Janus Bey, in Turkish Yunus Bey (born in Modon at the end of the 15th century; died 1541/42) was a Greek who became an interpreter (dragoman) and ambassador for the Ottoman Empire.[1]

Letter of Francis I to the Drogman Janus Bey, 28 December 1546, delivered by D'Aramon.
Janus Bey
BornLate 15th century
Modon
Died1541/42
NationalityGreek
Occupation(s)Interpreter (dragoman), Ambassador
Known forAmbassadorship for the Ottoman Empire

In 1532 he visited Venice and had meetings with the Venetian government.[2] He was considered as the ambassador for the Ottoman Empire, was well received and was the beneficiary of large presents from the Venetians.[3] In 1532, he apparently worked with French ambassador Antonio Rincon to obtain a safe-conduct for the Ottoman embassy to France (1533).[4] In 1537 he was co-author with Alvise Gritti of an Italian booklet, published in Venice, on the government of the Ottoman Empire. The title was Opera noua la quale dechiara tutto il gouerno del gran Turcho.[5] He founded a mosque in Constantinople, called the "Dragoman's Mosque" (Durughman Mesjidi).[1] He died in 1541/42.[1]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Bosworth, C. E. (2000). "Tardjuman". In Bearman, P. J.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E. & Heinrichs, W. P. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume X: T–U. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 236–238. ISBN 978-90-04-11211-7.
  2. ^ Garnier, p.64-65
  3. ^ Venice reconsidered: the history and civilization of an Italian city-state by John Jeffries Martin p.177 [1]
  4. ^ Garnier, p.64-65
  5. ^ Modern edition of the Italian text

References

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  • Garnier, Edith L'Alliance Impie Editions du Felin, 2008, Paris ISBN 978-2-86645-678-8 Interview
  • Krstić, Tijana "Of Translation and Empire: sixteenth-century Ottoman imperial interpreters as Renaissance go-betweens" in Christine Woodhead, The Ottoman World (Abingdon: Routledge, 2011) pp. 130-142, especially 132-134 Preview at Google Books