Zolotoordynskoe Obozrenie (Dec 2015)
Notes of John Smith as a Source for the Crimean Khanate History in the early 17th century »
Abstract
The paper analyses the account of Tataria collected by famous English adventurer John Smith. In 1602, Smith, a mercenary in Transylvania, was captivated by pillagers and, later, sold into slavery. In spring of 1603 he found himself a slave somewhere in the Azov Sea Area, in the land of the Crimean Khanate. A few months later, Smith succeeded to escape, he reached the Moscow czar’s country, and whence returned to Transylvania. Twenty years after, Smith published his life story in short (1625) and then long version (1630). A considerable part of the story was the account of the author’s adventures among the Turks and the Tatars. Smith widely used other travellers’ accounts (William Biddulph, Antony Jenkinson, William of Rubruck, and Martin Broniovius), collected by famous Samuel Purchas, the first publisher of Smith’s own story. Now we can determine original materials by Smith, based on his personal experience, which describe the Crimean Khanate’s daily life and warfare.
