Family Name: Wicquefort (de)
First Name: Abraham
Birth Date: Sun, Nov 19, 1606
Birth Place: Amsterdam
Death Date: Sun, Feb 22, 1682
Death Place: Celle (Germany(
Main places of activity:
Place From To
Paris 1629 1658
Place From To
The Hague 1658 1678
Place From To
Celle 1678 1681
Personal info:
Education

Abraham de Wicquefort was born in 1606, son of the Amsterdam businessman Gaspard. He received a good education and obtained a doctorate in law at the University of Leiden on November 19th, 1627. The family business interests and connections abroad (especially in the German-speaking world via his older brother Joachim, advisor to the landgravine of Hesse-Kassel Amalie Elisabeth von Hanau-Münzenberg) may have encouraged him to learn foreign languages. During his early years in Paris, he mastered French perfectly.
Career

Around 1629-1630, Wicquefort moved to Paris, where he married and had four children. Wicquefort made a living by taking part in manifold activities, some of which were questionable. He may also have worked for Richelieu as translator of German and Dutch dispatches.

By the mid-1640 Wicquefort had established himself as a cultural and political broker. In 1646, he was appointed as resident by Friedrich Wilhelm, Elector of Brandenburg; in 1648, August the Younger, duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, also named him his agent. Wicquefort held these charges until 1659 and 1653 respectively. In this capacity, he conducted secret negotiations between France and Brandenburg in parallel to the ongoing peace talks at Osnabrück and Münster (1647-1648). Thanks to his connections with scholars, officials, and booksellers, he was instrumental in building the French collections of what is today the Herzog August Library of Wolfenbüttel. However, most important was his activity as a gazetteer for both princes; his eyewitness account of the Fronde period (1648-1653) is particularly significant.

A large family to support and the inability of his employers to pay him regularly pushed Wicquefort to put his skills as an intelligencer at the service of many other patrons. This attitude contributed to make him fall into disgrace with his patrons abroad and with Mazarin in Paris. A politically sensitive addition to his translation of Olearius’ travelogue may have played a role in determining his imprisonment in the Bastille (summer of 1659). When the Elector secured his release, he was forced to leave France.

Wicquefort moved to The Hague, where he came under the protection of the Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt. While keeping a secret correspondence with Paris until 1672 (Wicquefort and Mazarin had reconciled almost immediately), he worked for the States General as translator for French dispatches at least until 1665. In this same year, the assembly commissioned from him a history of the Netherlands, the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Georg Wilhelm and Ernest August, named him their resident at The Hague, and the King of Poland appointed him his envoy extraordinary. In short, Wicquefort became a servant to many masters once again.

The brutal end of de Witt’s life and career (1672) and Wicquefort’s anti-Orangist leanings may have expedited his political demise. In 1675, the States General charged him with trafficking of sensitive documents and sentenced him to life imprisonment. While in jail, he wrote his best-known works: L’Ambassadeur et ses fonctions, which consecrated him as a trailblazer of diplomatic practice, and a part of the Histoire des Provinces-Unies. Having managed to escape in 1679, he took refuge in Celle, at the court of the Georg Wilhelm, duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, where he died in 1682.
Financial Situation

It is unclear if Wicquefort had a regular income during his early years in Paris. In 1635, his father disinherited him almost completely. Since the mid-1640, Wicquefort was able to obtain multiple pensions from his many masters (the duke of Wolfenbüttel, for example, agreed to pay him 200 Reichstaler a year). However, such payments were never on time; as late as 1675, he was still requesting 40.000 guilders from the Elector of Brandenburg for his service between 1646 and 1659. In a similar way, the annual pension of 1000 écus granted by Mazarin between 1659 and 1672 may not have been paid in full.

While his main source of income had always been his activity as gazetteer and informant, the positions he secured at The Hague from 1659 onward may have partially alleviated his financial hardship. When he was arrested in 1675, his library (comprising more than 1300 books) was seized and sold at auction for 5765 guilders. In 1682, shortly before his death, he asked the States of Holland for the payment of several thousand guilders he earned before 1675; in 1705, the assembly agreed to pay his debts on behalf of his heirs.
Translations Other Works

translations activities

Wicquefort’s translation activities took place on two different but connected levels. On the one hand, he worked as a translator of official documents in French, German, Dutch and English, first – perhaps – for Richelieu and then for the States General of the Dutch Republic. On the other hand, Wicquefort translated in French a handful of travelogues originally published in German, English, Dutch and Spanish.

