Witsen Nicolaas Cornelis
Witsen Nicolaas (8. V. 1641, Amsterdam – 10. VIII. 1717), Dutch statesman, scholar, Orientalist, and cartographer.
He developed an early interest in the East. In 1664–65, he was a member of the Dutch Embassy to Russia, where he gathered ethnographic material about Russia and the peoples living in its vicinity. This material formed the basis for the map of the region he compiled (1687) and his work North and East Tartary (1692). A special chapter in this book was dedicated to Georgia and the Georgians. Witsen met Nikoloz Batonishvili (later King Erekle I) in Moscow.
Upon returning to his homeland, Witsen was appointed Burgomaster of Amsterdam. In the 1680s, Witsen became interested in the Georgians residing in Moscow. Archil II sent a letter to Witsen via Baron Keller, the Dutch Resident in Russia, and suggested manufacturing of Georgian typefaces (script). Along with the letter, Witsen received a calligraphically executed Georgian alphabet, which he included in his work published in 1692.
After the arrival of the Russian "Great Embassy" in Holland in 1697, Witsen established close contact with Prince Alexander (son of Archil II). With Witsen's assistance, Prince Alexander, who remained in Holland until 1699, mastered the art of artillery with highly qualified specialists. Witsen recorded information about Samegrelo, Circassia and the Georgian script from Alexander and his entourage.
The creative relationship between Witsen and Alexander was reflected in the second edition of the aforementioned book (1705), the section of which concerning Georgia was fundamentally revised and supplemented. This edition also included a unique Dutch–Georgian dictionary compiled by Witsen with the help of Prince Alexander, and a joint portrait of Nikoloz (Erekle I) and Archil II, commissioned by Witsen and executed by a Dutch artist at various times.
His work is one of the richest sources on the history of Georgia and the Caucasus.
Literary works: Noord en Oost Tartarye, Amsterdam, 1705.
Literature: ვ ა თ ე ი შ ვ ი ლ ი ჯ., ნიკოლაას ვიტსენი და მისი ცნობები საქართველოს შესახებ, თბ., 1977; მ ი ს ი ვ ე, Грузия и европейские страны, т. 1, кн. 2, М., 2003.
J. Vateishvili
F. Sikharulidze
