Abraham Constantine d’Ohsson (Muradjayan) — one of Europe’s First Eminent Mongolists
https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2025-1-118-129
Abstract
Introduction. Abraham Constantine Mouradgea d’Ohsson (Muradjayan, 1779–1851) was a Swedish diplomat, chemist, and historian. He was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and an honorary member of both the Royal Academy of Letters and the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala. A nobleman of Armenian origin, he is regarded as one of the most eminent representatives of Mongolian studies in Europe. His seminal work, “The History of the Mongols from Genghis Khan to Timur”, written in French, was first published in Paris in 1824 and republished in 1834–1835. This work became a milestone in Western Mongolian studies, particularly due to its extensive use of historical sources that were previously little known or entirely unknown in European Oriental scholarship. The aim of the article is to highlight the life and work of one of the pioneers of the European Mongolian studies. Materials and Methods. The main research sources are d’Ohsson’s monograph as well as opinions of various Orientalists about his work. Results. By studying d’Ohsson’s monograph in the context of the history of Mongolian studies and its further life, as well as the way specialists appreciated it, its importance in the development of Mongolistica in Europe becomes obvious. An analysis of the content of d’Ohsson’s work reveals the existence of the early and systematic approach to the study of the Mongolian heritage, which makes it possible to consider his monograph as one of the first comprehensive works on this topic in the European science of the 19th century.
About the Authors
Artsvi H. Bakhchinyan
National Academy of Sciences, Institute of History (24/4, Marshal Baghramyan Ave., 0019 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia)
Armenia
Armenia
Cand. Sc. (Philology), Senior Research Associate
Seta D. Ohanyan
National Academy of Sciences, Institute of History (24/4, Marshal Baghramyan Ave., 0019 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia)
Armenia
Armenia
Cand. Sc. (Philology), Research Associate
Knarik R. Petrosyan
National Academy of Sciences, Institute of History (24/4, Marshal Baghramyan Ave., 0019 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia)
Armenia
Armenia
Cand. Sc. (Philology), Research Associate
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Review
For citations:
Bakhchinyan A.H., Ohanyan S.D., Petrosyan K.R. Abraham Constantine d’Ohsson (Muradjayan) — one of Europe’s First Eminent Mongolists. Mongolian Studies. 2025;17(1):118-129. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2025-1-118-129
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