Richard Knolles
Encyclopedia
Richard Knolles was an English
historian
, famous for his account of the Ottoman Empire
, the first major description in the English language.
A native of Northamptonshire
, he was educated at Lincoln College, Oxford
, of which he became a fellow. Some time after 1571, he left Oxford to become master of a school at Sandwich, Kent
, where he died in 1610. In 1603, Knolles published his Generall Historie of the Turkes, of which several editions subsequently appeared, among them Sir Paul Rycaut
's edition (1700); Rycaut brought the history down to 1699.
Knolles' original work was dedicated to King James I and VI
. His work has considerable merits of style and arrangement. Samuel Johnson
said that the Generall Historie of the Turkes showed all the excellencies that narration can admit, explaining Knolles' limited reputation by the fact that he wrote of a subject of which none desires to be informed.
Knolles also published a translation of Jean Bodin
's De Republica in 1606, but the Grammatica Latina, Graeca et Hebraica, attributed to him by Anthony Wood
and others, is the work of the Rev. Hanserd Knollys
(c. 1599-1691), a Baptist
minister.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, famous for his account of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, the first major description in the English language.
A native of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, he was educated at Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
, of which he became a fellow. Some time after 1571, he left Oxford to become master of a school at Sandwich, Kent
Sandwich, Kent
Sandwich is a historic town and civil parish on the River Stour in the Non-metropolitan district of Dover, within the ceremonial county of Kent, south-east England. It has a population of 6,800....
, where he died in 1610. In 1603, Knolles published his Generall Historie of the Turkes, of which several editions subsequently appeared, among them Sir Paul Rycaut
Paul Rycaut
Sir Paul Rycaut FRS was a British diplomat and historian, and authority on the Ottoman Empire.-Life:...
's edition (1700); Rycaut brought the history down to 1699.
Knolles' original work was dedicated to King James I and VI
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
. His work has considerable merits of style and arrangement. Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
said that the Generall Historie of the Turkes showed all the excellencies that narration can admit, explaining Knolles' limited reputation by the fact that he wrote of a subject of which none desires to be informed.
Knolles also published a translation of Jean Bodin
Jean Bodin
Jean Bodin was a French jurist and political philosopher, member of the Parlement of Paris and professor of law in Toulouse. He is best known for his theory of sovereignty; he was also an influential writer on demonology....
's De Republica in 1606, but the Grammatica Latina, Graeca et Hebraica, attributed to him by Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood or Anthony à Wood was an English antiquary.-Early life:Anthony Wood was the fourth son of Thomas Wood , BCL of Oxford, where Anthony was born...
and others, is the work of the Rev. Hanserd Knollys
Hanserd Knollys
-Life:He was born at Cawkwell, Lincolnshire, about 1599. He was educated privately under a tutor, was for a short time at Great Grimsby grammar school, and afterwards matriculated at St Catharine's College, Cambridge in 1627 or 1629. Leaving the university, he became master of the grammar school at...
(c. 1599-1691), a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister.