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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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2. <strong>Armenia</strong>n Clerical Presence at <strong>the</strong> Courta <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ghana<br />

William <strong>of</strong> Rubruck <strong>and</strong> Het'um <strong>the</strong> Historian proTide<br />

valuable <strong>in</strong>formation regard<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Armenia</strong>n clerica <strong>in</strong> Asia<br />

<strong>and</strong> about <strong>Armenia</strong>n Christian <strong>in</strong>fluence on <strong>the</strong> Khans.<br />

Rubruck who travelled to <strong>the</strong> Par East dur<strong>in</strong>g 1253-55<br />

found <strong>Armenia</strong>n priests at virtually all <strong>the</strong> major<br />

stopp<strong>in</strong>g placea. At <strong>the</strong> very start <strong>of</strong> hie trip, <strong>in</strong><br />

Constant<strong>in</strong>ople he met <strong>and</strong> conversed with <strong>Armenia</strong>n merchants<br />

<strong>and</strong> resident clerics . At Sarai on <strong>the</strong> Volga river,<br />

<strong>the</strong> capital <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn latara, he encountered at<br />

<strong>the</strong> court <strong>of</strong> Sartsjth.-gh.an (Batu'a aon) "<strong>Armenia</strong>n priests<br />

who knew Turkish <strong>and</strong> Arabic* <strong>and</strong> were employed aa transo<br />

latora <strong>in</strong> addition to perform<strong>in</strong>g religious duties .<br />

<strong>Armenia</strong>n priests were serv<strong>in</strong>g aa translators <strong>in</strong> Qara Qorua,<br />

<strong>Mongol</strong>ia also aa William subsequently discovered .<br />

In Qara Qorum, Rubruck came upon a small <strong>Armenia</strong>n<br />

chapel. Its colorful attendant was <strong>the</strong> "monk" Sargia. This<br />

WH p. zxzvii.<br />

ra p. 105.<br />

WH pp. 166, 205.<br />

288

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