Western European maps in Russian. Anton Vid. Antonio Jenkinson

1. Anthonius Wied candido lectori S.

   Moscovia etque Alba Russia non contenta Europee Sarmatia parte, sed et magnam Asiatice supergressa Scythicas oras ingreditur hellespontum versus, donec per ignotas gentes in mare Cronium nostris congelatum excurrerit. Unde se hittus in occidentem recipiens septentrionale latus Moscovie describingit. Occiduum latus Scandie peninsule isthmus Biarmios Laponezque feros homines habena, deinde Liuonia Lithuaniaque terminant. A meridie atque ortu Tartari inminent ex Scythia ultra Imaum ante 330 annos in has oras transgressi, qui ad effigiem civitatis per hordas (ut ipsi vocant) divisi latissimos pervagantur campos, eo deflectentes qou loci conditio pascendisque greitg trax. Pro domibus carros habent centonibus corijsue contectos, quales Graeci A maxobios, Scythe Veios appelant atque hoc domicilij genus iam inde a gentis usque origine servant. Quod item ex Scythis Comerum Gallum anno 190 ab aquarum inundatione ad Italos transtulisse autor est Berosus Babilonicus. Moscovia vero alicubi sub ipsos fere septentriones extensa nihil frugum gignit, frigidissima enim ea parte est, tum propter longissimas noctes, tum propter humiliorem tota astate solem. Meridiem versus mitior est. Moneta regioni argentea est ut Europeis omnibus Mancipia tum a vicinis mercatur, tum ipsa venum exponit. Qua parte Cronio mari accedit zebellinas armelinasque pelles nobilium ac matronarum delicias mittit. Qua vero Lithuanie iungitur uros, ursos, pregrandesque ac atros lupos animalia ferocissima passim in Hercynia sylua gignit. Totius autrem regionis metropolis Moscovia tum fluminum opotunitate, tum hominum frequentia atque arce munitissima omnium Moscovie urbium faelicissima est. Neglina fluvitus Moscbusque peninsulam efficiunt. Origo gentis (ut nomen ipsum arguit) Moscus Noe Iapeto filio filio nepos fuit. Nam Berosus Moscos in Asiam simul ac Europam colonias deduxisse testatur. Ac in Asia quidem ad orientalem pertem Euxini maris Moschos habitasse testis est Iosephus, Strabo, Mela et plerique alij, quare, cum ijs Locis vicina sit admodum nostra hec Moscovia, non est dissimile vero Moscos illinc in Europan usque sedes produxisse, aut parte ibi manente reliquos in hanc nostram concessisse. Si alij Moscovitas esse contendant eos, quos Ptol. Modocas vocat, non repugno, sed viderint hi ne forte Modoce pro Mosoche scriptum sit male, Hebrei enim Moscum Mosoch vocant. Idololatre fuerunt Moscovite, nunc Christiani Graecorum dogmatibus ante 500 annos imbuti. Porro qui septentrionem accolunt adhuc in veteri insania perdurant. Vale ex Wilda Lithuaniae anno 1555. Cal: Novemb.

Anton Vid welcomes a supportive reader

Muscovy, which is also called White Russia, covers not only a part of European Sarmatia, but also a large part of Asia, and enters the boundaries of Scythia towards the Hellespont. Then it stretches through the lands of unknown peoples, ends at the Crohn Sea (northern), which we call Frozen. Then the coast turns westward and outlines the northern part of Muscovy. The western edge closes the isthmus of the Scandinavian Peninsula, which is inhabited by the wild peoples of the Biarmians and Laponts, followed by Livonia and Lithuania. From the south and east, Muscovy is bordered by the Tartars, who migrated to these limits about 330 years ago from Scythia, located beyond the Imai. They are divided like a state into hordes (as they themselves call them), moving across vast plains, heading towards an area where there is fertile soil for food for themselves and livestock. Instead of houses, they have carts covered with patchwork skin or cloth, which the Greeks call amaxobians, and the Scythians call them Veii. They have retained this type of housing throughout the entire existence of their people. According to the testimony of Beroz of Babylon, thanks to Comer Gallus, it was transferred from the Scythians to the Italians in 190 after the Great Flood

