Peter Sparnau (fl. 1385-1426, esp. 1385)

by Zhao Luyang 赵鲁阳 (See Chinese translation)

Peter Sparnau (fl. 1385-1426, alternative names) was presumably born in Erfurt in Thuringia, Germany. His date of birth is unknown. In 1385, he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land together with Ulrich von Tennstaedt. He became provost of the cathedral in Merseburg in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, in 1400 and remained in this position until his death in 1426.

His book, Die Jerusalemfahrt, describes his journey to the Holy Land. In the preface he lists the sacred sites of Jerusalem, its surroundings and provides a pilgrimage guide that details the daily spending for food and accommodation.

He went on pilgrimage together with Ulrich von Tennstaedt and their servant Claus Frybate. They started their journey in Plauen near Arnstadt in Saxony, Germany, and travelled to Venice by horse. After they arrived in Venice, the servant rode the horses back home, while Peter Sparnau and Ulrich von Tennstaedt sailed on one of Nicolo Paulo’s ship to Alexandria.

Other pilgrims aboard included Rembold Splender and Hans von Wiegersheim of Strasbourg, Johann Mentler of Lübeck, Hans von der Swemming and Hans Kothin of Alsace and Lorenz Egen of Augsburg. Lorenz Egen also wrote a travelogue about their journey.

Peter Sparnau described how the travellers formed an economic community to share accommodation expenses and custom fees in Alexandria. He proceeded on his journey from Alexandria on land, also visiting Cairo.

From Egypt, Sparnau travelled to the Holy Land. He visited the St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, and then went on to Hebron, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Nazareth. On his journey through the Sinai Peninsula, he documented their supplies -- wine, bread, beans and pork for 26 days -- as well as water for the days when there was no water accessible. The description of the Holy Land is succinct. Most of the sacred sites were already described in the preface.

He continued his description of his visit to Damascus. During his stay in Beirut, one pilgrim died and was buried in the church of St. George.

Peter Sparnau’s return journey was quite unusual. After spending Christmas in Constantinople, he travelled back via the Balkans. It is likely that the city of Roșiorii de Vede in Romania was documented for the first time in Peter Sparnau’s travel book.

In describing his pilgrimage, he emphasised his personal presence at the sacred sites by using wording such as do bin ich gewesen (I was there) and das han ich gesehen (I have seen that). He also mentioned specific religious sites, for example, do kamen wir zu moyses brunn, desselben brunnen han ich mir genuck getrunken vnde han heupt, hand vnde füß darauß gewaschen (there we came to the fountain of Moses, I drank my fill from the same fountain and washed my hair, hands and feet).