Путопис Харун Ибн Јахје
The Travelogue of Haroon Ibn Yahya

Summary/Abstract: The Travelogue of Haroon ibn Yahya, preserved through the 10th century Arab geographers Ibn Rostech and Ibn-al Qas, represents a unique description of Constantinople. Ibn Rostech's account is a more detailed one. The Travelogue begins in Asqalan, from where Byzantines transported the captured Haroon by boat to Antalya, the city in Pamphilia. Then he reached Constantinople through the cities oh Nikia and Sunkur. While he was a prisoner in the Byzantine capital, he described the royal palace and the most important churches, as well as the Christmas ceremony. After leaving Constantinople, Haroon traveled through Thessalonica, then through Slav lands, and then along the Adriatic coast, to Split and Venice. The Travelogue ends with the description of Rome, and he also mentions Burgundy, Frank lands, and Britain. Another, less known version of text, from the British Library, was written by Ibn/al Qas, and presented by Ј. C. Ducène. According to Vassiliev and Marckhart, Haroon ibn Yahya traveled during the reign of the Emperor Vassily I (867-886), or during Leo VI (886-912). Ostrogorski thought that he traveled during the reign of Alexander (912-13). However, when dating is concerned, it is important to note that Ibn Rostech copied Haroon's manuscript by 930s at the latest. Beside that, dating is facilitated by the fact of accepting of Christianity during the King Bassus, or Bulgarian King Boris. Haroon mentioned that Bulgarians were fighting Byzantines, and Byzantines them. When Boris's younger son Simeon (893- 927) ascended to the throne, the conflict between Byzantium and Bulgaria erupted (894-896). Leo VI was defeated, so the peace was concluded in 896. When seven-years old Constantine ascended to the throne, the conflict erupted again, in 913-914. The mention of the war between Bulgarians and Byzantines leads us to date the Travelogue in either 894-896, or 913-914. As Byzantium was at war against Arabians in 894-895, the dating in 894-895 seems certain, as Byzantium was then at war against both Bulgarians and Arabians — which was not the case in 913-914.

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