thumb|250px|Ibrahim ibn Yaqub's journey.

Ibrahim ibn Yaqub ( Ibrāhīm ben Yaʿqūb al-Ṭarṭūshi or al-Ṭurṭūshī; , Avraham ben Yaʿakov; ) was an Andalusi Jewish traveler from Tortosa known and esteemed in the 10th century for his knowledge in science, medicine, and geography. He visited the court of the Umayyad Caliph of Córdoba, Al-Hakam II, who enlisted him to travel to several European countries, especially the Holy Roman Empire of Otto the Great.

Ibrāhīm ben Yaʿqūb was known and respected in his time for his scientific, medical, and geographic knowledge. He went to Cordova, to the court of Caliph al-Ḥakam II, who sent him on missions to several European countries, and in particular to the German emperor Otto I. His reports and descriptions of Europe were used by Arabic geographers.

Biography

His family hailed from Umayyad-ruled Ṭurṭūšah (now Tortosa) close to the mouth of the Ebro: he may also have lived in Córdoba. Some written and oral history and his writings suggest that he had a Jewish background. Nonetheless, it has also been argued by most historians that he was a Muslim of Jewish background, and Bernard Lewis states: "There is some uncertainty to whether he was a professing Jew or a Muslim of Jewish origin."

Sent by the Umayyad Caliph of Córdoba, Al-Hakam II,

His work is widely known as providing the first reliable description of the Polish state under Mieszko I, the first historical ruler of Poland. He is also noted for his description of the Vikings living in Hedeby; of the Nakonid fortification at Mecklenburg Castle; and of what was, in all likelihood, the nucleus of the later ducal castle and palace at Schwerin. Ibrahim ibn Yaqub has a unique place in Czech history as the first person to mention the city of Prague and its Jewish community in writing. He also mentioned Czech Boleslaus I, Duke of Bohemia and Kraków as part of Duchy of Bohemia.

See also

  • Vineta
  • At-Turtushi
  • Benjamin of Tudela

References

Bibliography

  • "Ibrāhīm ibn Ya‛qūb al-Isrā’īlī al-Ṭurṭūshī," by Lutz Richter-Bernburg, in: The Oxford Companion to World Exploration, David Buisseret, editor-in-chief, 2 vols., Oxford UP 2007, I:402b-403b
  • Ibrahim ibn Jakub i Tadeusz Kowalski w sześćdziesiątą rocznicę edycji, ed. Andrzej Zaborski, Kraków 2008