The Bondage and Travels of Johann Schiltberger, a Native of Bavaria, in Europe, Asia, and Africa, 1396-1427

The Bondage and Travels of Johann Schiltberger, a Native of Bavaria, in Europe, Asia, and Africa, 1396-1427

If any reliance is to be placed in a MS. marginal note that appears on a page of an old edition of the Travels of Schiltberger, presumed to be of the year 1551, and preserved at Wels in Austria,1 then the author of the work before us was born at mid-day on the 9th day of Mayin the year 1381, according to his own showing, because he states in the opening of his narrative, that he had not yet attained his sixteenth year when at the battle of Nicopolis (Sept. 28, 1396). So completely does Schiltberger eschew all reference to himself, that he leaves us quite in the dark even with regard to the place of his birth; for, in addressing the Reader, he states that his home was near the city of Munich; but upon his return to Bavaria, he xviproceeds to Frisingen, near which town he was born. Nothing whatever is known of his parentage or childhood; and that he has not remained entirely neglected and forgotten is owed to Thurnmaier, better known as Aventinus, who states, that upon his return from bondage, Schiltberger was taken in hand by the duke Albrecht III., and nominated his Chamberlain, an appointment that was probably made, in Neumanns opinion, before the dukes reign began, in 1438. This is all the Bavarian annalist has to say of his interesting countryman. In the Introduction to his edition, Neumann offers a few particulars on the Schiltberge family, as they were communicated to him by Clestin von Schiltberg, Manager of the Royal Salt Mines at Reichenhall. The origin of the ancient name of Schiltberger, or Schiltberge, is not known, but it is, in all probability, composite, from Schilda coat of armsand Berg, the mount on which the arms were raised. A certain Berchtholdus Marescalcus de Schiltberg is mentioned in a document of the year 1190, and others of the name appear at later dates as burghers, and marshals to the dukes of Bavaria.2 ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 52569
Author: Schiltberger, Johannes
Release Date: Jul 12, 2016
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Editor: Neumann, Karl Friedrich, 1793?-1870

Translator: Telfer, J. Buchan (John Buchan), -1907