Barbary

Sources from old books

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

BARBARY, IN VVHICH ARE THE KINGDOMES OF TƲNIS AND AEGYPT. (Book Barbary) IN Affrick, which with Ptolemy wee make to bee the second part of the World, Barbary doth first present it selfe to view,* 1.1 being a noble Country of Affrick. It was so nominated either from the Inhabitants murmuring speech▪ which the Arabians call Barbar, because the Numidian speech 〈◊〉 such to the Arabians; or from their frequent deserts; for Bar sig•if• in their language a Desart. It •eacheth from Aegypt even to the Gaditane straite▪* 1.2 and doth containe both the Mauritania's, namely Ting•t•na and Casariensis, properly called Affrick, also Cyrena•ca, Marmarica▪ with the farther Lybia. Late Writers of Affrick doe make the bounds of it on the East to be the Desarts of Marmarica, (which is now called ••cha) which reacheth to a part of the Mountaine Atlas, now called Mejes, which part Strabo describeth under the name of Aspis: on the South it hath the Mountaine Atlas, which lyeth from the East to the West, even to the Sea, which from thence is called the Atlantick Sea: on the West it hath the Atlantick Sea: on the North the Mediterranean Sea. The Ayre and Climate of this Country is various and different.* 1.3 In the Spring the ayre is gentle, milde, and cleare; in Summer the heate is most vehement, especially in the Moneths of June and July, but in Autumne it is somewhat cooler: in the Winter the cold is somewhat sharpe, especially about December and January▪ but it is but in the morning onely, so that no man is compelled thorow cold to come to the fire. The end of Autumne, and all the Winter▪ and a good part of the Spring, hath great store of impetuo•s and violent windes and stormes. And sometimes they are troubled with Hayle▪ Lightning, and fearefull Thunder: and in some place• there is thick Snow. This Country yeeldeth grea• store of Dares and Pomegrants, but it hath but little Wheate, so that the Inhabitants for the most part doe make Barley bread. It hath also great store of other fruit, as Cherries, Figges, Apples, Peares, Prunes, Peaches, Apricotts, Quinces, Olives, and the like. It hath abundance of Oyle, Honey and Sugar, and great store of Heards of Cattell and wilde beasts. For this Country doth breed Dragons,* 1.4 Elephants, Goats, Bulls, or wild Oxen, and the like; also Lyons and Libbards: it hath also Wesils which are as bigge as Cats, but that they have not such great jawes, and great store of Apes. The Phaenicians and others who came out of Asia or Aegypt did first inhabit this Country: afterward it was subject to the Romanes, then to the Graecian Emperous, and afterward to the Vandals Sarazens, and Arabians, now it is partly subject to the Turke, and partly to a S•riti• of it• owne: also the King of Spaine hath some Castles in it. There are foure Kingdomes in Barbary, the Kingdome of Morocco, of Fesse, of Teleusinum, and Tunis, unto which some doe adde Barca. We will entreate of the two former, namely, Morocco and Fesse in the following Tables, but of the other we will entreate here. The Kingdome of Teleusinum which they call Tremisen, is Mauritania Caesariensis. The length of it from the West to the East is 380. miles. The breadth of it is narrower being 25. miles, namely, from the Desarts of Numidia, even to the Mediterranean Sea. The most part of this Country is unhabited, dry, and rugged, especially Southward. But the Coasts by the Sea side are somewhat more fruitfull and fertile. There are few Citties or Castles in it. The Metropolis is Teleusina, which was heretofore a great Citty, but now it is for the most part ruinated. In the same Country there is also Algiers, a great Citty and well fortified. This Citty did first revolt from the King of Telusia•um, and paide tribute to the King of Bugia: afterward it revolted from him and received Ferdinand King of Spaine to be their King. And at last it was taken by Barbarossa, and added to the Ottoman Empire, it is famous for the Shipwrack of Charles the 5. for the sad captivity and slavery of the Christians, and the excursions of the Turkish Pirates. It is now so fortified, that it is thought to be impregnable. Castaldus supposeth that Ptolemy did call this Salden, but Ortelius and our Mercator doe thinke that that which Ptolemy called Salden, is now called Tadelis: •ovius thinketh it to be Iulia Caesarea, and others Crita. There are also the Citties Mersalcabir, Messagran, Mustaganin, and others. This Kingdome hath two famous Havens, the one the Haven of Horamus, or Orania, with a strong Castle, the other of Marsa Eltabirus, whether great store of Merchants Ships doe resort, especially from Italy, both which the King of Spaine got some yeeres agoe, to the great detriment and losse of this Kingdome. The Kingdome Tunitanum doth containe Affrick the lesse, and a great part of Numidia. For it reacheth from the River Major, which Maginus supposeth to be that which Ptolemy calls Audum, even to the River of the Country of Mesrata.