Wicquefort’s translations of travel literature were all published in Paris between 1656 and 1667. The royal privileges clarify the involvement of some of the most important Parisian booksellers of the 1650s and 1660s, such as Gervais Clouzier, Jean Du Puis, and Louis Billaine. Wicquefort’s name did not always appear on the title page, but it was regularly revealed through the prefatory material. Wicquefort’s translation of Olearius would remain particularly influential throughout the 18th century thanks to multiple reprints and reeditions.

In two cases, Wicquefort translated directly from a manuscript: Jeremias Van Vliet’s relation on Siam (1663) and Figueroa’s Comentarios (1667). Wicquefort’s translation of Figueroa was the only extensive version of the all-important Comentarios available in print until 1902-1903. In both cases, Wicquefort’s connections with the scholarly milieux of the French capital and his access to state documents of the Dutch Republic may have helped him retrieve the source material.

There are also indications that Wicquefort translated topical and polemical works of political importance, as is the case with the pamphlet Detention de Guillaume prince de Furstenberg (1675).


secondary bibliography references

D. Everwijn, Abraham van Wicquefort en zijn proces, Leiden, Gebroeders van der Hoek, 1857

L. E. Lenting, “Préface”, in Abraham de Wicquefort, Histoire des Provinces-Unies des Païs-Bas, depuis le parfait établissement de cet état par la Paix de Munster, Amsterdam, Fréderic Muller, 4 vol., 1861-1874, vol. 1, pp. v-lv.

A. J. van der Aa, “Wicquefort (Abraham van)”, in Biographisch woordenboek der Nederlanden, Haarlem, J. J. van Bredebrode, vol. 20, 1877, pp. 178-181

C. Rennert, Abraham de Wicquefort, Halle, Ploetz, 1880

F. J. L. Krämer, Lettres de Pierre de Groot ambassadeur des Provinces-Unives à Abraham de Wicquefort résident des ducs de Brunswick (1668-1674), The Hague, Martinus Nijhoff, 1894, pp. v-xxvii

H. S. M. van Wickevoort Crommelin, "Abraham de Wicquefort (20 Nov. 1606-223 Febr. 1682)", Bijdragen voor Vaderlandsche Geschiedenis en Oudheidkunde, vierde reeks, vol. 1, 1900, pp. 237-262

C. F. Haje, De geheime correspondentie van Abraham de Wicquefort met den franschen minister de Lionne, ‘s-Gravenhage, Martinus Nijhoff, 1901

A. Waddington, "Abraham de Wicquefort ministre de Brandebourg en France au temps de Louis XIV", Séance et travaux de l’Académie des sciences morales et politiques, nouvelle série, vol. 58, n. 2, 1902, pp. 510-537

G. Pagès, “Une négociation secrète d’Abraham de Wicquefort en 1661. – Lettres inédites”, in G. Pagès, Contributions à l’histoire de la politique française en Allemagne sous Louis XIV, Paris, Société Nouvelle de Librairie et d’Édition, 1905, pp. 5-11

H. H. Rowen, The Ambassador Prepares for War. The Dutch Embassy of Arnauld de Pomponne 1669-1671, The Hague, Martinus Nijhoff, 1957

A. de Wicquefort, Chronique discontinue de la Fronde 1648-1652, R. Mandrou, ed., Paris, Fayard, 1978

R. Mandrou, "Abraham de Wicquefort et le duc August (1646-1653) : Sur les Relations intellectuelles entre France et Allemagne, un siècle avant les Lumières", Wolfenbütteler Beiträge, n. 3, 1978, pp. 191-234

H. H. Rowen, John de Witt, Grand Pensionary of Holland, 1625-1672, Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1978

C. H. Carter, “Wicquefort on the Ambassador and His Functions,” in K. W. Schweizer, ed., Diplomatic Thought, 1648–1815, Studies in History and Politics, Sherbrooke, Edwin Mellen Press, 1982, vol. 2, pp. 37-59

P. Henneveld, “A. van Wicquefort: een toevallige relatie met Delft”, in H. L. Houtzager, G. G. Kunz, H. W. van Leeuwen, M. van Noort and M. Tienstra, eds., Pennevruchten uit Delfts historie, Amsterdam, Rodopi, 1986, pp. 31-37

J. Emerson, “Adam Olearius and the literature of the Schleswig-Holstein missions to Russia and Iran, 1633-1639”, in J. Calmard, ed., Études safavides, Paris / Tehran, Institut Français de recherche en Iran, 1993, pp. 31-56

M. Keens-Soper, "Abraham de Wicquefort and Diplomatic theory", Diplomacy and Statecraft, vol. 8, n. 2, 1997, pp. 16-30

M. Bazzoli, “L’ideologia dell’ambasciatore nel tardo Seicento: «L’Ambassadeur et ses fonctions» di Abraham de Wicquefort”, in M. Bazzoli, Stagioni e teorie della società internazionale, Milano, LED, 2005, pp. 245-266

P.-F. Burger, "Res Angusta Domi. Les Wicquefort et leurs métiers bien délicats entre Paris, Amsterdam et Pärnu", Francia, vol. 27, n. 2, 2000, pp. 25-58

C. Baker, D. Na Pombejra, A. van der Kraan and D. K. Wyatt, Van Vliet’s Siam, Chiang Mai, Silkworm Books, 2005

A. Chabrier, "Les Français et la Perse. Abraham de Wicquefort et la diplomatie en Perse au XVIIe siècle", MA dissertation, Université de Clermont-Ferrand, 2006

H. R. I. Kugeler," ‘Le Parfait Ambassadeur’. The Theory and Practice of Diplomacy in the Century following the Peace of Westphalia", PhD dissertation, University of Oxford, 2006

L. Bély, L’Art de la paix en Europe. Naissance de la diplomatie moderne XVIe -XVIIIe siècle, Paris, Presses Universitaires de France, 2007, pp. 313-320

J. Delatour, “Jacques-Auguste II de Thou, ou l’impossible héritage”, in F. Lestringant, ed., Jacques-Auguste de Thou (1553-1617): Écriture et condition robine, Paris, Presses Paris Sorbonne, 2007, pp. 175-209

A. Perrin-Marsol, "Abraham de Wicquefort, diplomate érudit au service du duc Auguste de Wolfenbüttel (1648-1653)", Francia, vol. 35, 2008, pp. 187-208

A. de Wicquefort, Les Gazettes parisiennes d’Abraham de Wicquefort pendant la Fronde (1648-1652. Cinq années d’information sur la vie politique, les relations internationales et la société nobiliaire française, Claude Boutin, ed., Paris, Honoré Champion, 2010

A. Chabrier, "La monarchie safavide et la modernité européenne (XVIe-XVIIe siècles)", PhD dissertation, Université de Toulouse 2 Le Mirail, 2013

L. Gil, “Biografia de don García de Silva y Figueroa”, in R. M. Loureiro and V. Resende, eds., Estudios sobre Don Garcia de Silva y Figueroa e os «Comentarios» da embaixada à Pérsia (1614-1624), Lisbon, Centro de História de Além-Mar, 2011, pp. 3-59

A. de Wicquefort, Les gazettes parisiennes de l’année 1653 suivies de L’état de la France en 1654, Philippe Mauran, ed., Paris, Honoré Champion, 2014

S. Externbrink, “Abraham de Wicquefort et ses traités sur l’ambassadeur (1676-1682). Bilan et perspectives de recherche”, in S. Andretta, S. Péquignot and J.-C. Waquet, eds., De l’ambassadeur. Les écrits relatifs à l’ambassadeur et à l’art de négocier du Moyen Âge au début du XIXe siècle, Rome, Publications de l’École française de Rome, 2015, pp. 405-430

Translations

  • Offt begehrte Beschreibung Der Newen Orientalischen Reise / So durch Gelegenheit einer Holsteinischen Legation an den König in Persien geschehen. Worinnen Derer Orter vnd Länder / durch welche die Reise gangen / als fürnemblich Rußland / Tartarien und Persien / sampt jhrer Einwohner Natur / Leben und Wesen fleissig beschrieben / und mit vielen Kupfferstücken / so nach dem Leben gestellet / gezieret. Item Ein Schreiben des WolEdeln [et]c. Johan Albrecht Von Mandelslo / worinnen dessen OstIndianische Reise über den Oceanum enthalten. Zusampt eines kurtzen Berichts von jetzigem Zustand des eussersten Orientalischen KönigReiches Tzina

