Michael Jan de Goeje (August 13, 1836 – May 17, 1909) was a Dutch orientalist focusing on Arabia and Islam.

Early life

Michael Jan de Goeje was born in

Dronrijp Dronryp () is a village in the Dutch municipality of Waadhoeke. On 1 January 2017, it had 3,281 inhabitants. History and architecture Before 2018, the village was part of the Menameradiel municipality. A few centuries BC, a settlement developed ...

Friesland Friesland ( ; ; official ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia (), named after the Frisians, is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen (p ...

. He devoted himself at an early age to the study of oriental languages and became especially proficient in

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

, under the guidance of

Reinhart Dozy Reinhart Pieter Anne Dozy (Leiden, Netherlands, 21 February 1820 – Leiden, 29 April 1883) was a Dutch scholar of French (Huguenot) origin, who was born in Leiden. He was an Orientalist scholar of Arabic language, history and literature. Biogr ...

and

Theodor Juynboll Theodor Willem Johannes Juynboll, also ''Theodorus Willem Johannes Juijnboll, Theodorus Guiliemus Johannes Juynboll'' (April 6, 1802 in Rotterdam – September 16, 1861 in Leiden) was a Dutch Reformed theologian and oriental philologist. Life ...

, to whom he was afterwards an intimate friend and colleague. He took his degree of doctor at

Leiden Leiden ( ; ; in English language, English and Archaism, archaic Dutch language, Dutch also Leyden) is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Provinces of the Nethe ...

in 1860, and then studied for a year in

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

, where he examined and collated the

Bodleian The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley, it is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second-largest library in ...

manuscripts of

al-Idrisi Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Idrisi al-Qurtubi al-Hasani as-Sabti, or simply al-Idrisi (; ; 1100–1165), was an Arab Muslim geographer and cartographer who served in the court of King Roger II at Palermo, Sicily. Muhammad al-Idrisi was born in C ...

(part being published in 1866, in collaboration with Dozy, as ''Description de l'Afrique et de l'Espagne''). About the same time he wrote ''Mémoires de l'histoire et de la géographie orientales'', and edited ''Expugnatio regionum''. In 1883, on the death of Dozy, he became Arabic professor at Leiden, retiring in 1906.

Career

Though perhaps not a teacher of the first order, he wielded great influence during his long tenure of the chair not only over his pupils, but over

theologian Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of ...

s and eastern administrators who attended his lectures. His many editions of

texts are of the highest value to scholars; the most important being his great edition of

Tabari Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad ibn Jarīr ibn Yazīd al-Ṭabarī (; 839–923 CE / 224–310 AH), commonly known as al-Ṭabarī (), was a Sunni Muslim scholar, polymath, historian, exegete, jurist, and theologian from Amol, Tabaristan, present-day ...

. Though highly averse to politics, he took a keen interest in the municipal affairs of Leiden and made a special study of elementary education. He took the leading part in the International Congress of Orientalists at

Algiers Algiers is the capital city of Algeria as well as the capital of the Algiers Province; it extends over many Communes of Algeria, communes without having its own separate governing body. With 2,988,145 residents in 2008Census 14 April 2008: Offi ...

in 1905. He was a member of the

Institut de France The ; ) is a French learned society, grouping five , including the . It was established in 1795 at the direction of the National Convention. Located on the Quai de Conti in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the institute manages approximately ...

, was awarded the German Order of Merit, and received an honorary doctorate of

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

. At his death he was president of the newly formed International Association of Academies of Science. He became a member of the

Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (, KNAW) is an organization dedicated to the advancement of science and literature in the Netherlands. The academy is housed in the Trippenhuis in Amsterdam. In addition to various advisory a ...

in 1869.

Bibliography

Among his chief works are: *''Fragmenta historicorum Arabicorum'' (1869-1871
Fragmenta historicorum arabicorumVolume 1Volume 2Fragmenta historicorum arabicorumFragmenta historicorum arabicorum
*'' Diwan (poetry), Diwan of

Moslim ibn al-Wâlid Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abraham (or ''Allah'') as it ...

'' (1875) *''Bibliotheca geographorum Arabicorum'' (1870-1894
Bibliotheca geographorum arabicorum. Pars prima-[octava]Bibliotheca geographorum arabicorumBibliotheca Geographorum Arabicorumالمجلد السابع من كتاب الأعلاق النفيسة
*''Annals of Tabari'' (''

History of the Prophets and Kings The ''History of the Prophets and Kings'' ( ''Tārīkh al-Rusul wa al-Mulūk''), more commonly known as ''Tarikh al-Tabari'' () or ''Tarikh-i Tabari'' or ''The History of al-Tabari '' () is an Arabic-language historical chronicle completed by the ...

'') (1879-1901) *

ibn Khordadbeh Abu'l-Qasim Ubaydallah ibn Abdallah ibn Khordadbeh (; 820/825–913), commonly known as Ibn Khordadbeh (also spelled Ibn Khurradadhbih; ), was a high-ranking bureaucrat and geographer of Persian descent in the Abbasid Caliphate. He is the aut ...

Abu'l Qasim Ubaid'Allah, '' al-Kitab al-Masalik w’al- Mamalik'' (Livre des Routes et des Royaumes, الكتاب المسالك والممالك), about 870
Kitab Masalik wa al-mamalikKitab Masalik wa al-mamalik
Fr. translation: Leyde, 1889 ; repr. Francfort/Main, 1992. *An edition of

Ibn Qutaiba Abū Muḥammad ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muslim ibn Qutayba al-Dīnawarī al-Marwazī better known simply as Ibn Qutaybah (; c. 828 – 13 November 889 CE/213 – 15 Rajab 276 AH) was an Islamic scholar of Persian descent. He served as a judge during the ...

's biographies (1904) *of the travels of

Ibn Jubayr Ibn Jubayr (1 September 1145 – 29 November 1217; ), also written Ibn Jubair, Ibn Jobair, and Ibn Djubayr, was an Arab geographer, traveller and poet from al-Andalus. His travel chronicle describes the pilgrimage he made to Mecca from 1183 to 11 ...

(1907, 5th vol. of Gibb Memorial). He was also the chief editor of the ''

Encyclopaedia of Islam The ''Encyclopaedia of Islam'' (''EI'') is a reference work that facilitates the Islamic studies, academic study of Islam. It is published by Brill Publishers, Brill and provides information on various aspects of Islam and the Muslim world, Isl ...

'' (vols. i.-iii.), and contributed many articles to periodicals. He wrote for the 9th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica.

Commemoration

De Goeje's name is preserved in that of the Stichting de Goeje which subsidises the publication of academic studies relating to the Middle East.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Goeje, Michael Jan de 1836 births 1909 deaths Dutch orientalists Dutch Arabists Academic staff of Leiden University People from Menaldumadeel Commanders of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Commanders of the Order of the Polar Star Members of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences Dutch scholars of Islam Members of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences Corresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences Members of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters Members of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Members of the Société Asiatique Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class) Corresponding fellows of the British Academy