Page:Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical setting (IA cu31924026512263).pdf/176

 not requested by a prince of that nation to write Tirant lo Blanch, for its contents in no way support the statements made in the dedicatory letter; on the contrary, they seem to refute them.

Is the conquest of Barbary perhaps based on some other historical venture or event? We feel justified in answering the question affirmatively, for Muntaner's Chronica seems to have furnished the background for Tirant's exploits in Barbary. In Martorell's narration of this conquest the following historical personages and geographical names are of importance: the King of Tremicen, the King of Tunis, Bugia, and Constantine. All these are found in Muntaner's Chronica, in certain parts of which are described the hostile relations between the Moors of Africa and the crown of Aragon. In both accounts all Barbary ["tota la Barbaria"] is specifically mentioned. This fact is significant.

In Chapter XIX of the Chronica Muntaner relates that the tribute due to the King of Aragon from the King of Tremicen and the King of Tunis had not been paid for a long time, and for this reason four well-armed galleys were sent from Valencia to Tunis and Bugia. These wrought great devastation along the African shores and besieged the important ports. While in these waters they came upon a fleet of ten galleys, all strongly armed and manned, belonging to the King of Morocco. The Aragonese ships bravely attacked those of the Moors and succeeded in capturing the whole fleet, which they took back with them to Valencia.

When Peter the Second became King of Aragon and Catalonia, he determined to force the kings of Tremicen and Tunis to pay the tribute. An expedition was sent to Barbary, and as a result Miraboaps, the King of Tunis, was driven from the throne and his brother Mirabusach was put in his place. The latter pledged himself to pay