Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq (1522 inComines – 29 October 1592 inSaint-Germain-sous-Cailly;Latin:Augerius Gislenius Busbequius), sometimesAugier Ghislain de Busbecq, was a 16th-centuryFlemish writer,herbalist and diplomat in the employ of three generations ofAustrian monarchs. He served as ambassador to theOttoman Empire inConstantinople and in 1581 published a book about his time there,Itinera Constantinopolitanum et Amasianum, re-published in 1595 under the title ofTurcicae epistolae orTurkish Letters. His letters also contain the only surviving word list ofCrimean Gothic, a Germanic dialect spoken at the time in some isolated regions ofCrimea. He is credited with the introduction oftulips into Western Europe and to the origin of their name.
He was born the illegitimate son of theSeigneur de Busbecq, Georges Ghiselin, and his mistress Catherine Hespiel, although he was later legitimized.[1] He grew up at Busbecq Castle (in present-dayBousbecque,Nord,France), studying inWervik and Comines, which at the time were all part ofSpanishWest Flanders, a province of theHoly Roman Empire.
Busbecq's intellectual gifts led him to advanced studies at the Latin-languageUniversity of Leuven, where he registered in 1536 under the nameOgier Ghislain de Comines. From there, he went on to study at a number of well-known universities in northernItaly, including taking classes fromGiovanni Battista Egnazio [it] inVenice.
Like his father and grandfather, Busbecq chose a career of public service. He started work in the court of the later Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand I in approximately 1552. In 1554, he was sent toEngland for the marriage inWinchester of the English queenMary Tudor toPhilip II of Spain.
In 1554 and again in 1556,[1] Ferdinand named Busbecq ambassador to theOttoman Empire under the rule ofSuleiman the Magnificent. His task for much of the time he was inConstantinople was the negotiation of a border treaty between his employer (the futureHoly Roman Emperor) and theSultan over the disputed territory ofTransylvania. He had no success in this mission whileRüstem Pasha was the Sultan'svizier, but ultimately reached an accord with his successorSemiz Ali Pasha.
During his stay in Constantinople, Busbecq wrote his best known work, theTurkish Letters, a compendium of personal correspondence to his friend, and fellowHungarian diplomat,Nicholas Michault, inFlanders and some of the world's firsttravel literature. These letters, together withMelchior Lorck'swoodprints describe his adventures in Ottoman politics and remain one of the principalprimary sources for students of the 16th-century Ottoman court. He also wrote in enormous detail about the plant and animal life he encountered in Turkey. His letters also contain the only surviving word list ofCrimean Gothic, a Germanic dialect spoken at the time in some isolated regions ofCrimea.[2]
Busbecq discovered an almost complete copy of theRes Gestae Divi Augusti, an account of Roman emperorAugustus' life and accomplishments, at theMonumentum Ancyranum inAncyra. He identified its origin from his reading ofSuetonius and published a copy of parts of it in his Turkish Letters.[3]
He was an avid collector, acquiring valuable manuscripts, rare coins and curios of various kinds. Among the best known of his discoveries was a 6th-century copy ofDioscorides'De Materia Medica, a compendium of medicinal herbs. The emperor purchased it after Busbecq's recommendation; the manuscript is now known as theVienna Dioscorides. His passion for herbalism led him to send Turkishtulip bulbs to his friendCharles de l'Écluse, who acclimatized them to life in theLow Countries. He called them "tulip", mistaking the Turkish word for turban (tulipant) which was often decorated with the flower (known in Turkish aslale).[4] Busbecq has also been credited with introducing thelilac to northern Europe (though this is debated)[2] as well as theAngora goat.[1]
He returned from Turkey in 1562 and became a counsellor at the court ofEmperor Ferdinand inVienna and tutor to his grandchildren, the sons of futureEmperor Maximilian II. Busbecq ended his career as the guardian ofElisabeth of Austria, Maximilian's daughter and widow of French kingCharles IX. He continued to serve theAustrian monarchy, observing the development of theFrench Wars of Religion on behalf ofRudolf II. Finally, in 1592 and nearing the end of his life, he chose to leave his residence inMantes outside ofParis for his nativeWest Flanders, but was assaulted and robbed by members of theCatholic League nearRouen. He died a few days later. His body is buried in the castle chapel atSaint-Germain-sous-Cailly near where he died, and his heart was embalmed and sent to the family tomb inBousbecque.