Muscovy, which is located almost at the very north, does not produce any fruits, for in this part it is very cold, the nights are long, and the sun is low in summer. To the south, the climate softens. The coin in this country is in silver, as in the rest of Europe. They buy slaves from their neighbors and sell them themselves. A part of it, which is located near the Cronow Sea, supplies sable and ermine furs - a delight for ladies and nobility. The part that adjoins Lithuania contains wild bulls, bears and huge dire wolves - very ferocious animals - in the Hercynian forest. The capital of Muscovy, Moscow is the most prosperous city, as it has a favorable location of rivers, crowded and protected by a fortress. The Neglinnaya River and the Moscow River form a peninsula. The progenitor of this people was Mosk, Noah's grandson from his son Japheth. Beroz of Babylon says that the colonies of the Muscovites were simultaneously in Asia and in Europe. Joseph, Strabo, Mela and many others also write about the fact that Muscovites lived in Asia and in the eastern part of the Euxine Sea. That is why it is very likely that the Muscovites moved from there to Europe, and some of them remained in the same place, while others left in our direction, because our Muscovy is located very close to these places. Some argue that Ptolemy calls Muscovites Modoc. I will not argue with this statement, but I will note that when rewriting the name of this people, instead of "Mosokhs", they could write "modocs". After all, the Jews call Mosca Mosokh.

Once the Muscovites were idolaters, now they are Christians, trained in Greek dogmas about 500 years ago. Since then, the peoples in the north have persisted in the age-old madness of idolatry.

Hello! It was written in Vilna, Lithuania, in the year 1555 in the November calendars.

Clarisso ac Ornatisso D. Ioan Coppenio Ciuitatis Gdanensis Senatori prudentisso Anthonius Wied Salutem et faelices a Deo Opt Max sucessus precatur. Necdum prorsus memorie exridit mee Clarissime ac Humaniss Dnem nostrum illud de varijs rebus colloquitum, quod e Prussia in Litvaniam profecti inter nos conferentes habuimus. Atque ob id pro mea virili addiscere conatus sum, ac exquisite pernoscere oins illius regionis situm, que magni ducus Moscovie ditioni subest, olim Sarmatie Evropee Asiatique ac Scythie nomine contenta, a veteribus solofere nomine cognita. Nos vero civitatum omnium, castrorum, marium, lacuum, fontiumque loca, numerum, situm, distantiasque, quanta potuimus diligentia adsignavimis. Ac insuper fluviorum flexus, cursus, ac fontes quoque, qui maxima ex parte e lacunosa paludosaque emanant planicie. Quibus in rebus non mediocrem nobis prestitit operam generosus Ioannes Latzki unus olim ex principibus Moscovie, qui nunc post magni ducis Basilij e vivis decessum ob seditionem non leuem magnatum quorundam, ac relictum Polum tenere a tetisnilijiej Basigi filimium ad inbiiss ac splendide pro sua et prudentia etc ingenij dexteritate acceptus est. Quum vero ante aliquot annos apud hunc multis precibus egerit D Sigismundus ab Herberstein orator id temporis Imperatoris Maximiliani ad magnum illum Moscovie ducem Basilium, ut Moscoviam ipsi describendam curaret, nunquam cessrentauit deincem queue region adis vide. Ac deinde, ut in me omnem suum laborem transffunderet, nihil ad narrationis veritatem reliqui fecit. Quod autem tuo nomini Clarissime Dnem meum hunc dedicauerim laborem, partim me adegit animi in te mei gratitudinis affectus quod te videam non familiares ac amicos modo verum et exteros et aduenas summa amplecti humanitate, maximoque prosequiore. Partim me mouit quod te animaduerterim cum reliquarum bonarum artium tum Geographie studio admodum oblectari. Tue igitur humanitatis fuerit hunc meum conatum non aspernari, ac me inter clientulos tuos perpetuo numerare, quod si obtinuero, nihil est quod in praesetiarum aliud optem, quam ut faeliciter et quam optime valeas. Ex Wilda Lituanie 13 kal. April Anno 1555.

