Guy Tachard’s 1685 Voyage to Siam
Nov 29th, 2011 by bachmann
In the 1680s, King Narai of Siam, (1633-1688) sent several envoys to France with the hopes of establishing strong political and economic relations with France. King Narai’s motivation for this alliance was to deflect the growing Dutch trade and military influence in and around Siam. King Louis XIV reciprocated the honor of these special visits by sending his own embassy to Siam in 1685. King Louis XIV’s objective was to not only further commercial relations with Siam and encourage Chrisitian conversion in the East, but also to engage in a scientific expedition of Africa, the Indies, and China. Three members of the 1685 voyage published their version of the events, with the Jesuit mathematician GuyTachard’s being the most influential and lasting account, eventually translated into English by 1688. This version is from an original French edition, published in 1687, and contains several fascinating prints depicting geography, culture, customs, flora and fauna from the journey.
- Description:
- Tachard, Guy. Voyage de Siam des pères Jesuites, envoyés par le roy,
- aux Indes & à la Chine :avec leurs observations astronomiques, & leurs
- remarques de physique, de géographie, d’hydrographie, & d’histoire.
- A Amsterdam : Chez P. Mortier, 1687.
- Persistent Link:
- http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:5119535
- Repository:
- Widener Library
- Institution:
- Harvard University