Mariabdela

Mariabdela, King of Tunis, appears in the story of Costanza and Martuccio Gomito as a ruler under military threat who turns an imprisoned man’s technical insight into victory. His decision to heed Martuccio’s plan saves his kingdom and transforms the prisoner into a powerful, wealthy royal favorite.

A King at War

While Costanza is living in Susa, Mariabdela faces an invasion by a powerful young claimant from Granada, who asserts that the kingdom belongs to him and gathers a large force to take it. Martuccio, then held in prison, hears that the king is making extensive preparations for his defence. Knowing the local language and recognizing an opportunity to help, he tells one of his keepers that he can advise the king on how to win the war.

Martuccio’s Stratagem

Brought before Mariabdela, Martuccio identifies the army’s dependence on archers as the key to the conflict. He proposes that the king secretly equip his archers with unusually thin bowstrings and arrows notched to fit them. In battle, the opposing archers would be unable to use the captured arrows fired by Mariabdela’s forces, while Mariabdela’s archers could use the enemy’s wider-notched arrows with their thin strings. The plan turns the recovery of spent ammunition into an advantage for one side and a shortage for the other.

Victory and Consequences

Mariabdela is described as a wise prince: he approves the advice, follows it, and wins the war. Martuccio consequently rises to the king’s favor and to great wealth and standing. News of his survival and success reaches Costanza, who had believed him dead; she travels to Tunis, where the lovers reunite and marry. Mariabdela’s brief appearance thus marks the decisive turn in Martuccio’s fortunes and makes possible the lovers’ return to happiness.