1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn.

BARBARY is bounded on the East with Cyrenaica; on the West with the Atlantick Ocean; on the North with the Mediterranean, the Straits of Gibraltar, and some part of the Atlantick also; on the South with Mount Atlas, by which separated from Libya Inferior, or the Desarts of Libya.

It containeth in it the whole Diocese of Africk, & part of the Diocese of Spain: subject in former times to the Commonwealth of Carthage, and the great Kings of Mauritania and Numidia. When conquered by the Romans, they gave to that part of it which they won from the Carthaginians, the name of Africa; calling that Province by the name of the whole Peninsula; and afterwards extended it over all the rest of the Country on the North of Atlas. Which name it held till the subjugation of it by the Saracens, by whom called BARBARY, either from Barbar, signifying in their language an uncertain murmur, such as the speech of the Africans seemed to them to be; or from the word Bar signifying, a Desart; which doubled, made up first Barbar, and after Barbary.

It is situate under the third and fourth Climates; so that the longest Summers day in the parts most South amounteth to thirteen houres three quarters, increased in the most Northern parts to fourteen houres and a quarter. In length extended from the Atlantick Ocean to the greater Syrtis, for the space of 1500 miles; in breadth from Mount Atlas to the Mediterranean, where narrowest 100 miles; but towards the Straits, where broadest, almost three hundred.

The Country in such parts as lie nearest to the Mediterranean, is full of hils, covered with woods, and stored with plenty of Wild-beasts; provided reasonably well of most sorts of Fruits, but unfit for Wheat, insomuch that most of the Inhabitants live of Barley-bread. Betwixt which and Mount Atlas is a Champain country, watered with many pleasant Rivers issuing from that Mountain, and liberally furnished with Cherries, Figs, Peares, Plumes, Apples of all kinds; abundance of Oile, Honey, Sugar; some Mines of Gold, and that for purity and sineness nowhere to be bettered. Here are also besides large Herds of Cattel, some Elephants, Lyons, Dragons, Leopards, and others of the like savage nature, and of Apes great multitudes; Horses good store, of excellent both strength and beauty. But taking it in the best parts, it falleth extremely short of that infinite fertility which is ascribed to it by the Writers of elder times. For besides the miracle of five hundred •ars of Corn growing on one stalk, (whereof more anon) Pliny reporteth, that not far from the City of Tacape, in the way to Leptis, a man might see a great Date-tree overshadowing an Olive, under the Olive a Fig-tree, under that a Pom-granat, under that a Vine, and under all, Pease, Wheat, and 〈◊〉; all growing and flourishing at one time. It is affirmed also by the same Author, that the Vin• beareth twice a year, that some fruits or other are gathered in it at all times of the year; and that a 〈◊〉 of ground of four cubits square, was usually rented out at so many Denarii: by which accompt, (as the learned Budaeus doth compute it) an Acre of that ground must be worth yearly 12800 of the Roman Sestertii, which make 320 Crowns. An infinite and unparallel'd increase of the Fruits of the Earth, if the Author were not out in his valuation.

The People are of a duskish colour, but inclining to blacknesse: much of the same nature with the Arabians, by whose numerous families formerly they were overspred; but the Africans of the two the better active of body, well skilled in Horsmanship, but impatient of labour; covetous of honour, inconstant, crafty, and unfaithful; studious in matters of their Law, and in some of the Liberal Sciences, especially Philosophie and the Mathematicks, of which in many parts of the Mahometan Countries they are admitted to be Readers: they are also said to be stately of gate, exceedingly distrustful, in their hate implacable, and jealous of their women beyond all compare. The women of a comely body, and well featured, beautiful in blacknesse, of delicate soft skins; and in their habit and apparel beyond measure sumptuous: so drest, to make themselves more amiable in the eyes of their husbands; for otherwise not permitted to stir abroad, and seldome to see any body but those of their own houses.

The Language spoken at the present in most of the Maritime Towns, except those of Fesse and Morocco, is the Arabick tongue. In those two Kingdoms, and most part of the Country-villages, the Punick or old African, the antient languages of the Country: the Punick, spoken in all places where antiently the Carthaginians were of any power; the African (whatsoever it was) in the parts of Mauritania, not subject to them. Of the Latine there is no remainder; which though it was the Language of the Roman Colonies, yet never could it spread so far as to extinguish or suppresse the old natural tongues: and in the Colonies themselves so much degenerated in short time, so barbarously and imperfectly spoken; that a Sister of the Emperor Severus, who lived in Leptic, a Roman Colonie, coming to Rome to see her Brother, spoke it so incongruously, that the Emperor was ashamed to hear it. And though the Sermons of S. Augustine, an African Bishop, were preached in Latine, because preached in Hippo his Episcopal See, which was then a Colonie of the Romans; yet he confesseth that he was sometimes fain to use such words as were not Latine, to be the better understood of his Congregation.

The Christian faith was first planted, in that part hereof which was called Africa Propria by Epaenetus, one of the 70 Disciples; by Dorotheus in his Synopsis, affirmed to be the first Bishop of Carthage: In Mauritania, by S.Simon the Apostle, sirnamed Zelotes. Metaphrastes addeth, that S. Simon Peter preached here also, when by the Decree of Claudius Caesar he was forced from Rome; and at his going hence, left Crescens his Disciple to promote the work. But by whomsoever planted first, it found good increase, and was so propagated in short time over all this Country, that in the year 250. or before, there were in it above 90 Bishops; for so many were assembled in the Synod of Labesitum: and in the year 398. when the faction of the Donatists was of greatest power, we find no sewer then 214 Catholick Bishops met together in the Councel of Carthage. Which as it is an argument of the great increase of Christianity, in those parts of Africa; so it shewes also that the Church was in ill condition; so overpower'd by the violence of that mighty faction, who had at least 270 Bishops of their own opinion; that the Orthodox party was necessitated to increase the number of Bishops, for fear of being over-balanced by the contrary side, if ever the difference should come to be examined in a publike meeting. These Bishops ranked into six Classes, according to the number of the African Provinces: the Bishops of each Province subject to their own Metropolitan, who in this Diocese (contrary to the usage of all other Churches) had the name of Primates: but all of them subordinate to the Primate of Carthage, originally invested with Patriarchal jurisdiction over all these parts. Latius fusa est nostra Provincia: Habet enim Numidiam, & Mauritanias duas, sibi cohaerentes, are S.Cyprians words. Which shew, that Leo Africanus was a better Geographer then an Historian or Divine: He would not else have told us in such positive terms, that those of Barbary remained in their old Idolatrie till 250 years before Mahomets birth, at what time they received the Gospel, and not before. But the good man mistook the reviving of the Orthodox faith, in the time of Justinian, after it had been long suppressed by the Vandals of the Arian faction (who at one time banished hence 300 Catholike Bishops) for the first planting of the Gospel. Otherwise not to be excused. But after this Reviver, it held not long, when suppressed by the Saracens; and so suppressed, that except it be in some few Towns possessed by the King of Spain, and the Crown of Portugal, there is no tract of Christianity to be discerned in all this Country; Mahometism being elswhere universally imbraced amongst them.

