The Successors of Genghis Khan - Robert Bedrosian's Armenian ...

THE SUCCESSORS OF GENGHIS KHAN
yarghuchis to Samarqand, Bukhara, and the countries of Transoxiana
to defend the frontiers in that direction and execute his orders. When
they arrived in that region, they put to death all the dependants and
nokers of Berke, even martyring the son of a shaikh al-Islam, Burhan
al-Dln, the son of the great shaikh Saif al-Din Bakharzi, on this account.
They carried off all the property of these people and sent some
of the valuables to Negiibei Oghul, [and] Uchachar then [went]
to Khwarazm. At this juncture Ariiq Boke's messengers arrived, headed
by Biiritei Bitikchi and Shadi, the son of Yoshmut and Erkegiin, and
delivered the yarligh ordering the levying of goods, horses, and arms.
In a short time they had collected a great quantity of goods. Alghu
coveted these and was seeking excuses and holding the messengers
up until one day he was told that they had said: "We have collected
these goods in accordance with the yarligh of Ariq Boke. What concern
is this of Alghu ? " He was offended and in his anger ordered them to be
arrested and the goods seized. His emirs said: "Having committed
such an act thou has lost Ar'iq Boke's favor, especially as Orghana
Khatun has gone to complain to him. We [by ourselves] are unable
to withstand his reproach and anger. Since we have become his
enemies, it is advisable that we give support to the Qa'an." Having
agreed upon this, they put the messengers to death and distributed the
goods amongst the troops.
When Ar'iq Boke learnt of this he was extremely annoyed. He killed
Alghu's messenger and said: "Let the people of Qara-Qorum assist
us." But the imams, bakhshis,56 and Christians declared: "The yasaq
is hard: how can we [help]?" And he said: "What army will these
three groups defeat and of what use would they be in battle ? Let them
remain here and assist us, with prayer. And if the Qa'an arrives, let
them hasten to join him." And he set out to make war on Alghu.
Upon [Ar'iq Boke's] departure the Qa'an at once arrived before the
town of Qara-Qprum at the head of a large army, which formed a
jerge around the town. Some people from each community came out
and reported on Ariiq Boke. The Qa'an treated them kindly and made
them tarkhan, as they had been previously in accordance with the
decrees of Ogetei Qa'an and Mongke Qa'an. He intended to go in
56 See Glossary.
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