Johan Renat

He is primarily known for his role in bringing detailed maps of Central Asia to Europe after close to two decades in captivity.

Renat was the son of Dutch Jewish immigrants to Sweden, who converted to Christianity and took Swedish citizenship in 1681, the year before his birth.

During the Great Northern War against Russia, he served in the army of Charles XII as a warrant officer (styckjunkare) in the artillery.

In 1716, Renat and other Swedish prisoners of war took part in Ivan Buchholz [ru]'s expedition to explore the gold deposits around Lake Yamysh on the Irtysh River.

In Dzungaria, Renat helped the khans Tsewang Rabtan and Galdan Tseren organize their campaigns against Qing rule in Central Asia.