The Bondage and Travels of Johann Schiltberger: A firsthand journey of a Slave
- Hande Civelek
- Sep 4
- 4 min read
I, Joiianns Schiltberger, left my home near the city of Munich, situated in Payren, at the time that King Sigmund of Hungary left for the land of the Infidels. This was, counting from Christ's birth, in the thirteen hundred and ninety-fourth year,* with a lord named Leinhart Richartingei And I came back again from the land of the Infidels, count- ing from Christ's birth, fourteen hundred and twenty seven.
This book was quite interesting to read. I read the Turkish translation, since I bought it in Turkey to bring to the US. It was published by İletişim Publications in 1997 and was translated by Turgut Akpınar. A very famous translator of our time. I couldn't find out whether it was translated from the original German or the English edition but I think It's most likely a translation from the English version. First of all, I must say that I really liked the cover. It also felt good in my hands. Now let me introduce you to this book:
In the first pages of the book, we encounter brief observations and historical informations by Turgut Akpınar and Robert Anhegger (a German scholar in the field of Ottoman and Turkish studies.) I love when there are articles at the beginning of books that offer a deeper understanding of the work. If a commentary or additional information is needed, this is the right place. I'll explain why I mention this.
As I read the book, in some sections, I felt as if I were reading not Schiltberger himself, but the writings of several people who have read and interpreted him. Mastering the subject is, of course, crucial for translating such a work, but it shouldn't be overpowering or overshadowed in the translation process. When I read this book, I want to fully experience the translation and Schiltberger's feelings. Unfortunately, sudden commentaries on the text during the reading process break the magic.
This isn’t unique to this book by the way; the English version also contains similar comments. That’s why I believe it was most likely translated of the English version, and Mr. Turgut Akpınar followed that. The English edition itself is quite old too, so you might wonder, ‘Why this exclamation?’ I’ll leave it at that.
The original book is Johann Schiltberger's Reisebuch . "Reise" means travel in German, and "Buch" means book. Johann Schiltberger was a German nobleman born in Lohhof, Bavaria, in 1380. Don't be fooled by the term "nobleman"; he wasn't particularly literate. What survives today are edited versions of his clumsy notes and scribbles. While he delves into some details, his information is generally superficial and passing. Schiltberger began writing about his travels, or rather, his experiences as a soldier and slave, after his return to his hometown. This is one of the reasons why his dates don't fully align with current information and that we cant fully trust what he says. He estimated the dates and durations of some events based on his own memory too.
Beside the lack of trust we might have for the things he write, Schiltberger is considered one of history's first Western "Turkologists." Furthermore, the book is also one of the first works on geography written in German.
Unfortunately, the illustrations in the book are not his own. The illustrations you see in the book are later additions from the modern editions (if you consider 16th-century modern). These drawings were added in the 16th-century, to make the text more understandable or to attract the reader's attention. Now, let's summarize Schiltberger's experiences.
Schiltberger was captured during the Crusade against the Turks (Battle of Nicopolis) led by King Sigismund of Hungary and captured by Bayezid Yıldırım, the sultan of Ottoman Empire. While serving in various capacities as a slave, he had the opportunity to explore Anatolia and Egypt. After the Ottoman defeat at Ankara on July 20, 1402, he fell into the hands of the Turko-Mongol Khan Timur. He must have been very lucky to have survived despite such a change of leadership and difficult circumstances. This allowed him to explore Samarkand and see Armenia, Georgia, Siberia, the Middle Volga region, and Southeastern Russia. He became, in short, a second Marco Polo.
His relentless personality drove him to constantly seek escape. Although his initial escape attempts failed several times, he was pardoned and continued to seek new opportunities. He eventually escaped from semi-captivity and returned to Bavaria in 1427, following a route from East-Central Europe via Istanbul.
Almighty God be thanked, and all those who have helped me. And when I had almost de- spaired of coming [away] from the Infidel people and their wicked religion, amongst whom I was obliged to be for xxxn years, and of any longer having fellowship with holy Christianity, God Almighty saw my great longing and anxiety after the Christian faith and its heavenly joys...
The part that most captivated me was his efforts to escape. His account of how he and his friends sailed to their city in a small boat. It's particularly striking that he was asked to recite the Pater Noster (Our Father) to prove his Christian identity. That he could still remember this after over 30 years (and to top it all off, let me remind you that hew was most likely illiterate) and return to his homeland while remaining faithful to his faith, is truly a fairytale like story.
This also demonstrates his devotion to his religion as a German Catholic. For nearly 30 years, he could have converted to Islam, even if only for show, and thus gained better conditions. But he never did, maintaining his faith among different religious groups. This is truly intriguing.
If you want to read his journey, I recommend reading the old English version. In the English version, you'll also find notes written by people from that era at the end. It's important to remember that these notes reflect the knowledge of the time.
The Turkish version, for which I offer this commentary, is presented in a simpler, more modern style. It's a fun and engaging read. For those new to these topics, this book will make understanding the events of that period easier. Both the English and Turkish versions of the book are available for free in online archives; I've included the link below. Still, if you can, I recommend purchasing the book and supporting it.
Old English version of the book:
To access this book itself: https://archive.org/embed/JohannesSchiltbergerTrklerVeTatarlarArasnda13941427
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