  • Translation Title: Relation du voyage de Moscovie, Tartarie, et de Perse, fait a l’occasion d’une ambassade, Envoyée au Grand-Duc de Moscovie, & du Roy de Perse; par le Duc de Holstein: Depuis l’An 1633. iusques en l’An 1639. Traduite de l’Allemand du Sieur Olearius, Secretaire de ladite Ambassade. Par L.R.D.B.
  • Original Author: Adam Olearius; Johann Albrecht von Mandelslo
  • Original title: Offt begehrte Beschreibung Der Newen Orientalischen Reise / So durch Gelegenheit einer Holsteinischen Legation an den König in Persien geschehen. Worinnen Derer Orter vnd Länder / durch welche die Reise gangen / als fürnemblich Rußland / Tartarien und Persien / sampt jhrer Einwohner Natur / Leben und Wesen fleissig beschrieben / und mit vielen Kupfferstücken / so nach dem Leben gestellet / gezieret. Item Ein Schreiben des WolEdeln [et]c. Johan Albrecht Von Mandelslo / worinnen dessen OstIndianische Reise über den Oceanum enthalten. Zusampt eines kurtzen Berichts von jetzigem Zustand des eussersten Orientalischen KönigReiches Tzina
  • Publ. Year From: 1646 to:
  • lang: German
  • Translation: Relation du voyage de Moscovie, Tartarie, et de Perse, fait a l’occasion d’une ambassade, Envoyée au Grand-Duc de Moscovie, & du Roy de Perse; par le Duc de Holstein: Depuis l’An 1633. iusques en l’An 1639. Traduite de l’Allemand du Sieur Olearius, Secretaire de ladite Ambassade. Par L.R.D.B.
  • Publisher: Chez Gervais Clouzier, Marchand Libraire au Palais, sur les degrez de la Ste Chapelle.
  • N° Editions: 1
  • Pub. Place: Paris
  • Pub. Date: 1655
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    Cuts: dedication to Friedrich III von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf, Vorrede / An den günstigen Leser, eulogistic paratexts, Klageschrifft for Mandelslo, all the visual material

    Additions: L’imprimeur au lecteur, copy of the royal privilege, Itineraire du voyage De Crusius et Brugman, Ambassadeurs de Holstein, En Moscovie & en Perse; Pour servir de table à cet Ouvrage

    Royal privilege: granted to Gervais Clousier on August 21st, 1655, and shared by Clousier with Antoine de Sommaville, François Clousier and Pierre Aubouïn.


  • Vermehrte newe Beschreibung der Muscowitischen und Persischen Reyse So durch gelegenheit einer Holsteinische Gesandschaft an den Russischen Zaar und König in Persien geschehen. Worinnen die gelegenheit derer Orter und Länder / durch welche die Reyse gangen / als Liffland / Rußland / Tartarien / Meden und Persien / sampt dero Einwohner Natur / Leben / Sitten / Hauß-Welt-und Geistlichen Stand mit Fleiß aufgezeichnet / und mit vielen meist nach dem Leben gestellten Figuren gezieret / zu befinden. Welche zum andern mahl heraus gibt Adam Olearius Ascanius / der Fürstlichen Regierenden Herrschafft zu Schleßwig Holstein Bibliothecarius und Hoff Mathematicus.

  • Translation Title: Relation du Voyage d’Adam Olearius en Moscovie, Tartarie et Perse. Augumentée en cette nouvelle edition de plus d’un tiers, & particulierement d’une seconde Partie contenant le voyage de Iean Albert de Mandelslo aux Indes Orientales. Traduit de l’Allemand par A. de Wicquefort, Resident de Brandeburg.
  • Original Author: Adam Olearius
  • Original title: Vermehrte newe Beschreibung der Muscowitischen und Persischen Reyse So durch gelegenheit einer Holsteinische Gesandschaft an den Russischen Zaar und König in Persien geschehen. Worinnen die gelegenheit derer Orter und Länder / durch welche die Reyse gangen / als Liffland / Rußland / Tartarien / Meden und Persien / sampt dero Einwohner Natur / Leben / Sitten / Hauß-Welt-und Geistlichen Stand mit Fleiß aufgezeichnet / und mit vielen meist nach dem Leben gestellten Figuren gezieret / zu befinden. Welche zum andern mahl heraus gibt Adam Olearius Ascanius / der Fürstlichen Regierenden Herrschafft zu Schleßwig Holstein Bibliothecarius und Hoff Mathematicus.
  • Publ. Year From: 1655 to:
  • lang: German
  • Translation: Relation du Voyage d’Adam Olearius en Moscovie, Tartarie et Perse. Augumentée en cette nouvelle edition de plus d’un tiers, & particulierement d’une seconde Partie contenant le voyage de Iean Albert de Mandelslo aux Indes Orientales. Traduit de l’Allemand par A. de Wicquefort, Resident de Brandeburg.
  • Publisher: Chez Iean Du Puis, ruë Saint Iacques, à la Couronne d’or
  • N° Editions: 3
  • Pub. Place: Paris
  • Pub. Date: 1658
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    Cuts (from the 1656 original): dedication to Johann Adolph Kielmann, copy of the imperial privilege, Vorrede an den günstigen Leser, Catalogus Autorum, eulogistic paratexts, instructions for the bookbinder, errata, all the visual material except for four maps (one taken from the 1647 original, the other three from the 1656 original)

    Additions: dedication to Maria Louise of Gonzaga-Nevers, Queen of Poland, Au Lecteur, copy of the royal privilege, one map from an unknown source. The two original Register were rearranged in two Table de matières, one for each volume.

