History of the Tulip

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The tulip was introduced to Europe in the 16th century by the Flemish diplomat Ogier Ghislain de Busbecq (1522-1591), born in Comines, then a territory under Emperor Charles V. As a diplomat and scholar, he mastered seven languages and studied at various European universities.

In 1554, Ferdinand of Austria, King of Bohemia and Hungary, sent him as an ambassador to Constantinople to negotiate a truce with the Ottoman Empire, led by Suleiman the Magnificent (1494-1566). During his stay in Anatolia, Busbecq discovered the tulip, a flower highly prized at the Ottoman court and named after the Turkish word tülbend (turban), due to its shape. He sent several bulbs to the imperial gardens in Vienna.

The botanical scientist Carolus Clusius (1526-1609), physician to Emperor Maximilian II, became fascinated by the tulip and started a collection in Vienna. Later, he introduced the flower to the Netherlands, where he founded the famous Hortus Botanicus in Leiden. Clusius is considered a pioneer of horticulture and mycology.

The tulip grew into a symbol of wealth and became a popular subject in floral paintings and Delftware. In the 17th century, a speculative craze known as Tulip Mania emerged. Around 1637, tulip bulbs were traded for exorbitant prices, sometimes equivalent to twenty years’ salary for a craftsman. When the market collapsed, it led to enormous financial losses and is regarded as the first speculative bubble in history.

Despite this crisis, the tulip remained a symbol of luxury and beauty and is today one of the most beloved flowers in the world.