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

Catalan Atlas

Atles català (1375)

Cresques
’ “Catalan” atlas was commissioned by Prince John of Aragon so that the crown might possess a master set of nautical charts that covers both East and West. Named after the school that Abraham resided at in Majorca, the atlas contains a large illustration of Prester John, located in Nubia, accompanied with the text (qtd. in Brewer, p. 322): 

A quest rey de Nubia esta en guerra e armes [ab los] chrestians de Nubia qui son so[ts] la senyoria del enperador de Etiopia e de la terra de Preste Johan


Though John features prominently on the map, Cresques clearly positions Mansa Musa to command the most attention among the African figures depicted on the map.

For more on the map, see Grosjean's edition.

 

 

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