LETTRE AU MARQUIS FLORES D'AVILA

Sasportas, Samuel

Numéro d'objet:	22479
Catégorie:	Vie communautaire
Technique:	Encre
Origine:	Oran
Date:	1649
Support:	Papier à la cuve

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Document 2: autograph report by Samuel Sasportas
Description of the document
Brown ink on paper. 4 leaves (30.1 x 21.3 cms)+ 2 cover leaves (31 x 22.5 cms). In good condition.
Three different handwritings:
1. 18th_19th century archive note of classification on flyleaf: "Estado de Flores Davila" , "Legajo 90" [= Estate of [the Marquis] Flores de Avila], [Document 90]
2. 17th century Spanish cursive hand, title:
Relazion simple que se hizo por mandato del Sr Marques de flores Davila delo quehauia suzedido de Varias cosas enIa Berueria y 10 que executaron por diferentes Vezes la caualleria y jente que estaua a cargo de dho Sr. Marq.s. de fIores dauila con jente Morisca que hauian salido contra ellos y otras cosas como mas largamte consta de dha Relazn
Brief Report made on the Request of Lord Marquis de Flores Davila of the Various Things that happened in the North African Coast (=Berberia) and of what the Cavalry and the Men under the Command of Lord Marquis de Flores Davila have done with the Arabs that fought them, and other Things explained in Detail in Said Report
3. 17th century Spanish cursive, signed by Samuel Caportas (alternatively pronounced/spelled as Sasportas, Sasporta and Saporta): the report itself, fo1. 1 rectofol. 4 verso
Content
Autograph report signed by Samuel Sasportas, sheik = secular leader of the Jews of Oran, addressed to the Marquis of Flores Davila, Spanish Govemor of Oran, dated 20 December 1649
Report on several current affairs in Oran during the absence of the Capitan General the Marquis don Pedro de Flores Davila written by Samuel Sasportas.
Containing
•military actions: skirmishes with Arab enemies
•negotiations with Arab princes on captives (=slaves)
•arrival and departure of military and commercial vessels
•diplomacy with befriended Arab sovereigns, including the translation - by Samuel Sasportas - of an Arab letter written by sheik Hamed ben Zayd.
The letter in Spanish contains several transliterated Arabic words, for instance:
UIed, Xeque, Pasa, Alaxeses, Cafila, etc.
The letter/report confirms the highly influential position held by the Jewish Sasportas family in their service to the Spanish Monarchy. Samuel Sasportas acted as a fully thrusted representant of the Spanish Governor during the latter's absence.

Bibliographie:

Jewish Encyclopedia, vol.11
Barrios, Daniel, Triumpho del govierno popular
Hirschberg, History of the jews in North Africa