Amongst the men of most note for Souldiery, which have been born in this Country, we may reckon Amilcar the Carthaginian, and his three sons: 2. Annibal, 3. Asdrubal, and 4. Mago; men hardly to be parallel'd in any Ages: 5. Masinissa, King of the Numidians, one of their Cotemporaries: and in the following times. 6. Septimius Severus, the Roman Emperour. Amongst those addicted to the Muses, those of most note, 1. Terence, 2. Apuleius. But for Divines, no Region in the world afforded men of more eminent note, nor better deserving of the Church. 1. Tertullian, 2. Cyprian, 3. Inlius Africanus, 3. Arnobius, 4. Lactantius, 5. Victorinus Afer, 6. Optatus Melevitanus, 7. Victor Vticensis, and above all, 8. the most learned and divine S.Augustine, a man of such admirable abilities, and indefatigable industry, so constant a Defender of all Orthodox doctrines against the Hereticks of those times, that he deservedly got the name of Malleus Haereticorum.

Principal Mountains of this Country, besides Mount Atlas, (of which hereafter by it self) 1. Phocra, 2. Heptadelphus, and 3. Atlas minor in Mauritania Tingitana; 4. Cinnaba, 5. Garas, 6. Madethubadus, and 7. those called Gariphi, in Caesariensis, 8. Thambes, 9. Mampsarus, 10. Vsaletus, and 11. Zuchabarus, in Africa Propria. Of which, and others, we may speak more, if occasion be, in our description of the Provinces in which they are. And for the Rivers of most note, though none of any long course in so narrow a Country: we have in Tingitana, 1. Sala, falling into the Atlantick, out of Atlas minor; 2. another of the same name, and the same exit also, but far more to the North, towards the Streit of Gibraltar; 3. Mosocath, mollified by Salust the Historian into Mulucha, and by him placed betwixt the Numidians and the Moors; 4. Malva, the boundarie at this day betwixt the Kingdoms of Fesse and Algiers; 5. Phthuth, of more same then any, of which more anon: in Caesariensis, 6. Nasabath, 7. Sisaris, and 8. Sorbetes: in Africa Propria, or the Kingdom of Tunes, 8. Rubicatus, which rising out of Mount Thambes, falleth into the Mediterranean near Hippo Regius; 9. Triton, which issuing out of the hill called Vsaletus, and making the great Fen called Tritonia Palus, endeth its course also in the Mediterranean; and finally, 10. Bagradas, the greatest in all this tract, which rising out of Mount Atlas, first runneth towards the East, and then receiving from the hill called Mampsarus the addition of another Stream, passeth directly Northward to the City of Vtica, and there ends his course.

