Autograph letter from Sauveur Marin to Francesco Venturini

Marin's letters provide important information on commercial matters in Cyprus in the late 17th century. He addresses his business colleague in Livorno, the merchant Francesco Venturini. He notes the arrival of the Dutch envoy to Larnaca and discusses correspondence being forwarded to Acre. He notes that silver is being sent from Marseille, and that prices of textiles had increased by 20-25%. Wool now sells for 38 piasters per quintal on the island, loom wool for 16 piasters per quintal. Marin indicates that both his brothers, Jacques and Jean Marin, and his nephew, Etienne, are captains of vessels who work with him. This letter is a copy of the original and is marked so at the top of the page. At the bottom of the page is a paragraph dated 1 August which has been added to the copy and does not occur in the original letter.

Sauveur Marin, from La Ciotat in southern France, established himself in Cyprus in 1657 and was resident there until at least 1688. In 1678 he was appointed consul for Genoa, but in 1680 he was forced to leave the island as a result of letters of complaint sent to Colbert by the French consul Balthazar Sauvan, the English consul Samuel Peere, and Archbishop Nikiforos. Marin was forced to remain in Marseille. He petitioned for his liberty in 1681, to which Guilleragues, French ambassador to the Porte, was opposed, but Marin received his parole in 1684 and returned to the island. He was resident in Cyprus until 1688, when he was apparently murdered.

Marin was mainly a merchant in cotton and silk textiles, but he had a hand in many pies, including tax-farming. His knowledge of Greek and Turkish enabled him to deal with the local elite, both Cypriot and Ottoman, with whom he had close contacts. He was notorious for his behaviour with the local peasants, for using violence against other merchants, smuggling, and for collaborating with the Ottoman authorities. He was involved with the Aga Boyacioglu and his ‘rebellion’, but when he requested repayment of the monies which he had lent to Boyiacioglu’s wife and mother, the Aga threatened him with violence. Marin is mentioned by a number of travellers, including Laurent d’Arvieux and Johann Wansleben.