Bertrandon de la Broquiere was esquire to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy.
The resulting account of his travels, translated into English by Thomas.
Bertrandon set off in 1432 disguised as a pilgrim but acting as a spy for Philip, noting important details of the military, political and cultural aspects of Mamluk and Ottoman lands.
Philip had plans for a new Crusade to the Holy Land and as part of this plan he persuaded Bertrandon to undertake a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to gather intelligence.
Bertrandon de la Broquiere was esquire to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy