Scaliger and the Dutch Expansion in Asia: An Arabic Translation for an Early Voyage to the East Indies (1600)

Abstract

On 28 June 1600 Admiral Jacob van Neck embarked on an expedition to the East Indies, the fourth of its kind ever to have been undertaken by the Dutch. In his luggage he carried a circular letter or 'patent' from Prince Maurice of Orange-Nassau addressed the local rulers, requesting their protection and permission to trade. The letter had been translated into Arabic by the French humanist Joseph Justus Scaliger (1540-1609), who was then in the employment of the University of Leiden. This contribution follows the letter on its voyage to the Indies and back, and attempts to answer various questions. Was Arabic the best choice of language in a Southeast Asian context? What was the reaction of the recipients, assuming they understood it at all? Was the letter helpful in establishing trade relations between the Dutch Republic and Southeast Asian countries? Scaliger occasionally made translations of Arabic documents at request of Prince Maurice or the States General of the Dutch Republic; but this 'patent' is the only extant example of a translation into Arabic and, as such, the only proof of Scalinger's active command of Arabic. Since Scaliger dedicated much time and effort to learning Arabic, especially during the last years of his life, and was regarded as one of the finest linguistics of his day, the Arabic letter provides evidence of the level of proficency which could be attained by humanists at the turn of the seventeenth century.