To the Most Serene and Glorious Mr. Johann Köppen, the wisest Senator of the city of Gdansk, Anton Vid prays to the almighty God for health and good luck

It has not yet been completely ironed out, my dear sir, from my memory our conversation on various subjects, which we carried on the road from Prussia to Lithuania. And for this reason, to the best of my ability, I tried to find out and find out exactly the location of the entire country that is subject to the prince of Muscovy, once called European and Asian Sarmatia and Scythia, known by the ancients almost only by name. We have carefully marked the locations of all cities, castles, seas, lakes and springs, the intervals and distances between them. And, besides, the bends of the rivers, the current and the sources, which are located for the most part on the plain teeming with lakes and marshes. In this considerable assistance was rendered to us by the noble lord John Lyatsky, once one of the princes of Muscovy, who, after the death of the Grand Duke Vasily, who left his young son, fled the country due to a great rebellion raised by some nobles, to the invincible king of Poland, where he was received as gentle and splendid as his wisdom and mental alertness deserves. Several years ago, Mr. Sigismund Herberstein, the emperor Maximillian's ambassador to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily, repeatedly asked him to take care of compiling him a description of Muscovy. Lyatsky never missed an opportunity to explore everything related to the knowledge of this country. And then, having done everything for a truthful presentation of this country, he shifted all the work onto me. To the discovery of this work, my lord, I was prompted by a feeling of sincere gratitude to you, for I see that not only in an ordinary setting, but also in other people's circumstances, you are supremely filled with kindness and endowed with extraordinary benevolence. In part, I was also prompted by the property I noticed in you with great pleasure to study both the noble sciences and geography.

So, may your mercy not reject this undertaking of mine and constantly count me among the people committed to you, because if I deserve this, then I would not want anything else in the present, except for your happy stay and perfect well-being. From Vilna 13 days before the calendars of April 1555.

Francisous Hogenb ex vero sculpsit 1570.

Engraved by Francis Hogenb in 1570

Zlata Baba Hoc est aurea vetula idolum quod huius partis incole adorant.

The Golden Baba is a female idol made of gold worshiped by the locals

Obi fluvius sesquidiei navigatione latus atque tam plenus piscibus ut navigantium remis premantur.

The Ob River is very wide for navigation, there are many fish here and sailors lay on the oars

Hiс longum capillitium gestant

Kalmyks wear long hair

Columnarum Alexandri nihil hodie extat neque ulla est apud Sarmatas memoria

Columns of Alexander do not exist today, their exact location was remembered only by the Sarmatians

Perekopska Tartari sunt Christianis admodum infesti

The Perekop Tartars are very hostile to Christians

Assow Turca possidet

Azov belongs to the Turks

Sic interficiuntur uri

So they kill the rounds

Iuhri ex quibus Hungari in Hungaria ut idem quoque idioma ostendit.

Ugra and Ungars in Ungaria speak the same language

Belij Iesera hoc est amplum mare Huc tempore belli Dux Moscovie transfert thesaurum fuum.

When the prince is at war, he transports all his treasures to the castle with a moat, which is called White Lakes

Diffina coenobium Rutenicum

Desna Rus Monastery

Sic venantur ursos ligneis furncis

This is how they hunt bears

Swinttinosz, hoc est Sacer nasus, nasus id est promontorium.

Pigtail - a mountain ledge that is shaped like a nose and is sacred

Mors belua marina dentibus suspensa gressum per altas rupes promouet in verticem usque, unde citius se demittit per subiectos campos grassatura.

