Chronology of a Medieval Legend: Prester John- From Indies to Americas

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 11 Sayı: 1, 134 - 163, 27.03.2025

Muhammed Ali Budak

https://doi.org/10.21551/jhf.1642589

Öz

Prester John is a Late Medieval European legend. He became known in Europe after the conquest of Edessa (Urfa) by Atabeg Imad al-Din Zengi. The roots of John, who, in addition to ruling a country with supernatural features beyond Muslim rule, also served as a Christian clergyman and therefore bore the title of prester, are actually as old as the spread of Christianity in Asia. This legend, which was born as a result of the interaction of the religious beliefs of the Nestorians, who spread almost all over Asia, and the Christians who already existed in India, with various political events, actually turned into the Turkish Golden Apple of Europe during the Crusading period.
In the eyes of Europe, which consumed the spices of India with great greed, Prester John, who was sought in Asia as an ally to attack the Muslims from behind, moved to Africa when it was understood that he was not the Mongols. This time, it was soon understood that Prester John was not here, as he moved to a place that would attack the Mamluks, which was in the middle of the trade routes between east and west and therefore had a say in European trade, from behind, that is, Ethiopia. As scientific studies accelerated with the Age of Enlightenment and the world became a smaller place, Prester John was thought to be in Asia, not Africa, he was searched for but could not be found there, and while he was about to show himself in the newly discovered Americas, he was accepted as a complete legend and disappeared into history.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Medieval, Europe, Culture, Legend, Prester John

Bir Ortaçağ Efsanesi Kronolojisi: Prester Johannes -Hindistanlardan Amerikalara

Öz

Prester Johannes efsanesi bir Geç Ortaçağ Avrupa efsanesidir. Kendisi Edessa’nın (Urfa) Atabek İmadüddin Zengi tarafından elde edilmesinden sonra Avrupa’da tanınır hale gelmiştir. Müslümanların egemenliğinin ötesinde bulunan, doğaüstü özelliklere sahip bir ülkeyi yönetmesinin yanında aynı zamanda Hıristiyan din adamlığı görevini de üstlenen ve bundan dolayı prester unvanını taşıyan Johannes’in kökleri, aslında Hıristiyanlığın Asya’da yayılışı kadar eskidir. Asya’nın hemen her yerine giren Nesturilerin ve Hindistan’da zaten mevcut olan Hıristiyanların dini inançlarının çeşitli siyasi olaylarla etkileşimi neticesinde doğan bu efsane, Haçlı Seferleriyle beraber aslında Avrupa’nın Kızıl Elması haline dönüşmüştür.
Hindistan’ın baharatlarını büyük bir açgözlülükle tüketen Avrupa’nın gözünde, Müslümanlara arkadan saldıracak bir müttefik olarak Asya’da aranan Prester Johannes’in bu özelliklere sahip olan Moğollar olmadığı anlaşılınca, Memlüklülerin ortaya çıkmasıyla beraber Afrika’ya taşınmıştır. Bu sefer de doğu ile batı arasındaki ticaret yollarının tam ortasında bulunan ve dolayısıyla Avrupa ticareti üzerinde söz sahibi olan Memlüklülere arkadan saldıracak bir yere yani Etiyopya’ya geçen Prester Johannes’in burada olmadığı da kısa süre içinde anlaşılmıştır. Aydınlanma Çağı ile bilimsel çalışmaların hızlanması ve dünyanın da daha küçük bir yer haline gelmesiyle Prester Johannes’in Afrika’da değil Asya’da olduğu düşünülmüş, aranmış ama orada bulunamamış ve tam kendini yeni keşfedilen Amerikalarda gösterecekken tamamen bir efsane olduğu kabul edilmiş ve tarihe karışmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Ortaçağ, Avrupa, Kültür, Efsane, Prester Johannes

Kaynakça

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