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The Turco-Mongol Invasions and the Lords of Armenia in the 13 ...

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<strong>in</strong>satiable appetite for plunder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mongol</strong> nonad<br />

warriors could net be assuaged <strong>in</strong> successful wars aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />

foreign enemies, it could at least be unleashed upon a<br />

new class <strong>of</strong> domestic enemies—<strong>the</strong> Christians. In Caucaeia<br />

<strong>the</strong> "<strong>in</strong>strument <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> anti-Christ" was a Persian Muslim<br />

named :.auruz, whose fanaticism neems to hpve been es much<br />

<strong>13</strong>8<br />

for <strong>the</strong> aaaas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> a personal fortune as for <strong>the</strong> promulgation <strong>of</strong> Islan<br />

temporarily, accord<strong>in</strong>g to BK p. 506. Anti-Christian persecutions<br />

had occurred prior to Ghazan's reign, <strong>in</strong> 1286 <strong>in</strong><br />

Mosul (3K p. -*e2). See <strong>Armenia</strong>n Neo-Tiartyra, bishop Grigor<br />

Karnec'i (d. <strong>13</strong>21/22) pp. 121-22.<br />

1 Step'annos has recorded that Nauruz received Ghazan's<br />

permission to extirpate Christianity: "With<strong>in</strong> our borders,<br />

<strong>the</strong>y robbed <strong>the</strong> churches <strong>of</strong> Naxi3«wan, enslaved <strong>and</strong> tormented<br />

<strong>the</strong> priests; <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y hauled <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> doors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chapela<br />

<strong>and</strong> demolished <strong>the</strong> altars. However, <strong>the</strong> great chiefta<strong>in</strong>s<br />

did no* silow thcsa churches to fcs pulled down which were<br />

<strong>in</strong>spected by <strong>the</strong> Georgian troops. <strong>The</strong>y also cane to <strong>the</strong><br />

[religious] seat <strong>of</strong> Siwnik* <strong>and</strong> wanted to yull down<br />

arsK "but through bribes <strong>and</strong> violence we did not let<br />

<strong>The</strong>y looted <strong>the</strong> monasteries <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> district <strong>of</strong><br />

.wan, but 4-fte 3*j!«r Arnenlati l<strong>and</strong>s on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side<br />

<strong>of</strong> thr Afrax rlvfci were Isrt alons, thank God" (SO y. 221).<br />

SO <strong>the</strong>n diacribes how <strong>the</strong> Syrian Cutholicoa was termed by<br />

ihe <strong>Mongol</strong>s. K<strong>in</strong>« Het'uo <strong>of</strong> Cilicia, enroute to Baidu<br />

was at <strong>the</strong> Syrian Cathollcoaate at <strong>the</strong> tima. "<strong>The</strong>y seized<br />

<strong>the</strong> bishcp <strong>of</strong> Ajcct-lea1 [church! Icrd Tirac'u <strong>and</strong> vilified<br />

hia by various ir.df.j3

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