Philipp Johann von Strahlenberg (1676-1747), a Swedish officer captured at Poltava in 1709, spent about thirteen years as a prisoner in Siberia, mostly at Tobolsk, and joined an expedition south-east toward the Kalmyk and Mongol borders. Back in Sweden he printed this short 'Vorbericht' (Stockholm 1726) to announce the book that appeared in 1730. It describes his map of Siberia and Great Tartary, a comparative table of thirty 'Tartarian' languages, his notes on Abulghazi's Tatar history (translated from a Tobolsk manuscript by Swedish prisoners), and his views on names, Prester John and Marco Polo. This corpus copy is the 1726 first edition.
How they knew
Part eyewitness
Who “Tartar” means here
For Strahlenberg 'Tartarey' is the vast region of Siberia and Central Asia, and 'Tatern' are its Turkic Muslim peoples; he treats Kalmyks and Mongols as related but distinct, and warns that not all the peoples of the region can properly be called Tartars.
Why read it
It shows an eyewitness scholar sorting out names: Tatar and Mongol as brothers in Abulghazi's legend, the meaning of 'Kalmyk', Prester John as the Dalai Lama, and how a Tatar manuscript from Tobolsk became a European source.
Watch out
This is a prospectus, full of promises and arguments rather than description, and several etymologies are Strahlenberg's own guesses. The OCR of this copy is severely garbled, so every quote here has been restored from damaged text and should be checked against the scan.
Editorial contextStrahlenberg says he asked every nation in Tartary about Marco Polo's city of Campion, shown on old maps, and found no one who had heard of it. He concludes the name was mispronounced and that it must be the city at the western entrance of the Chinese Wall, which the Tatars call Camtzi, where all caravans must stop and wait for permission to enter China.
although I made considerable inquiry among all the nations of Tartary about the name of the city of Campion, as Marco Polo and other old maps set it before us, I nevertheless found not a single one who could inform me about it from old or recent times … [the city] which lies in the mountains at the entrance of the Chinese Wall on the western side, which the Tatars call Camtzi instead of Campion
Working translation
Original wording
ob gleich bey allen Nationen in der Tatarey von dem Nahmen der Stadt Campion, wie eben uns Marcus Paulus und andere alte Mappen darlegen, ziemliche Nachfrage gethan, ich dennoch keine einzige gefunden, die mir weder aus alter noch neuer Zeit, davon Unterricht geben können … welche im Gebürge und beym Eingange der Chinaeischen Mauer Westlicher Seiten lieget, die von den Tatern in Stelle vor Campion, Camtzi … genant wird
Philipp Johann von Strahlenberg (Vorbericht, Stockholm 1726)
Kazan, called 'Shahr-i Bolgar' by Turks and Tatars
Editorial contextIn a note on old place names, Strahlenberg observes that Turks and Tatars still call Kazan 'Schaire Bolgar', the Bolgar capital, although it was only taken by Tsar Ivan Vasilievich, and his father Vasily already bore the title 'lord of the Bolgars'. He uses this to argue that 'Bolgar' in Russian titles covered all the peoples living along the Volga.
since the city of Kazan is at present called by the Turks and Tatars 'Schaire Bolgar', that is, the Bolgar capital, though it was only taken by Ivan Vasilievich the Second, whose father Vasily Ivanovich already used the title 'Lord over Wolgarski'
Working translation
Original wording
da nemlich die Stadt Casan anjetzo von den Türcken und Tatern, Schaire Bolgar, d. i. die Bolgarische Haupt-Stadt genannt wird, selbe aber allererst von Iwan Wasiliowitz dem 2ten eingenommen, dessen Vater Wasili Iwanowitz aber bereits den Titul, Herr über Wolgarski, gebraucht
Philipp Johann von Strahlenberg (Vorbericht, Stockholm 1726)
The OCR of this copy is badly garbled Fraktur; the quote has been restored letter by letter from the damaged text, so check the scan. Strahlenberg counts Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV) as Ivan II.
The scan is too rough to double-check this quote by machine. Compare it with the page.
