The Commentary of Father Monserrate on his Journey to the Court of Akbar

What it is

This is an English translation, published in 1922, of a Latin commentary written by the Jesuit priest Antonio Monserrate, who traveled to Akbar's court as part of the first Jesuit mission. The translation was made by J. S. Hoyland and annotated by S. N. Banerjee, based on an earlier edited Latin text.

Why it matters

Monserrate was an eyewitness at Akbar's court and recorded the religious discussions Akbar held there, including debates between Jesuits, Muslim scholars, and others. This firsthand European account gives historians a rare outside view of Akbar's famous interest in religious discussion, complementing Mughal sources written by Akbar's own courtiers.

Look closer

• Why might a Jesuit missionary's account of Akbar differ from an account written by a Mughal court historian?
• What biases might Monserrate have brought to describing a non-Christian ruler's religious debates?
• How does reading a translation, made centuries later, change our access to the original voice?