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

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Sadun, accord<strong>in</strong>g to Aknero'i, was to be allowed pardons<br />

for up to n<strong>in</strong>e crimes, so much was he cherished by Hulegfl1.<br />

Tarsayic" Orbelean, follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> his bro<strong>the</strong>r Smbat's steps<br />

was designated for extra special honors:<br />

...So respected was he before Abaqa-Khan<br />

that on numerous occasions <strong>the</strong> latter removed<br />

from his person his own royal garments <strong>and</strong><br />

clo<strong>the</strong>d TarsayiS <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>m from head to toe, <strong>and</strong><br />

girdled him with a belt <strong>of</strong> pure gold studded with<br />

oostly gems <strong>and</strong> pearls... 2.<br />

<strong>The</strong> loyalty <strong>and</strong> support <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mecatuna, or wealthy<br />

merchants who formed an important part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new<br />

nobility <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>13</strong>th century were actively sought after<br />

by <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mongol</strong>s from <strong>the</strong> first. In 1242, when <strong>the</strong> city<br />

<strong>of</strong> Kar<strong>in</strong>/Erzerum was taken <strong>and</strong> its population massacred<br />

or enslaved, special consideration was shown to<br />

wealthy <strong>Armenia</strong>ns <strong>the</strong>re . Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Vardan Arew-<br />

GA p. 348. Both Sfflbat <strong>and</strong> Sadun, <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs besides<br />

made a po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>of</strong> learn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Mongol</strong>ian. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to SO,<br />

Smbat was "a skilled rhetorician, unbeatable at diwan<br />

court—for he spoke five languages: <strong>Armenia</strong>n, Georgian,<br />

Uighur, Persian, <strong>and</strong> even <strong>Mongol</strong>ian" (SO p. 151). See<br />

also EC p. 248; Mur. p. 120 where Sadun does simultaneous<br />

translation <strong>of</strong> Georgian <strong>and</strong> <strong>Mongol</strong>ian at court. Grigor<br />

Mamikonean also knew <strong>Mongol</strong>ian (KG p. 272).<br />

SO p. 170: "ew aynk/an yargeal l<strong>in</strong>er arafo Apa<br />

bazum_angam zark'ayakan b<strong>and</strong>erjn iwr merkace<br />

3 VA p. 147: "Now <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> year 1242 Baiju noyln replaced <strong>the</strong><br />

authority <strong>of</strong> Chormaghun <strong>and</strong> took <strong>the</strong> city <strong>of</strong> Kar<strong>in</strong>,<br />

tak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>nee~TTmek, a man venerable, wealthy (mecatun)<br />

188

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