Editorial contextAmong the illustrations promised for his book, Strahlenberg lists a monument that Timur (Tamerlane) had carved on a mountain when his army marched into Tartary, recording the day and year he stood there, still to be seen some 80 or 90 miles south of Tobolsk. He also promises copies of runic-looking epitaphs and metal plates and medals dug out of grave mounds in the steppes.
how Timur Beg (or the so-called Tamerlane) marched into Tartary with his army and stayed a while by a certain mountain, so that he had the day and year of his presence carved and cut there, which monument is still to be seen there to this hour, about 80 or 90 miles' journey south of the city of Tobolsk
Working translation
Original wording
wie Timur-Beck (oder der sogenannte Tamerlan) in die Tatarey mit seiner Armee marchiret, und bey einem gewissen Gebürge eine Zeitlang gestanden, daß derselbe den Tag und das Jahr seiner Anwesenheit daselbst eingraben und hauen lassen, welches Monument noch diese Stunde, etwa 80 oder 90 Meil Weges von der Stadt Tobolski in Süden, daselbst zu sehen ist
Philipp Johann von Strahlenberg (Vorbericht, Stockholm 1726), citing Pétis de la Croix's History of Timur
The OCR of this copy is badly garbled Fraktur; the quote has been restored letter by letter from the damaged text, so check the scan. The inscription story comes from Pétis de la Croix's translation; the distance is Strahlenberg's.
The scan is too rough to double-check this quote by machine. Compare it with the page.
Editorial contextWhile making his map as a prisoner, Strahlenberg befriended the Bukharan and other Muslim residents of Tobolsk. Their chief priest showed him two manuscripts from the city of Turkestan, one on the Persian dynasties and one on Tartary, called 'Chingis' or 'Kitap' (book). On the next page he tells how a Tatar explained it word by word in Russian and two Swedish officers wrote it down in German: this became the German text of Abulghazi's history.
But because I addressed myself especially to their chief priest, called Agun Asbackewitz, who was a very friendly man, he showed me … two manuscripts, one concerning the Persian dynasties, the other Tartary, which latter he called only Tzingis or Zingis, or Kitap, that is, book; both of which he had obtained from the city of Turkestan
Working translation
Original wording
Weil ich mich aber absonderlich an ihren vornehmsten Priester, Agun Asbackewitz genannt, so ein gar freundlicher Mann war, adressirte, wurden mir … auch zweene Manuscripta von ihm hervor gezeiget, eines betreffend die Persischen Dynastien, das andere aber die Tatarey, welches letztere er nur Tzingis oder Zingis, item: Kitap oder Buch nannte; beyde aber aus der Stadt Turckestan erhalten hatte
Philipp Johann von Strahlenberg (Vorbericht, Stockholm 1726)
Editorial contextCommenting on the new French edition of Abulghazi's 'Genealogical History of the Tatars' (Leiden 1726), Strahlenberg retells its origin story: a khan (Alenzie or Alinja Khan) had two sons, Tatar and Mungel, both of Turkish descent, whose followers split into two branches named after them. It is a Central Asian Muslim tradition, passed on through the Swedish prisoners' translation.
since Alenzie Khan had two sons, one Tater, the other Mungel, both indeed of Turkish descent, as the author rightly shows, these nevertheless divided at once into these two branches, the former going east with his Turkish people, who afterwards took their name from him, while Mungel stayed in the west with his own people
Working translation
Original wording
weil der Alenzie-Chan zwey Söhne gehabt, einen Tater den andern Mungel, so zwar beyde Türckischer descendence, wie der Autor recht zeiget, so haben sich solche doch von Stund an in diese beyde branches getheilet, indem jener mit seinem Türckischen Volck gegen Osten gegangen, welche hernach von ihm den Nahmen angenommen, der Mungel aber in Westen mit den Seinigen geblieben
Philipp Johann von Strahlenberg (Vorbericht, Stockholm 1726), paraphrasing Abulghazi Bahadur Khan
About Tatars and Mongols (Abulghazi's origin story)
Keep in mind
The OCR of this copy is badly garbled Fraktur; the quote has been restored letter by letter from the damaged text, so check the scan. The legend is Abulghazi's (17th century), as read by Strahlenberg.
The scan is too rough to double-check this quote by machine. Compare it with the page.
Thirty 'Tartarian' languages from the Black Sea to Japan
Editorial contextStrahlenberg announces the first part of his planned work: a comparative table of thirty languages spoken between the Black Sea and the Sea of Japan, which he calls the 'Tartarian' languages. He explains that the many peoples of Siberia and Tartary each have their own language besides the main languages used among them, and a footnote adds that they therefore cannot all properly go under the name of Tartars.
