Janus Bey

Letter of Francis I to the Drogman Janus Bey, 28 December 1546, delivered by D'Aramon.
Janus Bey
BornLate 15th century
Modon
Died1541/42
NationalityGreek
Occupation(s)Interpreter (dragoman), Ambassador
Known forAmbassadorship for the Ottoman Empire

Janus Bey, in Turkish Yunus Bey (born in Modon at the end of the 15th century; died 1541/42) was a Greek who became an interpreter (dragoman) and ambassador for the Ottoman Empire.[1]

In 1532 he visited Venice and had meetings with the Venetian government.[2] He was considered as the ambassador for the Ottoman Empire, was well received and was the beneficiary of large presents from the Venetians.[3] In 1532, he apparently worked with French ambassador Antonio Rincon to obtain a safe-conduct for the Ottoman embassy to France (1533).[4] In 1537 he was co-author with Alvise Gritti of an Italian booklet, published in Venice, on the government of the Ottoman Empire. The title was Opera noua la quale dechiara tutto il gouerno del gran Turcho.[5] He founded a mosque in Constantinople, called the "Dragoman's Mosque" (Durughman Mesjidi).[1] He died in 1541/42.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Bosworth, C. E. (2000). "Tardjuman". In Bearman, P. J.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E. & Heinrichs, W. P. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume X: T–U. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 236–238. ISBN 978-90-04-11211-7.
  2. ^ Garnier, p.64-65
  3. ^ Venice reconsidered: the history and civilization of an Italian city-state by John Jeffries Martin p.177 [1]
  4. ^ Garnier, p.64-65
  5. ^ Modern edition of the Italian text