ABSTRACT
Around the year 965, the Jewish-Arab merchant Ibrahim ibn Yaqub al-Tartushi traveled through Central Europe as an envoy of the caliph of Córdoba. His report has come down to us through the writings of Zakariya bin Muhammad al-Qazwini, who was born in northwestern Iran around 1200 and died in 1283. Ibrahim traveled from Mainz to Magdeburg, where he met the emperor, Otto the Great. From there, he visited the Slavic Abodrites in modern-day Mecklenburg and the Bohemians in Prague, although it is not clear in which order. He left the following remarks on a “King of the North:”
In as far as Mesheqqo’s country is concerned, it is the largest of their countries and rich in grain, honey and fish. He collects his tribute in silver [al-mathaqil al-marqtija], and this forms the upkeep of his men; in each month, each man is given a certain amount thereof. He has 3000 men in armour, and these are warriors of whom a hundred are worth 10,000 others. He gives his men clothes, horses, weapons and everything they need …. 1
