Itinerario de Ludouico de Varthema Bolognese, published in Rome in 1510, provides nearly all the existing biographical data regarding the man who navigated the Islamic world as a clandestine pilgrim. Born in Bologna in 1470, this Italian traveler successfully entered the sacred cities of Mecca and Medina during the early sixteenth century while posing as a Mamluk soldier.
Infiltration of the Middle East
Varthema departed Europe in 1502. By early 1503, he reached Alexandria and navigated the Nile toward Cairo before traveling to Beirut, Tripoli, and Aleppo. Upon arriving in Damascus, he enlisted in the Mamluk garrison under the assumed name of Yunus. Between April and June 1503, he accompanied a Hajj caravan to Mecca and Medina. His observations of religious rituals and sites were notably accurate, though his presence was eventually compromised when a merchant identified him as a Christian.
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To escape execution, Varthema claimed to be a master cannon founder intending to aid the Sultan of Bijapur against Portuguese expansion. He secured safe passage from Jeddah to Aden, where authorities arrested him as a suspected Portuguese spy. Varthema allegedly gained his freedom through an affair with a sultana in Radaa. He later toured parts of south-west Arabia, including Sanaa, before returning to the coast.
Journeys Through Persia
In March 1504, Varthema sailed toward the Persian Gulf. Following an unplanned detour to the Somali coast, he traveled to Diu, Gogo, and eventually Hormuz. He traversed mainland Persia, visiting Herat and Shiraz. In Shiraz, he formed a partnership with a merchant named Cazazioner, who remained unaware of Varthema’s true identity. The pair attempted an expedition to Samarkand but abandoned the effort due to local conflicts involving the Safavid movement.
Exploration of the Indian Coast
Starting in October 1504, Varthema and his partner sailed down the western coast of India. They visited the port of Cambay and ventured inland to the Deccan sultanate of Bijapur. The pair continued southward, stopping at various regional hubs including Goa, Mangalore, Bhatkal, and Honavar. These accounts documented the commercial and political landscape of the Indian subcontinent during a period of shifting power dynamics.
Fast facts
- Born: 1470, Bologna
- Died: 1517, Rome
- Primary work: Itinerario de Ludouico de Varthema Bolognese
- Published: 1510, Rome
- Known aliases: Yunus, Barthema, Vertomannus
Questions readers ask
How did Varthema enter Mecca?
He enrolled in the Mamluk garrison in Damascus under the name Yunus and accompanied a Hajj pilgrim caravan.
Why was Varthema arrested in Aden?
He was imprisoned as a Christian spy suspected of being a crew member on Portuguese ships attacking regional shipping.
Achievements
- Recorded as explorer, writer and traveler
