Philippe Avril
Encyclopedia
Philippe Avril was a Jesuit explorer of the Far East
. He was born at Angoulême
, France
on 16 September 1654.
Avril was a professor of philosophy and mathematics at Paris
when he was dispatched to the Jesuit missions of China
. Following the instructions of Ferdinand Verbiest
, another Jesuit, then at Peking, he attempted an overland journey, and traveled for six years through Kurdistan, Armenia
, Astrakhan
, Persia, and other countries of eastern Asia.
Arriving at Moscow
, Avril was refused permission to pass through Tatary, and was sent by the Government to Poland
, whence he made his way to Istanbul
and from there went back to France. Though exhausted by disease
, he set out again on a vessel, which was lost at sea. Avril presumably died in a 1698 shipwreck
.
Avril's journal and writings provide a significant amount of useful material for modern historians and demographers.
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. He was born at Angoulême
Angoulême
-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on 16 September 1654.
Avril was a professor of philosophy and mathematics at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
when he was dispatched to the Jesuit missions of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Following the instructions of Ferdinand Verbiest
Ferdinand Verbiest
Father Ferdinand Verbiest was a Flemish Jesuit missionary in China during the Qing dynasty. He was born in Pittem near Tielt in Flanders, later part of the modern state of Belgium. He is known as Nan Huairen in Chinese...
, another Jesuit, then at Peking, he attempted an overland journey, and traveled for six years through Kurdistan, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, Astrakhan
Astrakhan
Astrakhan is a major city in southern European Russia and the administrative center of Astrakhan Oblast. The city lies on the left bank of the Volga River, close to where it discharges into the Caspian Sea at an altitude of below the sea level. Population:...
, Persia, and other countries of eastern Asia.
Arriving at Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Avril was refused permission to pass through Tatary, and was sent by the Government to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, whence he made his way to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
and from there went back to France. Though exhausted by disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
, he set out again on a vessel, which was lost at sea. Avril presumably died in a 1698 shipwreck
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
.
Avril's journal and writings provide a significant amount of useful material for modern historians and demographers.