The first, then, is a Specimen of the Harmony of the Tartarian Languages, consisting of 30 languages, which begin at the Black Sea and end at the Sea of Japan. … (since various peoples live in Siberia and Tartary who, besides the main languages in use among them, have their own particular ones as well)
Working translation
Original wording
Das erste nun, ist ein Specimen Harmoniae linguarum Tartaricarum, bestehend in 30 Sprachen, die sich anheben von dem Schwartzen und sich endigen bey dem Japanischen Meer. … (indem unterschiedliche Völckerschaften in Siberien und der Tartarey vorhanden sind, welche nebst denen Haupt-Sprachen, so unter ihnen gebräuchlich sind, ihre eigene oder particuliere daneben haben)
Philipp Johann von Strahlenberg (Vorbericht, Stockholm 1726)
Editorial contextStrahlenberg rejects the view, in the French edition of Abulghazi, that 'Kalmyk' was an insult aimed at their religion. He says the name was given to them in the Tatar language and means a people that remained behind, from 'kal' (I stay) and 'umak' (tribe). A similar 'those who remained' explanation is still often repeated today.
received the name Kallmack, which is not a term of abuse on account of their religion, as the author remarks … but it means and signifies a people or tribe that stays behind or remains there, for Kall or Call means 'I stay there or behind', and Amack or Umack a tribe; hence by syncope Kallmack or Kallmuck.
Working translation
Original wording
den Nahmen von Kallmack erhalten, welches kein Scheltwort ihrer Religion halber ist, wie der Autor … remarquiret … sondern es bedeutet und heisset ein Volck oder Geschlecht, so nach- oder dableibet, denn Kall oder Call, heisset ich bleibe da oder nach, und Amack oder Umack ein Geschlecht, daher per syncop: Kallmack oder Kallmuck.
Philipp Johann von Strahlenberg (Vorbericht, Stockholm 1726)
Editorial contextStrahlenberg offers one example of how getting a name right can clear up history: the famous 'great priest John'. He says this priest, who sits between India and China in the land of Tangut, is the one Kalmyks and Mongols call Dalai Lama, with the added title 'Jegan', meaning holy. On the next page he claims the thirteenth-century friar envoys Carpini and Rubruck turned that title into the Christian name John, which is why the king of Portugal later sought Prester John in India and then in Abyssinia.
of the so-called great Priest John; he who has his seat between India and China in the land of Tangut … is called Dalai Lama by all Kalmyks, Mongols and … from which it is now clearly to be seen that this name came from the Indians as well as from the Kalmyks and Mongols
Working translation
Original wording
von dem sogenannten großen Priester Johann; dieser, welcher seinen Sitz zwischen Indien und China im Lande Tan-guht … hat, wird von allen Kalimucken, Mungalen und … Dalai Lama genannt … woraus nun klärlich zu ersehen, daß dieser Nahme sowol von den Indianern, als auch von den Kalmücken und Mungalen hergekommen
Philipp Johann von Strahlenberg (Vorbericht, Stockholm 1726)
About Kalmyks and Mongols; medieval European envoys
Keep in mind
The OCR of this copy is badly garbled Fraktur; the quote has been restored letter by letter from the damaged text, so check the scan. The Jegan/Johannes derivation is Strahlenberg's own theory.
The scan is too rough to double-check this quote by machine. Compare it with the page.
Editorial contextStrahlenberg criticises the French editor of Abulghazi for suggesting that the biblical names Gog and Magog came from a khan called Budenür-Mogack, an idea also found in Pétis de la Croix. He insists that the Tatar original text, under an Arabic name, shows something quite different. It shows how European scholars tried to fit the peoples of Tartary into biblical prophecy.
likewise on p. 148 he presumes that the name Gog and Magog comes from a king or khan called Budenür-Mogack (which, if I am right, La Croix also cites in his remarks), whereas the Tatar original text, under an Arabic name, proves it quite otherwise.
Working translation
Original wording
item pag. 148 praesumiret, der Nahme Gog & Magog entstehe von einem Könige oder Chan, der Budenür-Mogack geheissen, (welches, wo mir recht ist, La Croix in seinen Remarquen auch anführet) da doch der Tatarsche Grund-Text unter einem Arabischen Nahmen solches ganz anders beweiset.
Philipp Johann von Strahlenberg (Vorbericht, Stockholm 1726)
The OCR of this copy is badly garbled Fraktur; the quote has been restored letter by letter from the damaged text, so check the scan.
The scan is too rough to double-check this quote by machine. Compare it with the page.
The fine print
How we know
mixed Part firsthand observation, part drawn from other sources.
author's own summary of firsthand and compiled material; announces the 1730 work
Research notes
Prospectus for the 1730 work; content overlaps with its preface.
Short (48 images). Distinct imprint from the 1730 book; kept as its own record because the English pass has no equivalent.
Why it matters
Shows how Strahlenberg framed Great Tartary and Siberia in 1726 before the full work appeared; useful for tracing the genesis and intended structure of the 1730 description.