Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 73-74. (Budapest, 1975)

TANULMÁNYOK - Schultheisz Emil—Tardy Lajos: Egy reneszánsz-korbeli orvosdiplomata (angol nyelven)

secret agreement you are going to negotiate with him, or he with you, we will approve of it and confirm it, just as if we had been present at the making of the agreement. Dated at the beginning of the lunar month of Rabemel, that is July, in the 877th year of Mohammed, in our style."

20 In this letter Isaac is not explicitly called ambassador, but there is more than ample evidence to his high rank by the display of the extreme confidence of the Persian ruler in his personality. The fact that the results of the negotiations between the Signoria of Venice and Isaac were acknowledged as of binding character, makes it obvious that the "magnus medicus", or using the customary title of the European courts: archiater, was a diplomat of enourmous knowledge and experience, who must have represented Hasan's interest on several previous occasions. After identifying the person of the Persian envoy in King Matthias' Court it is worth while studying the times of issue of the above diplomas. What basis do they offer for establishing the time of Isaac's arrival in Europe? Among the Venetian documents that refer to Isaac by name the earliest one appears to be the instructions of the Signoria of Venice for Giosafatte Barbaro dated from 28th January 1472.

21 In that case it would be clearly impossible for the notary of Kaffa to prepare the Latin versions of the credentials for King Matthias and Stefan eel Mare. But during all its existance the Republic of Venice started the annus Domini with March 1. Consequently the real date of the document is January 28, 1473, and not 1472! Then the first documentary occurance of Isaac Beg is September 12, 1472, when the Senate of Venice informed Cornaro Frederico its envoy at the Holy See, of the arrival of doctor Isaac, the envoy of Uzun Hasan and that he proceeded to the Pope. Ten days later the Signoria in its new letter to Cornaro mentions that Isaac (who is not named, but the reference to him is clear) came to Venice via Kaffa. On the same day the Senate wrote to Zaccaria Barbaro, its representative in Naples, that the newly arrived amissary of Uzun Hasan who had once been to Venice with Lazzaro Querini and returned in the company of Caterino Zeno, will seek an audience from the King of Sicily, and the succès of the audience should be pressed by all means available. All this gives sufficient evidence that the authentic translation of the credential letter of Isaac Beg, arriving in Venice via Kaffa and acting there first in September 1472, was made in the same year in Kaffa by the notary Constantius de Sarra. The calendar of Venice explains how Isaac could appear in Venice already in the previous year (1471) together with Querini, and return to Persia in the same year, as testified by the letter addressed to Zaccaria Barbaro. In his first mission Isaac did not need a letter of credence, as he came noly in the capacity as Querini's interpreter, (though he was referred to as orator) taking the message of Uzun Hasan. Next time he came on a diplomatic mission, attested by the Latin translation of his credentials. It is beyond doubt that this letter was written in July 1472. 20 Berchèt, op. cit. 114—115 pp. 21 Cornet, op. cit., 68—75 pp.