Jacobus Tollius magyarországi mozaikjai
Jacobus Tollius’s Hungarian Mosaics

Summary/Abstract: The name of Jacobus Tollius (1630-1696) does not ring a bell nowadays, even though the Dutch traveler was a well-known and esteemed philologist and alchemist in his life. He visited Hungary twice. His first journey took place in 1660. Due to a coincidence, this time he enjoyed the hospitality of Miklós Zrínyi at Csáktornya, where he found „beautiful buildings, dazzling furniture, great comfort, cleanliness and an erudite family”. The first destination of his second journey in 1687 was Pozsony, then he visited some mining towns in Upper Hungary stopping in Győr, Komárom and Érsekújvár and finished his trip in Buda. The journey is important because of its peculiar three-dimensionality. The first remarkable dimension was the timing: Tollius arrived in Buda only six months after the expulsion of the Ottomans, and he traveled through Upper Hungary when it was under kuruc control. The fairly incomprehensible, eclectic labyrinth of everyday life must have been fascinating for the foreign traveler. On the other hand, Tollius was a traveler, who supplemented his empirical impressions and observations, often of subtle details, with the possibilities offered by oral history. Third, he was a notable scientist in the history of mining and chemistry. This is why Tollius’ letters are an enjoyable read. It is not an accident that – besides the works of British traveler Edward Brown, a contemporary of Tollius who had also visited the country a few years earlier – Jacobus Tollius’ works are one of the most important sources used in 18th-century European, but mainly French, dictionary literature for drawing the image of Hungary.

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