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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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la my op<strong>in</strong>ion, <strong>the</strong> lord mentioned above probably was<br />

Sabat Orbelean, whose first trip to <strong>the</strong> Far Eaat took<br />

place while Whilliam was <strong>in</strong> Qara Qorun.<br />

Het'um <strong>the</strong> Historian's History provides an account<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Armenia</strong>n Christian <strong>in</strong>fluence <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> courts <strong>of</strong> various<br />

<strong>Mongol</strong> Khans. Evidently, some <strong>of</strong> his <strong>in</strong>formation is<br />

fanciful or perhaps even wishful th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g. However, <strong>the</strong><br />

unmistakable import <strong>of</strong> his narration is that <strong>Armenia</strong>n<br />

Christiana enjoyed considerable <strong>in</strong>fluence with different<br />

Khans. Supposedly, when k<strong>in</strong>g Het'um <strong>of</strong> Cilicia visited<br />

Mongke-Khan <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> early 1250'a:<br />

...Pirst he urged <strong>the</strong> Khan to convert to<br />

Christianity <strong>and</strong> to accept Baptism toge<strong>the</strong>r with<br />

his people; second, that eternal peace <strong>and</strong><br />

friendship be established between Christians<br />

<strong>and</strong> Tatars; third, that it be possible to construct<br />

Christian churches <strong>in</strong> all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Tatar countries<br />

<strong>and</strong> that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Armenia</strong>ns be freed from taxes <strong>and</strong><br />

o<strong>the</strong>r borders; fourth, that <strong>the</strong> Holy l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Holy Sepulcher be wrested from <strong>the</strong> Turks <strong>and</strong><br />

given to <strong>the</strong> Christians; fifth, that <strong>the</strong> caliph<br />

<strong>in</strong> Baghdad, <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> [Muslim] religion,<br />

be done away with...When <strong>the</strong> Tatar Khan had<br />

consulted with his pr<strong>in</strong>ces <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>Tes, he<br />

replied to <strong>the</strong> k<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>Armenia</strong>: 'I accept your<br />

requests. I shall accept baptism <strong>and</strong> adopt <strong>the</strong><br />

Christian religion <strong>and</strong> show concern that all<br />

my subjects do likewise... 1.<br />

Het'um p. 45.<br />

291

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