, he called the Saracens out of Africke, thinking thereby to ease his just sorrow, by revenging it on the King who was the cause thereof. These Saracens comming in by the Straits of Hercules in the yeare of Christ 714. under the conduct of their Captaine Muzamissus, in two yeares space got possession of all Spaine, except Asturia which was fortified by the naturall situation of the place. In this little time there were slaine on both sides 700000 men. The Saracens having gotten the Empire, and having rooted out the Christian Religion as much as they could, they divided the Kingdomes among themselves. The first Kingdome that they instituted was at Corduba, which they called Abenalibeticum. The other was at Hispalis, and the third at New Carthage. But at last being driven out of these parts by Ferdinand the third, they went unto Granada in the yeare 1216. and afterward by Ferdinand the sixt were quite thrust out of Spaine in the yeare 1494. The Metropolis of this Countrie is that which Pliny calls Hispalis, Ptolemie Ispalis, Silius Hispal, Gratianus Spalis, and which now is called Sevill. Arius Montanus thinketh that Hispalis is a Carthaginian name, derived from Spila or Spala, which signifies a plain or greene country. Some (among whom is F. Tarapha) do referre the name thereof to Hispalis the son of Lybian Hercules, but Isidorus, as in many other things, is ridiculous in this matter, for when he had noted that this Citie was built by Iulius Caesar, and so called from his name and the Citie of Rome Iulia Romula; he saith that it was so named Hispalis from Piles or Stakes upon which hee supposed either all or part of the Citie to be built, as being situate in a moorish place. It is a Citie neare Baetis pleasantly seated, e 1.5 great in compasse, round in forme, beautifull, and adorned with Temples, and many houses. So many things may be declared concerning it, that there is an ancient Proverbe of it, Quien no ha Visto Sevilla, no ha visto Maravilla. It hath beene the mother and fosterer of many happie wits, among which was f 1.6 Benedictus Arias Montanus, a great Divine, and very skilfull in divers languages, as his workes set forth by him do witnesse. Having spoken something of the Metropolis, I will describe some of the other Cities, not keeping any certaine order, yet so, as that which is nearest to the Metropolis shall be placed first. Five leagves from Hispalis is Palatium, or Palantia, which is commonly called Palacios, from an ancient Castle that standeth on one side of it. It is seated in the way which leadeth to S. Lucar, and the Gaditane Straits. Next unto this is Cabaca, a little Town seated in the entrance of the mountaines, which do extend themselves Southward toward Malaga, and Cabecis, (three leagves off toward the North-East) commonly called Lebrixa, by Ptolemie Nebrissa, and by Pliny Veneria. The builder thereof is supposed to be Liber Pater. It is a pleasant and a prettie little Towne with an ancient Castle, encompassed round about with pleasant fields, and is famous by reason of Aelius Antonius once a citizen thereof and an ornament and honour to all Spaine. Moreover the Towne which is commonly called Carmona, by Strabo Carmon, by Antoninus Carme, and by Ptolemie, Chermenia and Marchena, heretofore (as saith Onuphrius) called Martia; this Towne is seated on a little hill which hath a plaine on every side for its prospect. There are also these townes, Loja, on the right hand banke of Baetis: Axalita built of old stone (as Clusius witnesseth) and called Flavium Axalitanum, as appeareth by an ancient inscription: Moron, heretofore called by Clusius, Arucci; Ossuna called by Appianus, Orsona; by Strabo, Orson; by Pliny, Vrso; and Genua or Gemina Vrbanorum; by ancient Inscriptions, Vrsaon; and by Hirtius, V•sao. The towne Eceja, by the river Singulis, Xenil or Chenil, called by Ptolemie, Astygis; and by Pliny, Augusta Firma, is a little Towne 13 leagues from Hispalis. Penastor (in the mid way betweene Hispalis and Corduba on the right hand banke of Baetis) which Ptolemie, thinketh to be Illipula magna, but Pliny, Ilpa Italica in the Iurisdiction of Hispalis; and not many miles hence on the banke of the same River, Corduba, commonly called g 1.7 Cordova. Pliny saith, it was named Colonia Patricia, and Moralis doth also prove the same by inscription on an ancient marble; Iohannes Gerundensis saith that it was called Corduba, quasi Cor Batis, that is, the heart of Baetis. It hath bred famous Souldiers, and great h 1.8 Schollers. And it is happie in her fruitfull fields, pleasant gardens, and beside many other gifts, in her wholesome waters; Silius the Italian Poët lib. 3. calleth the soile of Corduba a golden soile when he saith,

Nec decus auriferae cessavit Corduba terrae.Corduba's soile is of so rich a mouldIt will not yeeld to that which beareth gold.