Having thus laid together the chief Metes and Land marks, I should now proceed to the description of the several Provinces hereof, as in other places. But because each part almost hath had for these later times its particular History, and that it is divided at the present into several Government, and under the command of several Princes: I will here lay down so much of the Storie of it as concerns the whole, before such division; and afterwards pursue the Historie and Chorographie of the several parts. And for the whole we are to know, that this Country was first peopled by P•ut the third son of Cham: who leaving his brother Mizraim well setled in the Land of Egypt, passed towards the West; and leaving Lehabim his nephew betwixt him and Mizraim, possessed himself of all the rest from the greater Syrtis to the Ocean. Remainders of whose name we find in the River Phut, (by Ptolemy called Phthuth, with but little difference, save that it savoureth more of the African roughnesse) near which Josephus findeth a Region called the Country of Phut, a Nation called he Phuteans: seconded herein by S. Hierome, who speaking of this Regio Phutensis in Mauritania, (where the River Phuth is placed by Ptolomy) voucheth in generall terms the testimony of old Writers, both Greek and Latine. So that of this there is no question to be made. Such Nations as descended of this Plantation, shall be hereafter spoke of in their several Provinces. Governed at first by the Chiefs of their several families; but in the end reduced under the command of the Kings of Mauritania and Numidia, and the State of Carthage. The two first, Natives of this Country, of the race of Phut; the last descended also of the seed of Cham, their common Parent, by the line of Canaan; who on the conquest of their Country by the Children of Israel, forced to seek new dwellings; and having store of ships to transplant themselves and their families, setled in the maritime parts of Mauritania, and Africa properly so called. For, that the people of those parts, though lost into other names and families, were antiently of a Canaanitish or Phoenician, race, may be made apparent, 1. By the nearnesse of their Language, the Punick or Phoenician, and old Hebrew tongue, differing only in the dialect and pronunciation. 2. By the name Poeni, or Phoeni, little differing from that of the Phoenices. 3. By this testimony of S.Augustine, who telleth us in the Comment on S. Pauls Epistle to the Romans, begun, but not finished by him; Interrogati Rustici nostri quid sint, respondent Punici Chanani; that is to say, that when any of the Inhabitants of this Country (he himself was one) were asked what they were, they answered, Chanaanites. 4. We find in Herodotus, how Cambyses having totally conquered Egypt, intended a war against the Carthaginians, who were then a State (it seemeth) of some power: but the Phoenicians, being the onely Sea-faring men Cambyses then had, absolutely denied to be imployed in that service; they being sprung from the same tree, that the Carthaginians were. 5. We read in Procopius, (out of which it is cited by Evagrius Scholasticus) how on two marble-pillars, situate nigh unto Tingis or Tanger, there was in the Phoenician language and character engraved, Nos fugimus à facie Joshuah praedonis, filii Nave: that is to say, We flie from the face of that Robber, Joshuah the son of Nun. The setling of this people there, a great incitement questionlesse unto Dido to come thither also; who feared as much danger from her brother Pygmalion King of Tyre, whose hands had been embrued in the blood of her husband, as the others did from the sword of Josuah. Gathering together all her treasures, which were very great, accompanied with her brother Barca and her sister Anna, the set sail for Africk; and landing in the Bay, where after stood the City of Carthage, she obtained leave to build a Fort of no greater bignesse then the could compasse round about with an Oxes hide. This the beginning of that City; hence the name of Byrsa, which at first it had. First founded in or about the year of the world 3070. which was about 144 years after the building of Solomons Temple, 143 years before the building of Rome, and about 290 years from the destruction of Troy. By which accompt (I note this only by the way) it is impossible that Dido or Elisa (for by both these names we find her called) should ever see the face of Aenaeas, unlesse it were in picture, or imagination; and therefore as impossible she should either fall in love with him, or be got with child by him, or finally kill her self on her being forsaken. All which being delivered by Virgil in his excellent Poem, did for long time obtain a generall belief with most sorts of men. Hereunto consenteth Ausonius, who honouring the Statua of this abused Princesse with an Epigram of 18 verses, among others gives us these four.

Invida cur in me stimulasti Musa Maronem,Fingeret ut nostra damna pudicitiae?Vos magis Historicis (Lectores) credite de me,Quam qui furta deum, concubitusque canunt. Why didst thou stir up Virgil, envious Muse,Falsely my name and honour to abuse?Of me let Histories be heard, not those,Who to the World, Jove's theft and lusts expose.

Credible it is, that Aenaeas being driven on the coast of Africk, was by some Prince there courteously entertained, as a man whose fame had been his harbinger: but why the story should be fastned on Dido, I see not. Perhaps the unfortunate death of this Queen, who laid violent hands on her self, gave occasion to the Poet to fain, that it was for the love of Aenaeas: whereas it was indeed to avoid the lust and fury of Jarbas, a potent King in Africk, who violently desired to have his pleasure on her.

