WILLIAM OF RUBRUK (Guglielmus de Rubruquis, Ruysbroeck, Risbroucke). 1215/20 — after 1255. Flemish Traveller, a Franciscan Monk. Head of the embassy sent by Louis IX of France to the Mongol Khan in order to win him into Christianity. Departing in 1253 went via Constantinople and South Russia to Batu and…
PAES, D. 14?? — 15??. Portuguese Merchant in India. In c. 1520 wrote his account, characterized by reliable and exact observations and including important information about Vijayanagara. The manuscript came to Portugal and was used by Barros, but then forgotten. Publications: ed. together with the account of F. Nuniz by…
VARTHEMA, Ludovico di. Bologna 1470? — 1517?. Italian Traveller in India in the beginning of the 16th century. Claiming to have started his travels only in order to win fame he left Italy late in 1502 and travelled on the route Venice–Cairo–Beyrout–Damas–Mecca (the first known non-Muslim there), using Muslim robe,…
ODORICO DI PORDENONE. 1265/74/86 — Udine 14.1.1331. Italian Franciscan and Traveller in Asia. From Pordenone in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Wrote a famous account of his journey to China and Central Asia. Started for his journey between 1314/18, together with James of Ireland, and remained several years in the East. By ship…
NIKITIN, Afanasij. Tver around 1433 (?) — Smolensk 1472 or 1475 (?). Russian Traveller in India. A merchant from Tver, he visited Persia and India, and wrote a good account of these countries. The chronology of his travel is uncertain. He left Tver in 1466, 1469, or 1471 and travelled…
HUS Rasinjanin, Juraj. Rasinja 14??/1510? — Požun 1566 (or later?). Croatian Traveller. He was forcibly enlistened by Turks in 1532 and lived in Constantinople. Freed in 1536 he took service as a trumpeter by an Egyptian see captain and participated in the expedition sent by Sultan to help the king…
JORDANUS CATALANI DE SÉVÉRAC (Jourdain). fl. 1280/1330. Father. French Dominican Missionary in India, of Catalan background. Probably born in Sévérac-le-Château north-east of Toulouse. Arrived in India in 1321 (if not earlier), when he narrowly escaped the killing of missionaries in Thana. After a while in Gujarat he worked many years…
CRUZ, Thome da. 1??? — 15??. Portuguese Missionary? Wrote a small catechism in Portuguese and Tamil in 1554.
CORYAT, Thomas (Coriate, Tom). Odcombe (Crewkerne), Somersetshire 1577? — Surat ?.12.1617. British Traveller in India. Son of the Rev. George C., Rector of Odcombe, and Gertrude. Studies at Winchester Colleg and from 1596 at Gloucester Hall, Oxford, but left without degree and seems to have had some years of aimless…
CORREIA, Gaspar. 1495/96 — Malacca or Goa 1563?. Portuguese Historian of Colonial India. In the age of 16 went to India in 1512/14. Served as soldier and became secretary of Afonso de Albuquerque. In 1526/29? back in Lisbon, then in Cochin. Some claim that he was murdered in Malacca on…