    Royal privilege: granted to Abraham de Wicquefort on July 20th, 1658 and ceded by Wicquefort to Jean Du Puis before November 14th, 1658.

    Reprinted by Du Puis with a new typesetting (1666) and by his successor Dezallier with new title pages (1679).

    In 1719, the Leiden bookseller Pierre Vander Aa published new editions of Wicquefort’s translation of the works of Olearius and Mandelslo in two separate issues. Besides Wicquefort’s work, Vander Aa used the 1663 German edition of Olearius’ travelogue and the 1658 edition of Mandelslo’s journal. He also included paratexts from both the originals and the translations as well as a part of the original visual material.

    J. Emerson has provided some information on the changes made by Wicquefort to the original texts (“Adam Olearius and the literature of the Schleswig-Holstein missions to Russia and Iran, 1633-1639”, in J. Calmard, ed., Études safavides, Paris / Tehran, Institut Français de recherche en Iran, 1993, pp. 31-56).

  • Des HochEdelgebornen Johan Albrechts von Mandelslo Morgenländische Reyse-Beschreibung. Worinnen zugleich die Gelegenheit und heutiger Zustand etlicher fürnehmen Indianischen Länder / Provincien / Städte / und Insulen / sampt derer Einwohner Leben / Sitten / Glauben und Handthierung: wie auch die Beschaffenheit der Seefahrt über das Oceanische Meer. Heraus gegeben Durch Adam Olearium Mit desselben unterschiedlichen Notis oder Anmerckungen / wie auch mit vielen Kupffer Platen gezieret.

  • Translation Title: Relation du Voyage d’Adam Olearius en Moscovie, Tartarie et Perse. Augumentée en cette nouvelle edition de plus d’un tiers, & particulierement d’une seconde Partie contenant le voyage de Iean Albert de Mandelslo aux Indes Orientales. Traduit de l’Allemand par A. de Wicquefort, Resident de Brandeburg.
  • Original Author: Johann Albrecht von Mandelslo
  • Original title: Des HochEdelgebornen Johan Albrechts von Mandelslo Morgenländische Reyse-Beschreibung. Worinnen zugleich die Gelegenheit und heutiger Zustand etlicher fürnehmen Indianischen Länder / Provincien / Städte / und Insulen / sampt derer Einwohner Leben / Sitten / Glauben und Handthierung: wie auch die Beschaffenheit der Seefahrt über das Oceanische Meer. Heraus gegeben Durch Adam Olearium Mit desselben unterschiedlichen Notis oder Anmerckungen / wie auch mit vielen Kupffer Platen gezieret.
  • Publ. Year From: 1657 to:
  • lang: German
  • Translation: Relation du Voyage d’Adam Olearius en Moscovie, Tartarie et Perse. Augumentée en cette nouvelle edition de plus d’un tiers, & particulierement d’une seconde Partie contenant le voyage de Iean Albert de Mandelslo aux Indes Orientales. Traduit de l’Allemand par A. de Wicquefort, Resident de Brandeburg.
  • Publisher: Chez Iean Du Puis, ruë Saint Iacques, à la Couronne d’or
  • N° Editions: 3
  • Pub. Place: Paris
  • Pub. Date: 1658
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    Cuts (from the 1658 original): dedication to Friedrich III von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf and his wife Maria Elisabeth von Sachsen, Vorrede an den günstigen Leser, eulogistic paratexts, Klage-Schrifft for Mandelslo, errata, all the visual material

    Additions: dedication to Maria Louise of Gonzaga-Nevers, Queen of Poland, Au Lecteur, copy of the royal privilege, one map from an unknown source. The two original Register were rearranged in two Table de matières, one for each volume.

    Royal privilege: granted to Abraham de Wicquefort on July 20th, 1658 and ceded by Wicquefort to Jean Du Puis before November 14th, 1658.

    Wicquefort's translation of Mandelslo's travelogue covers pp. 83-648 of volume 2 of this work.

    Reprinted by Du Puis with a new typesetting (1666) and by his successor Dezallier with new title pages (1679).

