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

BEGINNING OF THE HISTORY OF OGETEI QA AN
were still upon that campaign when the Year of the Rat2'8 came around.
In the spring, they appointed troops and gave them to Buqadai,259
whom they sent to Temur-Qahalqa260 to capture the town and the
region. As for Giiyiik Khan and Mongke Qa'an, by the yarligh of
Qa'an they turned back in the autumn of the Year of the Rat, and
in the Year of the Ox, corresponding to the months of the year 638/
1240-1241,2ftl [they] alighted in their own ordos.
Account of the buildings which he constructed in the period between
the princes' departure to Qipchaq and their return; also a description of his
houses and dwelling places and summer and winter residences
From the beginning of the qonin yil,262 corresponding to the months
of the year 632/1234-1235,263 when he sent the princes to the Qipchaq
Steppe, until the hilker j>z/,264 corresponding to the months of the year
638/1240-1241,26s when Giiyiik Khan and Mongke Qa'an returned, a
period of 7 years, [Ogetei Qa'an] concerned himself with pleasure
and merrymaking, moving happily and joyously from summer
to winter residences and from winter to summer residences,
constantly employed in the gratification of all manner of
pleasures in the company of beauteous ladies and moon-faced mistresses
and on all occasions turning his august mind to the diffusion of justice
and beneficence, the removal of tyranny and oppression, the restoration
of the lands and provinces, and the creation and construction of all
manner of buildings. And in no way did he neglect the finest points
in whatever related to laying the foundations of world sovereignty
and raising the edifices of prosperity. Having brought with him from
Khitai masters of every craft and trade, he commanded them to
build in the yurt of Qara-Qorum, where he for the most part had his
auspicious residence, a palace exceedingly tall in structure and with
lofty pillars, such as was in keeping with the high resolve of such a
king. The length of every wing of it was the distance of a bowshot,
«81240.
259 Verkhovsky's Bukdai: Blochet's text has QWQDAY.
260 " Iron Gate," that is, Darband. 26' Actually 1241.
262 The Year of the Sheep (Mo. qoni (n)).
263 Actually 1235. ** The Year of the Ox (Mo. uker).
265 Actually 1241.
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