Robert Knox (seafarer)
Robert Knox (born February 8, 1641 in London , † June 19, 1720 ibid) was an English seafarer who became known for his descriptions of the Kingdom of Kandy .
In 1659 he reached the Ceylon coast and was arrested by followers of the Sinhalese king Rajasingha II near the mouth of the Mahaweli and brought to Kandy .
Although Knox remained a prisoner of the king, he was allowed some freedoms: He was allowed to move freely within Kandy, he founded a business and wrote a book about the time of his captivity ( Historical Relation of Ceylon ). What is remarkable about this work is that, unlike the contemporary Buddhist chronicles, Knox described not only the courtly life and the exploits of kings, but the simple life. Knox's work is therefore of inestimable value as an authentic portrayal of everyday life in the Kingdom of Kandy in the 17th century.
After 19½ years in captivity, Knox finally managed to escape to the Dutch- controlled north of the island. The escape also led him to Anuradhapura , which no European had seen before.
literature
- IB Watson: Knox, Robert (1641-1720) . In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . Oxford University Press , 2004, online edition, January 2008, doi : 10.1093 / ref: odnb / 6980 , (accessed February 28, 2011).
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Knox, Robert |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | English navigator |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 8, 1641 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | London |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 19, 1720 |
| Place of death | London |