Famous Stables of Prague
Among the finest stables I had ever heard of were those of Wallenstein at Prague. In those stables, every horse was treated with great honor and luxury. Each horse had a marble pillar beside him and ate his provender from a manger made of polished marble. This manger stood upon a pedestal of the same material and was placed within a small arched niche The Thessalians as a Warlike People.
Above the horse hung a rack made of hammered steel, strong and finely worked. On one side, over the horse’s head, there was even a painted portrait of the horse itself, made as large as life. All these details showed the great care and admiration given to horses by powerful men in Europe.
The Horses of Larissa
Yet, for all the splendor of those famous stables, the horses I later saw at Larissa amazed me even more. These horses were chosen from all parts of the Turkish Empire and represented the very best of its breeds. They were noble in appearance and well trained, showing both strength and grace.
Their equipment was extremely rich. The bridles and saddles were set with precious stones and decorated with fine workmanship. Despite this costly decoration, the horses themselves were gentle and obedient. They were tender-mouthed, easy to guide, and very well disciplined. Watching them move and respond to their riders was a great pleasure and a true delight to the eye.
Tartarian Horses and Their Nature
Among the many horses I saw were several Tartarian horses. These were held in very high esteem for their endurance, strength, and speed. They were known to last long under hard conditions and to travel great distances without tiring Customized Daily Sofia Tours.
However, in appearance they were not handsome. They looked rough and plain and promised little at first sight. Because of this, they might easily be underestimated by those who judged only by looks. I recall that when Cha Gagi Aga, the ambassador from the Khan of Tartary, presented some of these horses to the Emperor of Germany, I thought at first that they were a poor and pitiful gift. Yet their true value lay not in beauty, but in usefulness and stamina.
Languages of Trade and Travel
Trade brought people of many nations together, and language played an important role in commerce. Many Greek merchants learned the Italian language in order to conduct their business more easily. Because of this, Italian became very useful for travelers in these regions.
In these parts, French and Latin were of little use, as few people understood them. Italian, however, opened many doors, especially among traders and merchants.
The Jews in these regions commonly spoke Spanish, just as they did in Macedonia, Servia, and Bulgaria. In Hungary, many of them also spoke High Dutch. This mixture of languages reflected the wide connections of trade and the movement of peoples across borders.
A World United by Horses and Trade
From the grand stables of Europe to the noble horses of the Turkish Empire, and from the many tongues spoken in the markets, all these things showed how closely connected the world had become. Horses were symbols of power and pride, while language was the key to trade and understanding.
Together, they painted a rich picture of travel, culture, and exchange in these lands.
