Episode 21: Dying, Drinking, Hunting, and Killing

Last time, we heard the tale of watchmaker John Stadler’s execution for murdering a Muslim citizen of Isfahan. This time we will hear the same tale as told in 1678 by French jewel merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, who made six voyages to Turkey, Persia, and India over the course of his 40-year career.Tavernier is perhaps most famous as the man who brought the Hope Diamond from India to Europe, probably during his sixth and final voyage between 1664 and 1668. The stone originally weighed 112 carats, and was known as the Tavernier Blue. He sold the diamond to Louis XIV of France for 220,000 livres, or the equivalent of 16,500 English pounds.John Stadler arrives in Persia six years before we meet him. He is often seen in the company of our Germans. After killing a Muslim, Stadler is sent to prison, and the shah tries three times to rescue him: the first time offering him two thousand tumans to convert, and the second time offering ten thousand tumans and a woman from his harem with all her jewels. He is executed at the end of October, 1637. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semipropilgrim.substack.com