The International Prester John Project: How A Global Legend Was Created Across Six Centuries

An Abridgment of Ecclesiastical History

Patrick Nisbet's An Abridgment of Ecclesiastical History (1776) retells the story of Prester John presented in Johann Lorenz von Mosheim's Historia Tartarorum Ecclesiastica (1741). The Abridgement is one of a handful of Enlightenment era texts that returns Prester John to the Asian Steppe using a mostly linguistic rationale. 

Nisbet writes:
The cause of Christianity gained considerable ground in Asiatic Tartary, by a remarkable revolution that happened there. This was brought about by John a Presbyter, called Prester John.  He was a Nestorian priest, a man of vast ambition, formed for enterprise, and distinguished by eminent talents. Upon the death of Kenchan, who reigned in the eastern part of Asia, the famous Prester John invaded his kingdom with surprising magnanmity, and proved successful. From a humble priest, he ascended to a kingly throne; and for a long time swayed a scepter over an opulent and powerful nation, who submitted to his victorious arms. He enlightened his dominions with the knowledge of the gospel, and  left them to his son and successor David. But he was deprived of them toward the conclusion of this century, by Genghiz-Kan Emperor of the Tartars, a renowned and successful warrior. 

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