The White Sea has many watersheds and washes the cliffs and cliffs that are sharp as teeth, which hide behind them the plains where robbers live

Rossomaka animal voracissimum

Wolverine is a gluttonous animal

Soloffki caenobium Rutenicum

Solovki Russian monastery

Nova absolutaque Russia, Moscovia et Tartaria descriptio authore Antonio Jenkinsono Anglo, Clemente Adamo edita, et a Nicolao Reinoldo Londinensi, ari insculpta anno salutis 1562

New improved (map) of Russia, Muscovy and Tartaria. Description by the author Antonio Jenkinsono Anglo. Published by Clement Adamo and Nicolao Reinaldo Londinensi. Engraved in 1562

Iohannes Basilius Dei gratur, magnus Imperator totius Russia, magnus dux Vladimeria, Moscouia, Nouogardia, Imperator Astrachania, atque Liuonia, magnus Dux Plascouia, Smolenicia, Tueria, Iogoria, Permia, Viatia, Bolociardia, etque Imperator et al. Rezania, Volotia, Erzeuia, Bielia, Jaroslauia, Belozeria, Udoria, Obdoria, Condinia, et aliarum mustarum regionum Imperator atque totius Septentrionis dominus.

John (Ivan) Sovereign (Dosl. Basilius - Vasilyevich - from the Greek "Vasilevs") from the Grace of God, the Great Emperor of all Russia, the Grand Prince of Vladimir, Moscow, Novgorod, the Emperor of Astrakhan, as well as of Livonia, the Grand Duke Pleskovsky, Smolensk, Tuersky, Iogorsk (Yugorsk), Perm, Vyatk, Bolgorsk (Bulgar) as well as the Emperor and Grand Duke of the Novgorod principality, Chernigov, Ryazan, Volotia, Erzevia, Belia, Yaroslavl, Belozeria, Udoria, Obdoria, Kondinia and other regions of the North Emperor

Lapones gens est quae speluncis sabterraneis non procul a mari fluminibusue, astate degit, piscandi nimirum gratia Hyeme uero in syluis nemoribusque feras uenando victitat, iaculandi admodum perita uestitus genti ferarum pelles et aria. Praecipuus victus ceruorum caro. Illorum feminae binos habent maritos quarum alter domi existens, alterum introiturum sentiens, statim uenatum, vel piscatum progreditur.

The people of Laponts live near the sea and rivers, go fishing in summer and hunt wild animals in the forest in winter. Dress up in skins of wild animals and furs. Deer meat is eaten most of all. Their women have two husbands, each of whom has his own home and is engaged in both fishing and hunting

Permiam et Condoriani, aliquando Ethnici fuerunt, at nunc a Russorum Casare perdomiti, maxima ex parte Christianisnium amplexantur. Hyeme per niues, trahis itinera faciunt, quas vel canes vel cerui albi ut plurimum trahunt. Ceruina carne bona ex parte victiant, panis usum nesciunt Cateruatim incedunt uestitus illis ferarum cotia vel pelles.

The Permians and Condors were pagans in the past, but they were conquered by the Russian tsar and are now converted to Christianity. In winter, in the snowy season, they harness dogs or white deer to the sleigh and move around in this way. They trade in animal meat, do not eat bread, and dress in furs and skins of wild animals

Zlata Baba id est (aurea vetula) sedet, puerum ad genua tenens qui nepos dicitur, statua haec, ab Obdorianis, et Iogorianis, religiose colitur. Qui laudatissimas et maximi precij pelles Zebellinas Idolo huic offerunt, una cum reliquis ferarum pellibus. Ceruos etiam sacrificio mactant, quorum sanguine, os, oculos, ac reliqua simulachri membra ungunt. Intestina uero etiam cruda deuorant, sacrificij autem tempore, sacerdos Idolum consulit, quid ipsis faciendum, quove sit migrandum, ipsumque (dictu mirum) certa consulentibus dat responsa, certique euentus conseqvuntur

The Golden Baba is an idol cast in gold. She sits and holds in her lap the boy known as the "grandson." Obdory and Ugra worship and offer their most valuable animal skins. They also sacrifice a deer to her, and smear the mouth, eyes and other parts of the goddess with the blood of the animal, while eating the raw entrails. During the sacrifice, the priest asks questions to the idol, and a strange thing - he gets reliable answers, and certain future events

Pictura haec nobis ob oculos ponit, habitum inalarum harum regionum, qui vulgo Samoides appellant, qui Idolastrae sunt, ac in cremo victitant.