    In 1719, the Leiden bookseller Pierre Vander Aa published new editions of Wicquefort’s translation of the works of Olearius and Mandelslo in two separate issues. Besides Wicquefort’s work, Vander Aa used the 1663 German edition of Olearius’ travelogue and the 1658 edition of Mandelslo’s journal. He also included paratexts from both the originals and the translations as well as a part of the original visual material.

    J. Emerson has provided some information on the changes made by Wicquefort to the original texts (“Adam Olearius and the literature of the Schleswig-Holstein missions to Russia and Iran, 1633-1639”, in J. Calmard, ed., Études safavides, Paris / Tehran, Institut Français de recherche en Iran, 1993, pp. 31-56).

  • Some yeares travels into divers parts of Asia and Afrique. Describing especially the two famous Empires, the Persian, and great Mogull: weaved with the History of these later Times As also, many rich and spatious Kingdomes in the Orientall India, and other parts of Asia; Together with the adjacent Iles. Severally relating the Religion, Language, Qualities, Customes, Habit, Descent, Fashions, and other Observations touching them. With a revival of the first Discoverer of America. Revised and Enlarged by the Author.

  • Translation Title: Relation du voyage de Perse et des Indes orientales. Traduit de l’Anglois de Thomas Herbert. Avec les revolutions arrivées au Royaume de Siam l’an mil six cens quarante-sept. Traduites du Flamand de Ieremie Van Vliet.
  • Original Author: Thomas Herbert
  • Original title: Some yeares travels into divers parts of Asia and Afrique. Describing especially the two famous Empires, the Persian, and great Mogull: weaved with the History of these later Times As also, many rich and spatious Kingdomes in the Orientall India, and other parts of Asia; Together with the adjacent Iles. Severally relating the Religion, Language, Qualities, Customes, Habit, Descent, Fashions, and other Observations touching them. With a revival of the first Discoverer of America. Revised and Enlarged by the Author.
  • Publ. Year From: 1637 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Relation du voyage de Perse et des Indes orientales. Traduit de l’Anglois de Thomas Herbert. Avec les revolutions arrivées au Royaume de Siam l’an mil six cens quarante-sept. Traduites du Flamand de Ieremie Van Vliet.
  • Publisher: Chez Iean du Puis, ruë S. Iacques, à la Couronne d’or.
  • N° Editions: 1
  • Pub. Place: Paris
  • Pub. Date: 1662
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    Cuts: dedication to Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke, eulogistic paratexts, To the reader, all the visual material

    Additions: Au lecteur, copy of the royal privilege. The original Alphabeticall Table was rearranged in a new Table des Matieres.

    Royal privilege: granted to Jean Du Puis on November 22nd, 1662.

    Wicquefort used the second edition of Herbert's travelogue (1638).

  • Historiael Verhael der Sieckte ende Doot van Pra Interra-Tsia 22en Coninck in Siam, geintituleert Faeji loangh tiaeuwtrongh thantsiangh Pheeuck ofte den grooten rechtvaerdigen Coninc vanden witten Elephant. Item hoe den regherenden Coninck, Pra Ongh srij (wiens titulen zijn Pra ejaum Pra-sathong Pra Tsiauw tsiangh Peeuck, Pra tjsaeuw tsiangh thong dengh, Pratjaeuw ziangh Chobolt, often Coninck van den gouden thoorn, insgelijck rooden, witten, ende roontgestaerten Elephant) de Croone looslijck geuzurpeert, ende zich selven in verscheijden saecken, nipende de regeringe des Rijck gedragen heeft.

  • Translation Title: Relation du voyage de Perse et des Indes orientales. Traduit de l’Anglois de Thomas Herbert. Avec les revolutions arrivées au Royaume de Siam l’an mil six cens quarante-sept. Traduites du Flamand de Ieremie Van Vliet.
  • Original Author: Jeremias van Vliet
  • Original title: Historiael Verhael der Sieckte ende Doot van Pra Interra-Tsia 22en Coninck in Siam, geintituleert Faeji loangh tiaeuwtrongh thantsiangh Pheeuck ofte den grooten rechtvaerdigen Coninc vanden witten Elephant. Item hoe den regherenden Coninck, Pra Ongh srij (wiens titulen zijn Pra ejaum Pra-sathong Pra Tsiauw tsiangh Peeuck, Pra tjsaeuw tsiangh thong dengh, Pratjaeuw ziangh Chobolt, often Coninck van den gouden thoorn, insgelijck rooden, witten, ende roontgestaerten Elephant) de Croone looslijck geuzurpeert, ende zich selven in verscheijden saecken, nipende de regeringe des Rijck gedragen heeft.
  • lang: Dutch
  • Note:

