The Mercenary Mediterranean_ Sovereignty, Religion, and Violence in the Medieval Crown of Aragon - Hussein Fancy

the worst men in the world 133

January 1304 , Jaume received a complaint from Muḥammad III that al-

‘Abbās and his troops had attacked a Granadan ambassador near Gua-

dix.^84 A month later, Jaume wrote to al- ‘Abbās to deal with yet another

complaint.^85 While praising the jenet for his service, Jaume explained that

on a recent raid into the region of Cuenca, in Castile, al- ‘Abbās’ soldiers

had seized goods and captives from villages under the protection of Don

Juan Manuel, who was, in fact, an ally of the Crown.^86 Given that alliance,

the king ordered al- ‘Abbās to return the goods and captives. Jaume also

informed the jenet captain that the Crown had signed a temporary truce

with Castile, a truce that would ultimately lead to the Treaty of Agreda.^87

For his part, al- ‘Abbās wrote back not only to contest the charges against

him but also to complain of mistreatment.^88 He claimed that as his jenets

returned from Castile, the local governor of Jarafuel (in Valencia) sent

robbers in the middle of the night, who made off with their sheep and

cows. At Játiva, where the jenets hoped to sell their remaining spoils, the

residents sealed the town gates and armed themselves against the Muslim

soldiers. The food supplies that were promised to al- ‘Abbās and his sol-

diers by the Crown, moreover, were also never delivered.^89 Separately, al-

‘Abbās would also write to the king to complain that villagers on the lands

that he held as a vassal refused to pay their rents.^90 Thus, as in the case of

Mahomet Abenadalil, Christian administrators and villagers continued

to treat the jenets as enemies and outsiders. Despite these setbacks, the

agreement between the king and the jenet commander remained intact.

Jaume issued new orders to have supplies delivered to al- ‘Abbās and his

troops. They were ultimately delivered in April.^91 Foreseeing war with

Granada, Jaume also sent an ambassador along with a messenger from

al- ‘Abbās to Fez to seek approval for the jenets’ continued service.^92 Abū

Ya‘qūb responded with appreciation for the good treatment his soldiers

had received from the Aragonese king.^93 And al- ‘Abbās consequently

wrote to Jaume, agreeing to cease attacks against Castile and “obey [the

king’s] command in all matters.”^94

Private dispatches among the royal letters, however, reveal that the

seeming good will between these parties masked a great deal. Bertran

de Canelles, the procurator of Valencia, wrote to inform the bailiff of Va-

lencia and the king that despite making several requests, he had failed to

convince al- ‘Abbās to return the goods belonging to Don Juan Manuel.^95

To Canelles, however, the jenet commander’s refusal did not reflect greed

but rather defiance of the king. Al- ‘Abbās had not sold these goods and

seemed to have no intention to do so. Moreover, Bertran reported that