Johan Albrecht de Mandelslo

Johann Albrecht von Mandelslo ( born May 15, 1616 Schoenberg, † 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 the captain's pin in the high pin Ratzeburg, Hermann Clamor of Mandelslo, originally from the Lower Saxon, later residing in Mecklenburg nobility Mandelsloh. After traveling as a Junker with a diplomatic mission on behalf of the Duke of Schleswig -Holstein - Gottorp to Isfahan, he separated from the group and went on his way to India, where he made interesting observations about the Mughal Empire, which at that time of Shah Jahan was ruled. In the port of Surat he arrived in April 1638, after which he went to Ahmedabad and Agra. Although his observations of life in the capital are useful, he apparently did not hear anything from the Taj Mahal, which at that time was in the sixth year. The omission may have been established by his premature exit of the city, which was prompted by a chance meeting with the relatives of a man whom he had killed in Persia. Fearing reprisals, he withdrew to Lahore before continuing his journey through the southern provinces of the empire and further traveled to the Far East. Mandelslo is an engaging and cheerful author whose enthusiasm for indiscriminate shooting of wild game (including snakes, buffalo and monkeys) did not make him popular with his Indian travel companions. His friend Adam OLEARIUS (1599-1671) gave his travelogue out first. His work has been translated into other languages ​​soon. A modern English edition appeared, for example, also in the collection of The Broadway Travellers.

Name Variants

Johann Albrecht von Mandelslo, Johann Albrecht of almond Slow, Johan A. von Mandelslo, Jean -Albert de Mandelslo, Johan A. Mandel Slow, Jean Albert de Mandelslo, Johann Albrecht von Mandelsloh, Johan Albrecht of Mandelslo, Johan Albrecht of almond Slow, Johan Albrecht van Mandelslo, Mandelslohe

Works

• In hochedelgebornen Johan Albrecht of Mandelslo Oriental travel description. Exhibiting at the same time the opportunity and present condition of several fürnehmen Indian Country, Provinces, Cities and Insulen sampt those inhabitants life, customs, beliefs and Handthierung: as well as the nature of seafaring on the Oceanic Sea. Edited by Adam Olearium. With the same or different Notis Anmerckungen as adorned with many Kupfferplaten. Schleswig: Johan Holwein 1658 ( digitized )
• Adam OLEARIUS: Offt coveted Description The Newen Oriental Travel / So by chance a Holstein Legation happened to the king of Persia: Wherein of those orter and countries / through which the journey taken / as fürnemblich Russia / Tartary and Persia / sampt its inhabitants Nature / Life and being diligent described / and with many Kupfferstücken / so gestellet / adorned / by M. Adamum Olearium, Ascanium Saxonem, Fürstl after life: Schleßwig -Holstein Hoff - tutoring. Item A letter from the WolEdeln [ et ] c. Johann Albrecht From Mandelslo: worinnen OstIndianische its journey across the Oceanum included; Zusampt kurtzen a report of its current state of eussersten Oriental kingdom Tzina, Schleswig 1647 ( digitized Wolfenbüttel )

Studbook

From 1634 to 1640 Mandelslo led a studbook that the Schiller National Museum German Literature Archive in Marbach am Neckar is kept today.