    The original manuscript was written at the Dutch factory in Ayutthaya (Siam), and finished on 31st December 1640.
  • Translation: Relation du voyage de Perse et des Indes orientales. Traduit de l’Anglois de Thomas Herbert. Avec les revolutions arrivées au Royaume de Siam l’an mil six cens quarante-sept. Traduites du Flamand de Ieremie Van Vliet.
  • Publisher: Chez Iean du Puis, ruë S. Iacques, à la Couronne d’or.
  • Pub. Place: Paris
  • Pub. Date: 1662
  • Note:

    Cuts: dedication to Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke, eulogistic paratexts, To the reader, all the visual material

    Additions: Au lecteur, copy of the royal privilege. The original Alphabeticall Table was rearranged in a new Table des Matieres.

    Royal privilege: granted to Jean Du Puis on November 22nd, 1662

    The Dutch text used by Wicquefort was most probably a slightly different copy of the document held in the National Archives at The Hague, Collectie Sweers, nummer toegang 1.10.78, inventaris nummer 7a, “Tayouans dagregister, J. Van Vliet, Siam, handelinge met Persia en in Souratte sedert 1636 tot 1652”, ff. 88-137.

    Wicquefort's translation of Van Vliet's relation covers pp. 569-632 of this volume and has the following title: 

    Relation historique de la maladie et de la mort de Pra-inter-va-tsia-thiant-siangh Pheeugk, ou du grand & juste Roy de l’Elefant blanc, & des revolutions rrivées [sic] au Royaume de Siam, jusqu’à l’advenement à la Couronne de Pra Onlgy, qui y regne aujourd’huy, & qui prend la qualité de Pratiavw, Pra sathough, Pratiavw Tsangh, Pra tiauw isiangh ihondengh-pra thiangh choboa. C’est-à-dire Roy du thrône d’or, comme aussi du rouge & blanc Elefant, à la queuë tortillée


  • Comentarios de Don Garçia de Silua que contienen su viaje a la Jndia y de ella a Persia. Cosas Notables que vio en el y los sucçessos de la embaxada al Sophy, falta poco para estar acauada esta obra y lo de menos importancia que fue el resto de la vuelta de su viaje, es obra curiosa y digna de muy gran estimacion

  • Translation Title: L’Ambassade de D. Garcias de Silva Figueroa en Perse, contenant la politique de ce grand Empire, les mœurs du Roy Schach Abbas, & une Relation exacte de tous les lieux de Perse & des Indes, où cét Ambassadeur a esté l’espace de huit années qu’il y a demeuré. Traduite de l’Espagnol Par Monsieur de Wicqfort.
  • Original Author: Don García de Silva y Figueroa
  • Original title: Comentarios de Don Garçia de Silua que contienen su viaje a la Jndia y de ella a Persia. Cosas Notables que vio en el y los sucçessos de la embaxada al Sophy, falta poco para estar acauada esta obra y lo de menos importancia que fue el resto de la vuelta de su viaje, es obra curiosa y digna de muy gran estimacion
  • lang: Spanish
  • Note:

    The original autograph manuscript was written between 1614 and 1624.
  • Translation: L’Ambassade de D. Garcias de Silva Figueroa en Perse, contenant la politique de ce grand Empire, les mœurs du Roy Schach Abbas, & une Relation exacte de tous les lieux de Perse & des Indes, où cét Ambassadeur a esté l’espace de huit années qu’il y a demeuré. Traduite de l’Espagnol Par Monsieur de Wicqfort.
  • Publisher: Chez Louis Billaine, au second Pillier de la grand’ Sale du Palais, au grand Cesar
  • N° Editions: 1
  • Pub. Place: Paris
  • Pub. Date: 1666
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    Cuts: Book I and II of the original manuscript, all the visual material

    Additions: Preface contenant un sommaire de cette Relation, copy of royal privilege, Table generale des matières

    Royal privilege: granted to Jean Du Puis on November 22nd, 1662, and shared with Louis Billaine

    Wicquefort most probably used a copy of the original autograph manuscript, held in the Biblioteca Nacional de España, MS 18127. Some commentary on Wicquefort’s translation choices is given by L. Gil (“Biografia de don García de Silva y Figueroa”, in Estudios sobre Don Garcia de Silva Y Figueroa e os «Comentarios» da embaixada à Pérsia (1614-1624), R. M. Loureiro and V. Resende, eds., Lisbon, Centro de História de Além-Mar, 2011, pp. 3-59) and by R. M. Loureiro, L. Gil and Z. Biedermann (“Introdução”, in Don García de Silva y Figueroa, Comentarios de la Embaxada al Rey Xa Abbas de Persia (1614-1624), R. M. Loureiro, A. C. Costa Gomes and V. Resende, eds., Lisbon, Centro de História de Além-Mar, 2011, vol. 1, pp. ix-xxi).


