The Royal Hunt in Eurasian History (review)

This study is an impressive examination of the royal hunt throughout the Eurasian continent and its uses. Allsen, one of the leading historians of the Mongol Empire, places more emphasis on the Mongol period, but gives ample attention to other areas and time periods. The work's value is not only in the content, but also because of Allsen's clear, precise writing and ability to weave a solid analytical narrative on a topic that spans centuries and cultures.

Allsen argues that in addition to their obvious role in procuring food, the royal hunts served two other purposes: military training and diplomacy. The use of hunting as military training varied throughout Eurasia. In the steppes, it was the primary form of training, whereas in other regions it was less important. In regards to the hunt as an instrument of politics and diplomacy, this ranged from the overt to subtle nuances that even the participants may not have realized.

The examination of these two topics is developed through thirteen chapters. Allsen's examples range from ancient Egypt to the period of the British Raj and the Qajar state in Iran in the early twentieth century. The chapters cover a variety of topics, from the development of hunting parks or preserves to the administration of the hunt, and, of course, two chapters deal with hunting animals (or assistants)—not only which animals were used, such as cheetahs and falcons, but how they were procured and exchanged. The two main themes of diplomacy and warfare are entwined together as ambassadors often accompanied the ruler on a royal hunt. In this way, the ruler intended to impress and intimidate the ambassador through a display of martial discipline and valor on the hunt. Furthermore, by staging a large elaborate hunt complete with the requisite hunting animals and a wide variety of prey, it was intended that the ambassador should return to his own lord suitably impressed by the wealth and grandeur of the ruler's domains.

All of this ultimately led to, as Allsen demonstrates, the creation of an elite hunting culture that rulers understood and appreciated, at least on some level, despite cultural differences. In short, it was the premodern equivalent of golf. Indeed, gifts between rulers not only included hunting animals, such as falcons, dogs, or cheetahs, but animal trainers as well.

The Royal Hunt in Eurasian History is an impressive work not only as it is, to my knowledge, the only work that examines this phenomenon on a continental scale, but also due to the temporal span of Allsen's study. In addition to being well organized and researched, it is complemented by an array of illustrations drawn from primary works as well as a few more modern depictions. The range of sources that Allsen has consulted, whether in the original (such as Russian, Persian, and Chinese documents) or translation is impressive. Allsen states (p. 405) that he could not consult every source available simply due to time and space; however, judging from the bibliography provided, it is doubtful that any omission will detract from this volume's value to scholars.