The visit of a Persian Delegation to the Kingdom of Kandy in 1679
Posted on April 13th, 2026
@SenakaWeeraratna
Christopher Schweitzer was a German serving in the Dutch forces in Ceylon. The voyage of Christopher Schweitzer from Wurtenberg, Germany who spent time in Ceylon in the 1670s has left an interesting account.
While in Ceylon between 1676 – 1682 Schweitzer refers to the visit of a Persian Delegation to the Kingdom of Kandy probably in 1679. While stationed in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) as a soldier and clerk for the Dutch East India Company ( VOC) between 1676 and 1682, Christopher Schweitzer documented the arrival of a Persian delegation sent to the Kingdom of Kandy. Schweitzer was then performing duties as a Sentry guard in the border areas of the Dutch controlled administration i.e., Avissawella ( Sitawaka) and Kandyan Kingdom.
Key details of this historical encounter include: Arrival and Purpose: The Persian ambassadors arrived in the late 1670s (around 1679). They were sent by the Safavid Shah to the court of King Rajasinghe II (r. 1635–1687).
The Delegation’s Gifts: Schweitzer noted that the ambassadors brought exotic gifts for the King, including Persian horses, which were highly prized in the Kandyan court for their stature and breed.
Protocol and Reception: Schweitzer describes the immense pomp and ceremony involved in receiving the delegation. The Dutch, who controlled the maritime provinces, were often required to facilitate the passage of such foreign embassies to the inland Kandyan kingdom.
Observations on Culture: In his journal, titled Journal-und-Tage-buch seiner sechs jährigen ost indienischen Reise (later translated as Voyage to the East Indies), Schweitzer also provided details on the luxurious Persian textiles used by the Kandyan royalty, which he attributed to these diplomatic and trade exchanges. What are the details of the Persian Delegation to the Kingdom of Kandy in 1679?
1) How many were in the delegation? 2) What are the names and designations of the visitors? 3) What are the gifts? 4) What were the political discussions on ? 5) What did the King of Kandy want from the Persians? 6) What did the Persians want from the Kandyans? 7) Any further information on these topics will be valued.
Schweitzer’s account is a rare European eyewitness record of 17th-century Kandyan diplomacy with powers beyond the reach of European colonial interests.
Senaka Weeraratna
Refer
Schweitzer, C. 1688. Journal- und Tage-Buch seiner sechs-jahrigen Ost-Indianischen Reise, angefangen den 1 Decembris Anno 1675 und vollendet den 2 Septemb Anno 1682. Tuebingen, Johann Georg Cotta. pp. i-iv, 1-136, i-xiii.