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

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

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...How [<strong>the</strong> Khan] gave to k<strong>in</strong>g David <strong>and</strong><br />

his soldiers great honor <strong>and</strong> numerous gifts, so<br />

much so that he granted by yarligh <strong>the</strong> city <strong>of</strong><br />

Kar<strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> surround<strong>in</strong>g l<strong>and</strong>s to Sargis<br />

Jaqeli.<br />

At that time some foes envied [Sargis] <strong>and</strong><br />

said to <strong>the</strong> k<strong>in</strong>g: 'Now why do you not give<br />

Sargis your k<strong>in</strong>gdom, too, s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> Khan has<br />

streng<strong>the</strong>ned him so much that he wll<strong>in</strong>o longer<br />

be subject to your rule'. <strong>The</strong> k<strong>in</strong>g believed<br />

this, because he was untried <strong>and</strong> credulous <strong>of</strong><br />

both good <strong>and</strong> evil words. At night_he went to<br />

<strong>the</strong> noy<strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong> expla<strong>in</strong>ed: 'If <strong>the</strong> Khan gives<br />

Sargis <strong>the</strong> oity <strong>of</strong> Kar<strong>in</strong>, he also gives <strong>the</strong><br />

k<strong>in</strong>gdom,!. Elgon noy<strong>in</strong> was astonished <strong>and</strong> replied:<br />

•<strong>The</strong> Khan gave it [to him] because <strong>of</strong> his<br />

activity with you, but if it bo<strong>the</strong>rs you, he will<br />

not give it. In battle you Georgians do noth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

good for <strong>the</strong> brave warrigrs. Don't you know<br />

that Sargis saved <strong>the</strong> Khan from <strong>the</strong> enemy, <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong>fered a tough <strong>and</strong> noteworthy fight?'<br />

<strong>The</strong> noy<strong>in</strong> went <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>formed <strong>the</strong> Khan <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

entire conversation, <strong>and</strong> [as a result! he did<br />

not give <strong>the</strong> city <strong>of</strong> Kar<strong>in</strong>. When Sargis heard<br />

about this he was stunned <strong>and</strong> grumbled aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />

his lord. That w<strong>in</strong>ter <strong>the</strong> k<strong>in</strong>g was kept <strong>in</strong>-<br />

Partaw while <strong>the</strong> disgruntled Sargis went to<br />

Samc'xe. 1.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> 1260's <strong>and</strong> 1270's <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mongol</strong>s fur<strong>the</strong>red <strong>the</strong> territorial<br />

<strong>and</strong> political ambitions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Orbeleans <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Arcrunid/<br />

Mahkanaberdelis, at <strong>the</strong> expense <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Zak'arida <strong>and</strong><br />

Georgian Bagratids, but as is noted (Appendix 3) <strong>the</strong><br />

consistent contradictiona <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> sources obscure <strong>the</strong><br />

picture somewhat. F<strong>in</strong>ally, at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>13</strong>th century<br />

KC p. 250; Mur. p..122. Subsequently k<strong>in</strong>g David imprisoned<br />

Sargis, but Abaqa-Khan ordered his release. <strong>The</strong> KC adds:<br />

"Prom this po<strong>in</strong>t on, <strong>the</strong> Jaqelis became loyal to HUlegU"<br />

(KC p. 255; Mur. p. 127; also KC p. 297; Mur. p. 164).<br />

183

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