Un médecin princier moins connu de la période phanariote : Michel Schendos van der Bech (1691-env.1736)
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Abstract
Michael Schendos van der Bech, born in Venice by Greek parents, was
one of the most distinguished intellectuals of the first half of the eighteenth
century. He was particularly active in the cultural affairs of the Danubian principalities and Russia. His father hailed from Castoria and his mother from
Crete. Schendos studied medicine and philosophy at the University of Padova.
After completing his studies, he was invited by his uncle John Avramios, a
well-known intellectual and colleague of Anthimos Bishop of Hungaro-Vallachia, to go to Vallachia. While there he came into sharp conflict with Nikolaos Mavrocordatos, and the two opponents, in defending their respective
positions, published a number of works valuable for the useful material and
information they contain about the intellectual movements in Europe of that
period. In 1723 he returned to Venice, and from there, at the invitation of
Catherine I, he went to Petersburg to serve as medical officer in the Russian
army. As a result of his writings on a great variety of subjects he became a
prominent man of letters, and many European Academies extended the courtesy of membership to him. He died in 1736 at the age of 50; the precise circumstances of his death remain unknown. The purpose of the present study is to present a detailed discussion of Schendos’ extant writings.
one of the most distinguished intellectuals of the first half of the eighteenth
century. He was particularly active in the cultural affairs of the Danubian principalities and Russia. His father hailed from Castoria and his mother from
Crete. Schendos studied medicine and philosophy at the University of Padova.
After completing his studies, he was invited by his uncle John Avramios, a
well-known intellectual and colleague of Anthimos Bishop of Hungaro-Vallachia, to go to Vallachia. While there he came into sharp conflict with Nikolaos Mavrocordatos, and the two opponents, in defending their respective
positions, published a number of works valuable for the useful material and
information they contain about the intellectual movements in Europe of that
period. In 1723 he returned to Venice, and from there, at the invitation of
Catherine I, he went to Petersburg to serve as medical officer in the Russian
army. As a result of his writings on a great variety of subjects he became a
prominent man of letters, and many European Academies extended the courtesy of membership to him. He died in 1736 at the age of 50; the precise circumstances of his death remain unknown. The purpose of the present study is to present a detailed discussion of Schendos’ extant writings.
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