Five leagues from Corduba, Southward, is Mons Major commonly called Monte Major, Ptolemie thinketh it to be Vlia a Citie in Hispania Baetica, and so doth Antoninus. Some few leagues from Corduba is Montoro, Antoninus supposeth it to be Epora. Ptolemie erroneously calleth it Ebura instead of Epora, (when notwithstanding the former is not a Towne of Baetica, but of Lusitania) but worst of all Pliny who nameth it Ripepora Foederatorum. Not farre from Lucar is the Towne which the Spaniards call Xeres de la Frontera, as though it were the beginning and bound of Spaine on that side where it standeth. This towne Navagierus thinketh to be the same with that which Livie and others call Asta: Antoninus with an asperation calleth it Hasta, Moralis writeth that it doth still retaine the name of Asta, and thinketh it to be that place neare the river Guadalet, which is commonly called Masa de Asta. But Ortelius supposeth that it was drowned with the Island Tartessus in the mouth of Baetis. An hundred furlongs from the mouth of Baetis standeth the Towne Chipiona, which Strabo (lib. 3.) calleth Capionis Turris. At the mouth of the River Lethes, (which is now called Guadelet, or in the Arabian language Bedalac) there is a Towne which is called Portus S. Mariae, and commonly El puerto de S. Maria. Having passed over Lethes the next towne you shall meet withall is i 1.9 Medina Sidonia, and somewhat more Southward toward the Sea-shoare is Conilium a famous towne of Spaine, sixe leagues distant from the Citie Gadiz, and subject to the Duke of S. Lucar, and Medina Sidonia. There is also Carteja, called commonly k 1.10 Tariffa; and not far from thence is the Towne Vegelium, commonly called Vegel It is indeed a litle Towne, but yet famous for the situation and beautie of it, for it is seated on a hill which is environed round about with a large plaine, so that it hath a faire prospect, as farre as the eye can reach, not onely upon the plaines and greene medowes, toward the East, as also the Mountaines of Africke, and the Southerne coast, but likewise upon the great & troublesome Ocean toward the North and West. Lastly, from hence toward the Northwest lyeth the towne l 1.11 Munda, for so Pliny nameth this towne which now is called Monda, though some do thinke that to be old Munda which now is called Ronda veja. There are in the Diocese of Hispalis, an innumerable company of Monasteries and Nunneries. It would be a tedious thing to reckon up the Hospitalls for strangers that are in this country, seing there are in Hispalis it selfe an hundred and twenty, which are richly endowed some of them having eight thousand Crownes, and some fifteene thousand Crownes yearely revenue. Hispalis is the most beautifull of all the Cities of Spaine, in regard of the Religious houses and Churches which are therein: among many Churches, the chiefest is the Church dedicated to Saint Mary, than which the Christian world cannot shew a better, if you consider either the greatnesse and majestie of the worke, which carrieth with it an excellent beauty; or if you behold the heigth of the Towre, wrought with admirable workmanship, from whence there is a pleasant prospect over all the City, and the fields that lye round about it. What shall I describe the royall furniture of the Kings Castle in this Citie, than which the Kings of Spaine have none more fairely or curiously built? What should I mention the Pallaces here belonging to Dukes, Earles, and other Nobles? Or why should I speake of the Citizens houses, adorned with pleasant Fountaines and Gardens? I passe by the ancient Aquaeducts, by which water is convey'd into severall parts of the Citie, and those later which were brought with great cost and labour to the Pillars, commonly called Hercules Pillars, and dedicated to publick delight, besides many other ornaments of this Citie since, I feare lest I be tedious.