François Pyrard de Laval
Encyclopedia
François Pyrard de Laval (ca. 1578 – ca. 1623) was a French
navigator who is remembered for a personal written account of his adventures in the Maldives
Islands from 1602 to 1607, which was part of a ten-year sojourn (1601-1611) in South Asia
, et al. He was a native of Laval
, and was a cousin to theologian Pierre Pyrard (1581-1667).
On July 2, 1602 Pyrard and a handful of sailors were shipwrecked on South Maalhosmadulu Atoll
of the Maldives. They were taken captive by the Maldivians and spent five years as "unwilling guests" on the islands, with most of the time spent on Malé
. The sailors endured malaria
and sporadic cruel treatment during their captivity. Nevertheless, Pyrard took pains to learn the local Dhivehi language and by doing so was able to achieve an insight into Maldivian society never before experienced by a European. He took extensive notes regarding Dhivehi culture, customs and history.
In February 1607, the Frenchmen escaped from Malé by boat in the midst of chaos during a Bengali
raid. Shortly after his return to Laval in 1611, Pyrard published an account of his 1601-1611 sojourn.
English Translation of Pyrard's Journal:
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
navigator who is remembered for a personal written account of his adventures in the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
Islands from 1602 to 1607, which was part of a ten-year sojourn (1601-1611) in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, et al. He was a native of Laval
Laval, Mayenne
Laval is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It lies on the threshold of Brittany and on the border between Normandy and Anjou. Its citizens are called Lavallois.-Geography:...
, and was a cousin to theologian Pierre Pyrard (1581-1667).
On July 2, 1602 Pyrard and a handful of sailors were shipwrecked on South Maalhosmadulu Atoll
Baa Atoll
Baa Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives. It consists of three separate natural atolls, namely southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll , the Fasdūtherē Atoll and the smaller...
of the Maldives. They were taken captive by the Maldivians and spent five years as "unwilling guests" on the islands, with most of the time spent on Malé
Malé
Malé , is the capital and most populous city in the Republic of Maldives. It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll . It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island, from where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties ruled and where...
. The sailors endured malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and sporadic cruel treatment during their captivity. Nevertheless, Pyrard took pains to learn the local Dhivehi language and by doing so was able to achieve an insight into Maldivian society never before experienced by a European. He took extensive notes regarding Dhivehi culture, customs and history.
In February 1607, the Frenchmen escaped from Malé by boat in the midst of chaos during a Bengali
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
raid. Shortly after his return to Laval in 1611, Pyrard published an account of his 1601-1611 sojourn.
English Translation of Pyrard's Journal:
- "The Voyage of François Pyrard of Laval to the East Indies, the Maldives, the Moluccas, and Brazil". Translated into English from the Third French edition of 1619, and Edited, with Notes, by Albert Gray, formerly of the Ceylon Civil Service, assisted by Harry Charles Purvis BellHarry Charles Purvis BellHarry Charles Purvis Bell , more often known as HCP Bell, was a British civil servant, a commissioner in the Ceylon Civil Service. Appointed an official archaeologist, he carried out many excavations in Ceylon , for the Archaeological Survey, during an appointment running from 1890 to 1912After...
, of the Ceylon Civil Service. Volume I. 1887. Pages lviii, 452 + 1 map, 11 illustrations.
External links
- Distant lands and diverse cultures by Glenn Joseph Ames, Ronald S. Love
- South Asia Visions about: The voyage of Francois Pyrard of Laval to the East Indies, the Maldives, the Moluccas and Brazil, v.1]