But to proceed. This City thus founded in a place commodious for trade and merchandise, in short time grew exceeding wealthy; And having wealth enough to hire mercenary souldiers (of which the needy Mauritanians & Numidians did afford good store) they conquered all the Sea-coasts from Cyrene to the Streits of Hercules (now called the Streits of Gibraltar) and so much also towards the South, as was worth the conquering; within which space possessed of 300 Cities. Grown to such height, that all the African Kings and Princes, and amongst them the Kings of Numidia and Mauritania, were at their devotion: They began to cast their eyes on Sicily, a wealthy Island, lying near unto their Coast; which questionless they had possessed, if the Romans, envious of their greatness, and fearing their neighbourhood, had not took upon them the defence of the Mumertines, and under that pretence got some footing in it. The end of this war, after many brave exploits on both sides, was the driving the Carthaginians out of Sicil, their abandoning all the Islands betwixt them and Italy, and the payment of 3200 Talents, amounting to about two millions of Crowns. And such end had the first Punick war, managed for the most part in Sicil: during which time, and the first war there managed by the Carthaginians, Africk it self was twice invaded; first by Agathocles Tyrant of Syracuse, (or so commonly called) and afterwards by Regulus a Roman General; but with no other great successe, then the spoil of the Country. The second followed not long after, but the Scene was altered: begun in Spain, prosecuted in Italy, and ended in Africk. Begun by Annibal the son of Amilcar, descended from Barca the brother of Dido or Elisa; who having conquered a great part of Spain, and thereby both increased his reputation and experience, conducted his victorious Army through Gaul, and over the Alpes, into Italy it self; defeated the Army of the Romans, and slew some of their Consuls; so prosperous in the battel of Cannae, where the whole strength of Rome was broken, that had he followed his good fortune, and made use of his victory, he might within four or five dayes after have dined in the Capitol. Having for 18 years together held them work in Italy, he was called home to defend Africk from the forces of Scipio: who having driven the Carthaginians out of Spain, had very prudently translated the war to Carthage. The issue was, that on the losse of the battel of Nadagara, the Carthaginians were necessitated to submit themselves to the will of the Conqueror; that is to say, to deliver up all their Elephants, together with all their Ships and Gallies excepting ten; to make no war without leave of the Romans, to pay for the charges of the war 10000 Talents, and such other extremities. So ended the second Punick war, An. V. C. 602. And the third followed not long after; not any way occasioned by those of Carthage, but out of the inveterate hatred of the people of Rome, who would not think themselves safe whilest that City stood, and therefore sent another Scipio to lay siege unto it; by whom, after a long and stout resistance, it was at last taken and destroyed; the Treasure which was found in it, notwithstanding their former losses, and the low estate it was reduced to, besides what was consumed by fire, and reserved by the souldiers, amounting to 470000 pound weight of silver, which cometh to a Million, four hundred and ten thousand pounds of our English money.

Such end had Carthage, and therewithall the rest of the States of Africa, who though in hatred to the Carthaginians they had armed against her, and aided the Romans in these wars, yet they soon found their own fortunes buried in the self-same Grave. Subverted, one after another, as occasion was, they became all subject unto Rome, their Kingdoms and Estates turned to Roman Provinces. Of these were reckoned seven in all, that is to say, 1 Africa Propria, called also Zeugitana, and Proconsularis, 2 Byzacena, 3 Tripolitana, 4 Numidia, 5 Mauritania Caesariensis, 6 Sitisensis, and 7 Tingitana. Of which the last (I know not why) was laid to the Diocese of Spain, called therefore Hispania Transfretana. Spain on the other side of the Sea, by some elder Writers: the other six made up the Diocese of Africk, subordinate to the Praefectus Praetorius for Italy, who had here his Vicarius or Lieutenant. In this condition it continued, till subdued by the Vandals, a German nation, inhabiting beyond the Elb on the Coast of the Baltick, where now lie the Dukedoms of Mecklenbourg and Pomerania. Their memory still retained there in the stile of those Princes, who call themselves Duces Vandalorum; and in the Confederacie of the Hanse-towns, called by some Latine Writers, Civitates Vandalicae. A Nation of great power, and numbers, (the Burgundians being only a part of these) one of the five into which Pliny doth divide the Germans. In the 11. year of the Empire of Arcadius and Honorius, they were invited into Gaul by the treacherous practises of Stilico, Lieutenant of the Western Empire; and after an abode of three years passed into Spain, together with the Suevi and Alani their Associates. But after 18 years, the Goths made that place too hot for them also. So that they could not but willingly accept the offer of Bonifacius, the Emperours Vicegerent in Africa: who stomacking to see his Office bestowed on Castinus an unworthy man, and his enemy; betrayed the Country to these Vandals, in the last year of the life and reign of Gundericus; an Arian in Religion, as were the rest of the Nation, to which induced by their neighbourhood and acquaintance with the Goths: which Heresie as they brought with them into Africk, driving thence all the Orthodox Christeans; so they continued in it till their extirpation.

