Giovanni Leardo Map of 1442, with Letter of Prester John

Giovanni Leardo Map of 1442, with Letter of Prester John

The world map by Giovanni Leardo with the letter of Prester John to the Byzantine Emperor represents an interesting combination of two documents. The world map by the 15th century cartographer and geographer Giovanni Leardo is one of three existing maps known to be signed by him. They show the world as it was known then with the three continents of Europe, Africa, and Asia with the city of Jerusalem as the center. In the letter, which surfaced in the second half of the 12th century, the mystical medieval regent describes the land he rules as an earthly paradise.

The World in the Year 1442

When Giovanni Leardo designed his world map in 1442, which he derived from the reports of travelers and scientific discoveries, he knew only the three continents of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Thus, the East-oriented map of the world, as was typical in medieval cartography, shows the continents that were known to Europeans. The city of Jerusalem appears centrally as the epicenter of the world due to its religious significance. Furthermore, all the lands are surrounded by the ocean, whereby the forms of the Mediterranean and Western Europe are drawn with surprising accuracy. This information was probably based on the navigational charts of the time.

The Search for the Earthly Paradise

The letter to the Byzantine emperor, which is said to have been written personally by the Christian priest-king John, first circulated in Latin in the 12th century. Today we know that it was a forgery and that the actual author remains unknown. In the letter, “John” describes a land of wonders under his rule, which is as rich and extraordinary as the earthly paradise. This fascinating document was quickly translated into many languages and enjoyed great popularity. The manuscript from the Biblioteca Civica di Verona contains an Italian translation of the letter. The exciting descriptions of the animals and natural resources said to exist in the land led many to set out in search of it. Giovanni Leardo also incorporated the letter and the legends surrounding the paradisiacal kingdom of Priest John into his Mappa Mundi: while he depicted the earthly paradise in the far east of Asia, he labeled the largest “city” in Africa as “Impero del presto iani” (“The Kingdom of Priest John”).