Nouvelles (vraies et fausses) de conversions (vraies et fausses) de monarques étrangers, imprimées en France aux XVIe-XVIIe siècles

Printed news reports circulated, in the 16th and 17th century, which revealed sudden conversion to Christianity – some were real, but several invented of powerful monarchs from abroad. How such announcements written or invented? Different scenarios existed. There was genuine news, added cosmetic false details, sometimes overly enthusiastic interpretations. although invented, arguably, simplify reporting real upheavals on scene world affairs as entrance historical stage Safavid dynasty, fantasized media Ismail I (in 1508) Abbas 1606). The strange case La de trois grands rois [The Conversion Three Great Kings] helps distinguishing two falsification mechanisms, this steps: 1571, it fraudulent mixing excerpts Jesuit letters; 1588, 1608 1609, same report circulated anew, with all its dates replaced by current ones. Truth fiction thus intertwined better than they clashed, paradoxically at very time when information about Persia, India Indonesia starting circulate Europe. existence chimerical also indicates that, industry developing, particular desirability high-level conversions helped them prevail over other more genuine, yet less appealing.