The picture before your eyes depicts the inhabitants of these places, who are called Samoyeds, they are idolaters and eat fish

MolgomZaiani, baidai, Colmachij, Ethnici sunt, solem, vel rubrum pannum, de pertica suspensum adorent. In castris uitam ducunt, ac omnium animantium, serpentum, vermiumque carne vescuntur, ac prio idiomate utuntur.

The inhabitants of these countries - Molgomzayans, Baids and Kolmaki - worship the Sun in the form of red matter suspended from a pole, spend their lives in camps, eat the meat of all animals, including snakes and worms, and have their own language

This part of Livonia was recently conquered by the Emperor of Russia

This is part of Lithuania, which is subject to the Emperor of Russia

Vachines, Ceremisines, Mordouetes gentes sunt propio idiomate utentes, furtis latrocusque intentae, carminibus, exorcismisque deditae Aduersus sagitarum iactus, telorumue aciem intrepidae cera ac melle hae gentes praecipiue abun

Vachins, Cheremis and Mordvins speak the same language, do not tolerate theft, use spells during the rite of exorcism. They use arrows against their enemies, fearless in battle. They produce wax and honey and have their own laws

Kazan Tartar region, conquered by the Russian Emperor in 1551

Tummeni, Cassachi, Nagaij sunt Mahumetistae Tartari, hij cateruatim viunut, ac tot ducut uxores, quot lubet. Gens hippophagos, equarum galactopotae, Frugum usum uescit, nec perunia apud illos ullu usus est. Populus exorcismis incantamentisque, supra modum deditus. Quibis caligines offundit, aliasque caeli intemperies pro arbitria ut hostem laedat concitat. Quae quidem uerbis, herbis, radicibus, lapidibusque ab illis miro artificio fiunt.

The Tyumen, Cossacks, Nagai are Mohammedans, living in groups, each taking as his wife the one he loves. They eat horse meat, drink horse milk, use cereals as feed and use various ointments. They practice the expulsion of evil spirits from a person through magical rituals, they serve God very faithfully. Their terrain is covered with thick fogs, the climate and air temperature quickly wear down their enemies. In turn, they are excellent and very skillful in using herbs and roots

This rock has the appearance of people, cattle, sheep and things, as well as hordes (as they call it) of grazing sheep. As a result of a miraculous metamorphosis, they turned into stone, but at the same time did not change their original appearance. This miracle happened about 300 years ago

Crimae sunt Mahumatistae quibus cum Moscoutis Assiduum bellum inter cedit.

The Crimeans profess the Mohammedan faith, the Muscovites are constantly at war with them

Circassi, Petigorri, Christianismum profitentur qui propriam linguam habent. In castris uitam egunt, ac in propinquorum funeribus pomp ducutit, magnificeque exequias celebrant ac in moriam mortis amicorum auriculartem pariene aliquando amputant.

Chirkasy Pyatigorsk consider themselves Christians and have a special language. Experienced in military affairs, and for the magnificent funeral of relatives, numerous funeral processions gather, and sometimes part of the ear is cut off in memory of the dead

Astracan Tartarorum regnum fuit anno 1554 subactum, ac imperio Russiae adiectum.

Astrakhan Tartar region, was annexed to Russia in the year 1554

Turcominorum imperium inter qumque fratres est partitum, quorum qui primas tenet Azim Chan nominatus est Reliquero, Sultani appellatur. Quins qui solum oppida url potius castra sub litione et imperio suo tenent. Horum Urgerue Principem lotum tenet. Incolae Mahumeticam sectam agnoscunt, uis vuntque iuxta Nagaiorum consuetudinem, ac cum Persarum Principe (vulgo Sophi nuncupato) continenter belligerantur.

