Bertrandon de la Broquière offers a Koran to the Duke of Burgundy after he returned from the East, illustration by Jean Le Tavernier, after 1455
For an ambitious young man not afraid of adventures, the 15th century was an era full of opportunities. It was the century of changes when medieval times left their place to the time today known as the early modern era. Bertrandon de La Broquière, the 15th-century Burgundian spy, was a witness to the contours of today’s world. The rising new world that will form during the Renaissance involved many cultural, political, and social changes.
Filippo Brunelleschi, Donatello, and Michelangelo were just some of the artists and leading names who shaped the 15th-century high culture. Some economic activities we know today like banking and accounting evolved during late medieval times and the early Renaissance. Medici Bank in Florence and Banco di San Giorgio in Genoa were some of the most famous 15th-century banks. Despite the Hundred Years’ War and Wars of the Roses, the Western World started to emerge and slowly take the place that Ancient cultures used to hold.
Opposite of the cultural bloom in the West, there was a mysterious and unknown world of the East. In the previous centuries, the East was massively affected by the Byzantine Empire, which developed trade relations and mixed people from so many cultures on its territories. But in the years of decline, it was affected by the rising Ottoman Empire whose government introduced new taxes for traders and took a serious place as a political opponent to the West. Taking that situation into consideration, sending a “man of trust” on an observing mission to the East seemed like a good idea. Bertrandon de La Broquière was the best solution.
A Man of Trust
Philip the Good, the Duke of Burgundy, asked Bertrandon to take the journey. The aim was to collect information for a possible new crusade. Bertrandon de La Broquière was born in the late 14th or early 15th century. His life before that year is unknown. In 1421, he obtained the title of “esquire”, which usually involved the possibility for obtaining knighthood. It is well known that, for certain types of tasks, a special level of trust is needed. Gaining the Duke’s trust, Bertrandon started to shape into the profile the Duke needed. After a series of confidential missions, he was entrusted with the title “premier écuyer tranchant” or the “first esquire”. Burgundian spy, a man of certain skills, experience and great influence on the Duke’s Court, was ready for the mission of his life.
Mission: Gather the Information for a Possible Crusade
Exotic Challenge
Bertrandon de La Broquière described his adventures on the East in his book called Le Voyage d’Outre-Mer where he gave a detailed description of regions he visited and their customs. Philip the Good requested the book be written in French to manage more easily the information important for the possible new crusade. Bertrandon left Ghent in February 1432. After stopping in Rome and Venice, he left for Jaffa, under the cover of a pilgrim, in May 1432. As soon as he landed in Jaffa, Sultan’s officers demanded the usual tribute from the pilgrims.
From Jaffa he moved to Jerusalem and after that to Gaza, trying to prepare, with his companions, for perhaps the greatest challenge of his travel, to cross the desert and visit the 6th century Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai. But, illness stopped the spy of his intention and he was forced to go back to Gaza while observing exotic desert animals.
In Gaza some Arabs helped him to get better and he admitted that they were not as bad as often portrayed.
Bertrandon had planned to visit and get to know more places, but the political situation in that area changed these plans, and the Burgundian spy headed to Damascus and Beirut.
Friends from the Caravan
Visiting an Arab nocturnal festival in Beirut seemed to be quite an experience, but after that, it was time for a decision. And the decision was to return to Europe by land, not by sea. For a 15th-century spy, this was an adventure full of danger. Therefore, Bertrandon needed also to make compromises. A man called Hoyarbarach, the leader of the caravan, was in Damascus at that time, on his way to Bursa. Bertrandon negotiated with him. He could travel with the caravan but dressed in Turkish clothing. Otherwise, both travelers and Bertrandon would be in danger. The trip was an enlightening experience. The spy befriended mamelukes who taught him many interesting things about Turkish culture, but also the basics of the Turkish language.
Weak Byzantine and the Rising Ottoman Empire
After the adventures with mamelukes, Bertrandon landed in Constantinople. During that part of his journey, he observed the political situation and made an interesting observation. While in Constantinople, the spy didn’t form a high opinion of John VIII, the penultimate Byzantine emperor, emphasizing the power of the Ottoman sultan over him.
In late February, Bertrandon, together with Benedict Folco of Forlì, the ambassador of Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan, was received by the Ottoman sultan Murad II at Adrianople. The reception was quite luxurious, and there Bertrandon noticed the potential of the Ottomans that will prove true later.
Despite the claim that Westerners had better weapons, Burgundian spy proposes an alliance against the Turks, primarily England, France, and Germany.
Leaving Adrianople, on his way back to Burgundy, Bertrandon visited a few more places before reporting to Philip the Good at the abbey of Pothières in the Côte d’Or. Philip received a copy of the Koran and life of Mohammed translated into Latin, as also the clothes and horse Bertrandon bought in the East.
Ten years later, in 1443, an experienced spy became captain of the castle of Rupelmonde, in today’s Belgium, on the left bank of the River Escaut. He settled in a strategic fortress. It is not known for sure when he died, but according to one of the manuscripts of his Voyage, it was on May 9th, 1459 and he was buried in the collegiate church of Saint-Pierre. At any rate, the last mention of Burgundian spy dates from 1455.