The Vandal Kings of Africa.

• A. C.
• 412. 1 Gundericus, who first invaded Gaul, Spain, and Africk. 16.
• 428. 2 Gensericus, who at the request of Eudoxia the widow of Valentinian, invaded Italy and sacked the City of Rome, the spoil whereof for 14 dayes he gave to his souldiers: but at the request of Eudoxia, whom he afterward married, he did not burn it. This Eudoxia was wife to the Western Emperor Valentinian; who having a mind to a Lady of Rome, the wife of one Maximus, he cunningly slipped the Ring of Maximus off his finger, and by that token sent for the Lady to the Court; and when she was come, ravished her. To revenge this disgrace, Maximus slew Valentinian, made himself Emperor, and forced Eudoxia to be his wife. But she stomacking a match so unequal to her high birth, and having some incling of the manner of her husbands death, sent for Gensericus into Italy. This Gensericus conquered Carthage and Hippo, and reigned 48 years.
• 476. 3 Honoricus, son of Gensericus. 7.
• 484. 4 Gundebundus, son to Genzo the brother of Honoricus. 15.
• 499. 5 Trasimundus, brother to Gundebundus. 24.
• 523. 6 Hildericus, the son of Honoricus, deposed.
• 530. 7 Gilmir, the son of Genzo, one of the Descendents of Gensericus; overcome by Belisarius a worthy and politique Leader, whom the Emperor Justinian imployed in that service.

And thus ended the Kingdom of the Vandals, (having continued in Spain and Africa, 146 years) by the valour of Belisarius. Who after this good service, was imployed by Justinian against the Gothes, then reigning in Italy; against whom he proceeded very fortunately: but being on I know not what envy, called to Constantinople, his eyes were put out, and he was forced to beg his bread at the Gate of the Temple of S. Sophia. A bad reward for so good a servant. But to go on: Justinian having regained Africk, to honour his new Conquest, exempted it from the command of the Praetorio-Praefectus of Italy, to which formerly subject; and increasing the number of the African Provinces by the addition of the Isle of Sardinia, made it a Praefecture of it self; appointing his Praefectus Praetorio Africae to reside in Carthage, as the chief City of his charge; which he then also raised to a Consular Province, having in former times been Proconsular only. But long it held not in this state: For in the year 647. the Romans were finally expulsed by Hucba a famous Leader, whom Osmen the third Caliph of the Saracens had designed to this service. Africk, from that time forwards, reckoned amongst the Provinces of the Saracenical or Mahometan Empire. But in the end, the Authority of the Caliphs growing lesse and lesse, and every one of their Sultans or Provincial Officers getting what he could for himself; this Country was distracted into many Kingdoms and Principalities, but all at last reduced to four of most consideration; that is to say, the Kingdoms of 1 Tunis, 2 Tremesen or Algeirs, 3 Fesso, and 4 Morocco. To the Chorography and History whereof we do now proceed, adding hereto in the fifth place the Isles of Barbay.