The Turkman Empire is divided between five brothers, the oldest and main of whom is called Azim Khan, the rest are called sultans. Only five cities or mills are subordinate to them

The location of the principality of Urger. The inhabitants profess Mohammedanism, obey the Nogai law and the Persian Shah (who is called Sophie) and are constantly at war

Urbs Corason a rege Persico adiuvantibus Tartaris anno 1558 expugnata fuit.

The city of Korosan was taken by the Persian king with the help of Tartarus in the year 1558

A Mangusla Shaysuram usque 20 dierum iter habent sine ullis sedibus, cum sunma aquae penuria. A Shaisura usque Boghar, par itineris interuassum, viaque latrocinijs inferta.

Shamarcandia olim ius Tartariae metropolis fuit, at nunc ruinis desormis iacet, una cum mustis antiquitalis vestigijs. Hic conditus est Tamerlanes ille, qui olim Turcarum Imperatorem Baiazeitem captium aureis catenis vinctum circamtusit. Incolae mahumetani sunt.

Samarkand was once the capital of Tartary, but now lies in ruins along with ancient buildings. It was founded by Tamerlane, who, capturing the Turkish emperor Bayazet, ordered to put him on display, chained in gold chains. Inhabitants of the Mohammedans

Kirgissi gens est, quae cateruatim degit, id est in Hordis, assdueque cum mhogholis bella gerit, habetque ritum istiusmodi Ipsorum antistes aut Sacrificus, quo tempore rem diuinam peragit, sanguine, lacte, et fimo iumentorum acceptis infusis, una cum hoc arborem scadit, atque hinc diu ad populum concionatus, in stultam plebeculam spergit. Populus uero in terram pronus, adorabundusque, aspersiunculam hanc pro deo colit firmeque credit, nihil esse perinde salutare ac terram, pecus, armentaque et cum quis inter cos diem obit, loco sepultura arboribis suspendit.

The Kirghiz are a people who live in groups (or Horde), are at war with the Mughals and practice a special ritual: their priests, when offering them to God, take blood, milk and cattle excrement, mix it all together with earth and pour it onto a dish. The priest then climbs a tree and delivers a long sermon while spraying the mixture on the heads of the people. For them, worshiping down to the ground means worshiping God. They probably think that this is much more important than a blessing from above to any person or animal. Dead people are hanging right in the trees here instead of being buried

Boghar urbs amplissima, aliquando Persis fuit subdita. Ciues Mahumeticam heresim amplexantur, Persique loquuntur. Frequentia hic sunt conmeracia, tum ex Cataya, India, Persia, alijsque orbis tractibus.

Bogar is a vast city that belonged to the Persians in ancient times. Its inhabitants are Mohammedan heretics. Fairs are often held here, where traders from Cathai, India, Persia and other different countries come

Rex hic aduersus Cassachios assidua bella mouet, qua gens nup prope exterminata fuerat.

This king is at war with the Cossack tribes. On one occasion, he almost succeeded in driving them away

Princeps hic cum Indis plurima habet certamina, qui ad austrum illi finitimi sunt.

This prince is at war with the Indians, who are his neighbors to the south

The prince of Kaskara is a Mohammedan, fighting against the Kirghiz

30 days east of Cascara, the Cathay Empire begins. Then there is still 3 months of travel to Kambalu

Cum Serenissima Regina priuilegio

Queen Sirenissa's Domain

Medi, Persaque Mahumetani sunt, assidueque cum Turcis Tartarisque pugna confligunt. Idque maxime propter differentes caremonias, quodque superius labrum rasitare nolunt, ut Turca Tartarique factitant. In his autem regionibus maxima serici copie est.

The Medes and Persians, the Mohammedans, are at war with the Turkish Tartars. This is due to the difference in the rites of the Medes and Tartars, against which the former are protesting. A very large amount of silk is produced in this region