Johann Albrecht von Mandelslo

Johann Albrecht von Mandelslo; contemporary copper engraving

Johann Albrecht von Mandelslo (born May 15, 1616 in Schönberg ; † May 16, 1644 in Paris ) was a German nobleman and traveler who wrote about his travels through Persia and India .

Life

Mandelslo was the son of pen captain in the Bishopric of Ratzeburg , Hermann Clamor of Mandelslo, from the original Lower Saxony, later residing in Mecklenburg noble family Mandelsloh . After he had traveled to Isfahan as a Junker on a diplomatic mission on behalf of the Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf , he separated from the group and set out for India, where he made interesting observations about the Mughal empire that was founded by Shah Jahan was ruled. He arrived in the port of Surat in April 1638, after which he went to Ahmedabad and Agra . Although his observations of life in the capital are useful, he apparently heard nothing of the Taj Mahal , which was then in its sixth year of construction. The omission may come from his premature departure from the city, prompted by a chance encounter with the relative of a man he had killed in Persia. Fearing reprisals, he withdrew to Lahore before continuing his journey through the southern provinces of the empire and on to the Far East. Mandelslo is an engaging and cheerful writer whose enthusiasm for indiscriminate shooting of game (including snakes , buffalo, and monkeys ) did not make him popular with his Indian travel companions. His friend Adam Olearius (1599–1671) was the first to publish his travelogue. His work was translated into other languages ​​early on. A modern English edition appeared e.g. B. also in the collection The Broadway Travelers .

Name variants

Johann Albrecht von Mandelslo, Johann Albrecht von Mandelslow, Johan A. von Mandelslo, Jean-Albert de Mandelslo, Johan A. von Mandelslow, Jean Albert de Mandelslo, Johann Albrecht von Mandelsloh, Johan Albrecht von Mandelslo, Johan Albrecht von Mandelslow, Johan Albrecht van Mandelslo, Mandelslohe

Works

• The high noble born Johan Albrechts von Mandelslo Oriental Reyse description. In what, at the same time, the opportunity and the current state of many of the Indian countries, provinces, cities and islands take hold of their inhabitants, the life, customs, beliefs and actions of their inhabitants are sampled: as well as the nature of seafaring over the ocean. Issued By Adam Olearium. Decorated with the same different notes or annotations, as well as with many copper plates . Schleswig: Johan Holwein 1658 ( digitized version )
• Adam Olearius: Often coveted description of the Newen Oriental Journey / So happened through the opportunity of a Holstein legation to the king in Persia: Wherein their places and countries / through which the journey went / as for the same Russia / Tartaria and Persia / sampt their inhabitants nature / life and essence diligently described / and with many copper pieces / so placed after life / adorned / by M. Adamum Olearium, Ascanium Saxonem, Fürstl: Schleßwig-Holsteinischen Hoff-mathemat. Item A letter from WolEdeln [et] c. Johann Albrecht Von Mandelslo: which contains his East Indian journey across the Oceanum; Compilation of a brief report of the current state of the very first Oriental King, Kingdom of Tzina , Schleswig 1647 ( digitized Wolfenbüttel )

(Engl.) The Voyages and Travels of the Ambassadors from the Duke of Holstein… Whereto are Added the Travels of J. Albert de Mandelslo… into the East-Indies , tr. John Davies. London: Dring and Starkey 1662

Studbook

From 1634-1640 Mandelslo led a pedigree , which in today Schiller National Museum German Literature Archive in Marbach am Neckar is kept.

literature

• Friedrich Ratzel:  Mandelslo, Johann Albrecht von . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 20, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1884, p. 173.
• Josef Wiesehöfer : "It's an old, dilapidated castle": Johan Albrecht von Mandelslo in Pasargadai and Persepolis. In: Maria Brosius, Amélie Kuhrt (Hrsg.): Studies in Persian History: Essays in Memory of David M. Lewis (= Achaemenid History XI). Leiden, Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten 1998, pp. 7-19.

Web links

• Literature by and about Johann Albrecht von Mandelslo in the catalog of the German National Library
• Publications by and about Johann Albrecht von Mandelslo in VD 17 .
• Literature about Johann Albrecht von Mandelslo in the state bibliography MV

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Verification in the Repertory Alborum Amicorum  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed October 5, 2010