Paul Rycaut facts for kids
Sir Paul Rycaut (1628–1700) was an important British diplomat, author, and traveler. He worked for the British government in different countries. Rycaut was a secretary at the British Embassy in Constantinople (which is now Istanbul, Turkey). Later, he became a consul for a trading company called the Levant Company in Smyrna, Turkey. He also served as the English ambassador in Hamburg, Germany. Rycaut was also a member of the Royal Society, a famous group of scientists and thinkers.
Early Life and Education
Paul Rycaut was born in late 1628 in Aylesford, Kent, England. His parents were Peter and Mary Rycaut. His father, Peter Rycaut, was from Spain. He had loaned money to the King of Spain during a war. Because of this, Peter Rycaut was forced to leave England by Oliver Cromwell and lost his belongings.
Paul's mother, Mary van der Colge, came from a family of silk merchants. Her father had left Belgium to escape religious persecution. Mary was born in London and was part of the Huguenot Society, a group of French Protestants.
Paul Rycaut learned Greek and Latin when he was young, likely at a grammar school in Kent. He finished his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1650. In 1652, he joined Gray's Inn, which is a place where people study to become lawyers.
A Life of Travel and Diplomacy
When Rycaut traveled to Spain, he met Philip IV of Spain. The king welcomed him because of the money his father had loaned. The king even arranged for Rycaut to attend the University of Alcalá for free.
In 1659, Rycaut became the private secretary to Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Winchilsea. Finch was the ambassador for the Levant Company in Constantinople. While there, Rycaut learned Turkish. He also started writing his book, The Present State of the Ottoman Empire, which was about the Turkish Empire. He returned to England in 1665.
Rycaut was sent to Smyrna (modern-day İzmir) in 1667. He worked there for 11 years as an agent for the Levant Company. When he came back to England in 1678, he became the private secretary to King William III of England for two years. After that, he was appointed as the English ambassador to Hamburg. He was given the special title of Knight in 1685.
Sir Paul Rycaut returned to London on March 28, 1700. He passed away on November 16, 1700, after suffering a heart attack.
Important Books
Sir Paul Rycaut wrote several important books about the countries he visited and the people he met. These books helped people in Europe learn more about the Ottoman Empire and other cultures.
Some of his major works include:
- The present state of the Ottoman Empire (1667): This book was about the government and religion of the Turkish Empire.
- The present state of the Greek and Armenian churches (1676): This book described the Christian churches in those regions.
- The history of the Turkish empire from the year 1623 to the year 1677 (1680): This book covered the history of the Ottoman Empire during a specific period.
He also translated important books from other languages into English, such as:
- Baltasar Gracián's El Criticón (The Critic), a Spanish book.
- Platina's The lives of the popes, a history of the leaders of the Catholic Church.
- Garcilaso de la Vega's Royal commentaries of the Incas, and general history of Peru, a book about the Inca Empire in South America.
Images for kids
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«Monarchia turecka opisana przez Ricota», Slutsk, 1678