  • Historia d'Italia (Paralipomena)

  • Translation Title: Thuanus restitutus, sive Sylloge Locorum variorum, In Historia Illustrissimi Viri Jacobi Augusti Thuani Hactenus desideratorum. Item Francisci Guicciardini Paralipomena Quae In ipsius Historiarum Libris III. IV. & X Impressis non leguntur. Ex autographo Florentino recensita & aucta. Latinè, Italicè, & Gallicè edita, Amsterdam, Sumptivus Joannis Henrici Boom, 1663, in-12°.
  • Original Author: Francesco Guicciardini
  • Original title: Historia d'Italia (Paralipomena)
  • Note:

    Paralipomena is the name by which are commonly known three passages from Guicciardini Historia d'Italia which were suppressed by censorship but started circulating almost immediately nonetheless. The passages are:

    Book III (I, 231): about Lucrezia Borgia
    Book IV (I, 301-10): about the origins of the temporal power of the papacy
    Book X (II, 373-4): about the abuse of power of the clergy

    See P. Guicciardini, La censura nella storia guicciardiniana. Loci due e Paralipomena, Firenze, Leo S. Olschki Editore, 1954
  • Translation: Thuanus restitutus, sive Sylloge Locorum variorum, In Historia Illustrissimi Viri Jacobi Augusti Thuani Hactenus desideratorum. Item Francisci Guicciardini Paralipomena Quae In ipsius Historiarum Libris III. IV. & X Impressis non leguntur. Ex autographo Florentino recensita & aucta. Latinè, Italicè, & Gallicè edita, Amsterdam, Sumptivus Joannis Henrici Boom, 1663, in-12°.
  • Publisher: Sumptibus Johannis Henrici Boom
  • Pub. Place: Amsterdam
  • Pub. Date: 1662
  • Lang: Latin
  • Note:

    Since the publication of the editio princeps of Guicciardini’s Historia d’Italia (1561), several excerpts suppressed by censorship were circulated and printed all over Europe by different actors and in different languages. Wicquefort took part in this activity by means of this booklet, which also included some variants of Jacques-Auguste de Thou’s Historia sui temporis.

    French translations of the suppressed passages from Book III (I, 231) and IV (I, 301-10) of the Historia were already available. Wicquefort may have provided a new French translation of such texts, along with that of the suppressed passage from Book X (II, 373-4). However, it is hard to say from what language Wicquefort was translating, as these passages were already circulating in more than one language by 1663.

  • Guilelmi principis Furstembergii detentio, Ad Caesaris Authoritatem Ad Tranquillitatem Imperii, Ad Pacis Pomotionem, Justa, Perutilis, Necessaria. Ex Germanico in Latinum traducta.

  • Translation Title: Detention de Guillaume prince de Furstenberg, nécessaire Pour maintenir l’authorité de l’Empereur, la tranquillité de l’Empire, & pour procurer une Paix juste, utile, & nécessaire. Traduit du Latin.
  • Original Author: Christophorus Wolfgangus [François-Paul de Lisola]
  • Original title: Guilelmi principis Furstembergii detentio, Ad Caesaris Authoritatem Ad Tranquillitatem Imperii, Ad Pacis Pomotionem, Justa, Perutilis, Necessaria. Ex Germanico in Latinum traducta.
  • Publ. Year From: 1673 to:
  • lang: Latin
  • Translation: Detention de Guillaume prince de Furstenberg, nécessaire Pour maintenir l’authorité de l’Empereur, la tranquillité de l’Empire, & pour procurer une Paix juste, utile, & nécessaire. Traduit du Latin.
  • Publisher: s.n.
  • Pub. Place: s.l.
  • Pub. Date: 1674
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    For Wicquefort’s authorship of this translation, see letter by Pierre de Groot to Abraham de Wicquefort, 26 June 1674 (Lettres de Pierre de Groot Ambassadeur des Provinces-Unies à Abraham de Wicquefort Résident des Ducs de Brunswick (1668-1674), F. J. L. Krämer, ed., The Hague, Martinus Nijhoff, 1894, n. 161, pp. 378).

calamaio

By:

  • Emanuele Giusti