Changes

'''Prester John''' (from “Prespyter” or “Priest”) was a [[medieval]] fable - a mythical [[Christian]] priest/king who lived somewhere in the East and ruled over many lands - and who wrote letters to his fellow Christians in [[Europe]] asking for help against the heathens threatening his realm and promising support in retaking the [[Holy Sepulchre]].

'''Prester John''' (from “Prespyter” or “Priest”) was a medieval fable of  a mythical Christian priest/king who lived somewhere in the East and ruled over many lands - and who wrote letters to his fellow Christians in Europe asking for help against the heathens threatening his realm and promising support in retaking the [[Holy Sepulchre]].

In 1145 the Bishop of Freisling chronicled a report that there lived in the “extreme Orient”, a king who is a priest that is descended from the [[Three Wise Men]]; that he had tried to march to [[Jerusalem]] but had been forced to turn back at the [[Tigris River]]. About twenty years later the text of a letter from this mysterious but interesting person did the rounds of Western Europe. The original had been sent to the Emperor in Constantinople, and the King of France, and it promised aid against the [[Saracen]]s in the [[Holy Land]]. Over 100 versions of this letter have appeared, in at least six languages, including [[Hebrew]], and lie in libraries all over Europe

In 1145 the Bishop of Freisling chronicled a report that there lived in the “extreme Orient”, a king who is a priest that is descended from the [[Three Wise Men]]; that he had tried to march to Jerusalem but had been forced to turn back at the [[Tigris River]]. About twenty years later the text of a letter from this mysterious but interesting person did the rounds of Western Europe. The original had been sent to the Emperor in Constantinople, and the King of France, and it promised aid against the [[Saracen]]s in the [[Holy Land]]. Over 100 versions of this letter have appeared, in at least six languages, including Hebrew, and lie in libraries all over Europe

The whole thing was a fake, but it was what people wanted to hear in those times of uncertainty and the [[Crusades]]; and for centuries there was to be much conjecture and occasional searching for this phantom ally. Nearly 200 years after the letter, Prince [[Henry the Navigator]] had Prester John as much on his mind as he had hopes for trade with the Indies, as he sent his captains ever south searching for the way through or around [[Africa]] (The Portuguese were half way down the African coast before discovering a searoute to India became the paramount quest.) By then the [[Mongol Empire]] and its immediate successor Khanates had come and gone and the likely position of his kingdom had moved from the now relatively known [[Asia]] to the still mysterious Africa.

The whole thing was a fake, but it was what people wanted to hear in those times of uncertainty and the [[Crusades]]; and for centuries there was to be much conjecture and occasional searching for this phantom ally. Nearly 200 years after the letter, Prince [[Henry the Navigator]] had Prester John as much on his mind as he had hopes for trade with the Indies, as he sent his captains ever south searching for the way through or around Africa (The Portuguese were half way down the African coast before discovering a searoute to India became the paramount quest.) By then the [[Mongol Empire]] and its immediate successor Khanates had come and gone and the likely position of his kingdom had moved from the now relatively known [[Asia]] to the still mysterious Africa.

Whilst the idea of a great and splendid Christian ruler somewhere in the East was only wishful thinking fed by the still unknown perpetrator(s) one of the great hoaxes in history; there was truth in the idea of  flourishing Christian communities beyond the wall of Muslim dominance in the [[Middle East]] and [[North Africa]].

Whilst the idea of a great and splendid Christian ruler somewhere in the East was only wishful thinking fed by the still unknown perpetrator(s) one of the great hoaxes in history; there was truth in the idea of  flourishing Christian communities beyond the wall of Muslim dominance in the [[Middle East]] and [[North Africa]].

Ethiopia was the “last resting place” of the belief in the Prester John, (although during the Muscovite/Russian push across central and eastern Asia during the 17th and 18th centuries explorers were told to keep an eye out for him.)

Ethiopia was the “last resting place” of the belief in the Prester John, (although during the Muscovite/Russian push across central and eastern Asia during the 17th and 18th centuries explorers were told to keep an eye out for him.)

   

   

[[Category: History]]

[[Category: Medieval History]]

[[Category: Age of Exploration]]

[[Category: Age of Exploration]]

{{DEFAULTSORT: Prester John}}

{{DEFAULTSORT: Prester John}}