Bastion of France

The Bastion of France is a founded commercial counter at the 16th century by Corsicans resulting from a family of renegades installed in North Africa, close to Bône at the border algéro - Tunisian. This counter develops important commercial relations with Marseilles.

The foundation and the prosperity of the first times

The Lenche family, originating in Morsiglia (Corsica Cape), had settled in North Africa. Tomasino, as for him, is established in Marseilles in 1533, towards the 23 years age.

In 1550, the Dey of Algiers grants to Tomasino Lenche (v.1510-1568) the right to fish the coral in Massacarès, close to Bône. The following year, Henri II grants the monopoly of this fishing to him (renewed in 1560 by Charles IX).

To develop its activity, Tomasino bases in 1552 on the site close of the Hold, the Bastion of France, with its nephews, Visconte (v.1545-1580) and Antonio Lenche (v.1540-1588), and his Corsican cousins of Marsiglia, of the Porrata family. He baptizes his company of trade the Magnifique Company of the coral .

The marketing activity of this counter proves to be important and its development is spectacular: it counts 250 fishermen divided out of 50 ships. The released profits are it as much: the pound of Corail is sold 6 books tournaments (a fisherman gains 12 grounds per coral book fished, that is to say the exact half of a pound tournaments). The coral is an luxury item used in goldsmithery (clothes industry of the chains for example). It is still used as currency of exchange to the Ports of the Levant, especially to Alexandria, against spices and silk.

Lenche diversify their activities and become blazing infernos of businesses. They position like intermediaries in the trade between Algiers and Marseilles. They launch out in the traffic of smuggling to supply the dey out of lead, iron and weapons (artillery, powder, ammunition). In exchange, they receive Arab horses, dogs, falcons, and even a pair of lions. These present are intended to the governor of Provence.

Commercial success with the social rise

Tomasino obtains its letters of naturality in 1553. It shaves its house (bought in 1545) and built a splendid building (current Place Lenche in Marseilles).

Its standing is such, that it enters to the council of city (1558) and becomes second consul of Marseilles (1565). It receives at his place the ambassadors Turkish on the way towards the Court. It is able to equip his daughter, single it is true, of 24.000 books. She marries in 1565 Jean-Baptiste of Forbin, lord of Gardanne.

Prosperity continues with the following generation. The nephew of Tomasino, Antonio, wife in 1570 Jeanne de Bouquin, resulting from a family of magistrates anoblis. With his/her Viscente brother, they have in 1588 the fourth fortune of Marseilles (140 000 pounds) behind " Riquetti lords of Mirabeau (three hundred and thousand ecus), Covet lords of Marignane (three hundred and thousand ecus), of Albertas de Jouques . "

Antonio Lenche becomes governor of the Bastion of France (1568-1588). Side of the businesses, One second company, simple name Compagnie of the coral is rested by a cousin (Orso-Santo Cipriani). Henri III confirms the monopoly of the Magnifique company (1582) and extends even the geographical limits of the fishing zones to Bizerte (1584). It is all the septentrional littoral of the Tripolitaine which is thus controlled by the companies of Lenche.

Dubious times

The first difficulties are not economic but political. Indeed, low registers are the consequences of the wars of religion. Enemies of the Republic of Genoa (allied of the Spain), Lenche support Henri III against the catholic Ligue (favorable to Spain). Blow, the Corsicans will play a determining role in the support of the interests of French monarchy. This support is not done without risk: Antonio Lenche is assassinated in 1588 by the members of a league, with the convent of the Observance, close to the tomb of his father, then cut up. His/her first cousins Giovani, Paolo and Orlando de Porrata brings back its body to Morsiglia in the church San Cipriano (1589).

Moreover, the prosperity of Lenche is put at evil by the political vicissitudes of North Africa. In June 1604, the Bastion of France east destroyed by the militia of Bône supported by the galères of Algiers of the Mourad ray. Lenche calls of it with the king Henri IV which, via its consul in Algiers (Mr. de Vias) protests. The answer is severe (the consul is coiled blows). The governor of the Bastion of France, Thomas II (wire of Antonio), manages to do it restaurer.
A new attack is conducted by the Inhabitants of Algiers in 1615-1616. March 14th, 1616, the captain Jacques Vinciguerra (originating in Bastia) installs with his son to restore the Bastion of France.
In 1619, exhausted by the unceasingly repeated rebuildings, Thomas II Lenche sells his rights on the Bastion to the duke of Own way, admiral and governor of Provence. It receives in exchange an annual pension of 4.800 books tournaments.

In spite of the creation of a third company by a cousin (Nicolini) in 1586, with the capital of 34.000 ecus gold, the Magnifique Company of the coral is not any more what it was as from the years 1590. The ceaseless conflicts of heritage between the heirs (Forbin, Mirabeau, Ornano) considerably contributed to the decision of Thomas to yield his rights in 1619.

A new departure?

The relations between France and Algiers are standardized at the end of the years 1620. September 19th, 1628, Sanson Napollon, going down from Lenche, the treaty of Algiers signs by which the safety of the trade in the Mediterranean is restored. The next October 8th, the general of the galères of Algiers informs the consuls of Marseilles that " two jackets of honor and glory " were offered to Nappollon by the pasha (the Othoman emperor). Louis XIII pay 272.435 books which are used to pay the repurchase of slaves, the expenses of campaigns and the present. Napollon raises the counters of Bône, the Hold and the Bastion of France. In addition to the resumption of the exploitation of the coral, Sanson Napollon opens with the course Pink a counter for the trade of corn.

In 1631, the king names Sanson Napollon governor of the Bastion of France which concerns henceforth the Crown and either the duke of Own way. The hope of a revival is felt but for little time. In 1633, Sanson Napollon is killed at the time of an attack conducted by Gênois and in 1637, a new offensive of the Inhabitants of Algiers, directed by Ali Bitchinin, general of the galères, carries a fatal blow to the French counters: The Bastion of France, the Hold and the installations of the course Pink are destroyed.

During one half-century the activity is suspended. She begins again in 1684, after the bombardment of Algiers (1683), when the dey signs with Tourville a new peace. France is given in possession percent years of the Bastion of France of Lenche, as of the Hold, the course Pink, Bône, Candle and other places.

The unstable situation of the 17th century put an end to the prosperity of the Bastion of France. It will have been thrives of 1550 to 1600 and will have allowed the formidable social rise in a Corsica family, Lenche, become of notable of Marseilles. The city preserves today a place at their name.

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