While collecting data for my travel report about Morocco, I found several books, including the Rough guide to Morocco, mentioning the fact, that walls of Essaouira were constructed by the captive French architect Theodore Cornut. However, none of the articles gave any details regarding how and where he got captured, for how long stayed captive, what was his deal with the sultan for constructing the walls, etc.
I started searching the web, but found only two articles giving alittle more details than just the word "captive" :-)
I would highly appreciate if you could guide me to some sources of information on this subject. If the story is, indeed, a legend, there must be some reason for such a legend to appear…
Premium account Joined: Aug 04 Points: 30796 Posts: 958
Posted: 2005-02-26 00:45:00
I think searching the web in french, and also the old name for the city "Mogador" might bring more luck. I too had quite difficulties finding info on Morocco ("Maroc") and Tunesia for my reports, even roadmaps are rare.
www.g26.ch/marokko_unesco_essaouira.html says the legend of Cornuts slavery is false, he was hired in Gibralta and well payed for his services! "...ein Sklave des Sultans, der sich damit seine Freiheit erkaufte - wie das die Mär behauptet? Mitnichten. Cornut, in Avignon geboren, stand in französischen und englischen Diensten, der Sultan engagierte ihn gegen gutes Geld in Gibraltar..." I think the legend means the architect was binded by a verbal contract he could cancell, the arab world is reputed for its loose and open hand-shake contracts.
