Polish Research on Polonica in Navis Peregrinorum (1561–1695)

Keywords: Navis peregrinorum, Holy Land, pilgrimages to Jerusalem, travels, onomastics

Abstract

This article attempts to revise the lists of Polonics compiled from the Navis peregrinorum register (1561–1695). The origins of Polish research on these lists date back to the second half of the nineteenth century. The lists were compiled by Polish Franciscans serving in the Custody of the Holy Land and by travelers visiting Jerusalem. By the time of the 2019 search, the number of Poles recorded in the book ranged from 29 to 65 names. The reasons for this discrepancy can be explained by the fact that the book’s early researchers followed various, not always precise criteria in determining a pilgrim’s „Polishness,” such as religion, the Slavic sound of the surname and the accompanying annotation „Polacco/Polacca” in Navis Peregrinorum. The pilgrims’ data was also distorted by Italian monks who latinized the data when making an entry in the book. Each researcher tried to identify the identity of the pilgrim, hence many different versions of the peregrinants names appeared. So far it has been possible to establish the personalities of only some of them.

Published
2024-09-29
How to Cite
Lenczewski, O. (2024). Polish Research on Polonica in Navis Peregrinorum (1561–1695). The Ignatianum Philosophical Yearbook, 30(3), 177-190. https://doi.org/10.35765/rfi.2024.3003.11
Section
Articles