WOJCIECH BIBERSTEIN-KAZIMIRSKI – ORIENTALISTA I DYPLOMATA

Abstrakt

Wojciech Biberstein-Kazimirski is a fascinating, non-typical scientist, who has nevertheless been forgotten by Polish historiography. Count Tytus Działyński immediately saw great potential in him and generously funded his studies. Th e trust of the Działyński family was passed on from father to son and Jan Działyński also supported the work of Kazimirski, who was certainly the greatest Polish orientalist. Kazimirski was an active patriot of the Polish insurrection. He took refuge in France where he made a respectable career at the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs in the 19th century. He was awarded French citizenship and made an offi cer of la Légion d’honneur. He distinguished himself as a remarkable linguist and published works in a dozen languages, including the most famous French translation of the Qu’ran of all time and his French-Arabic dictionary, which are still considered among the best today. He was also an expert in oriental manuscripts. He was appreciated by the two Czartoryski princes, and the two Shahs of Iran of his time. Aft er his death, the French Ministry of Foreign Aff airs erected a beautiful bust on his tomb that can still be admired. However, despite all this, there is not a single accurate biography about him. On the contrary, most notices and articles do not even get the most basic things right about him, such as his name, his origin, or his religion.