Les voyageurs occidentaux à la découverte de l’altérité musulmane au bas Moyen Âge

In 1432, Bertrandon de la Broquière, the first Sharp Squire of the Duke of Burgundy Philippe le Bon, was sent in the Middle East on a reconnaissance mission. At the Duke’s request, Bertrandon wrote a travel story from his journey – which led him to travel overland through the Near East, Asia Minor, the Balkans and Central Europe – entitled Le Voyage d’Outremer.This narrative distinguishes itself by the richness of its descriptions, based on Bertrandon’s observations and discussions during his trip.It is therefore a significant testimony on knowledge and perception of the Muslim otherness in the first half of the 15th century written by a noble Burgundian.This article analyses how Bertrandon de la Broquière managed to get closer to various Muslim societies he met, in order to convey a description that goes beyond stereotypes.