It transpired as the vardapet
had said. They bought him for eighty dahekans. As soon as they
had taken him, that same day, Molar said to us: "Do not be
saddened at the departure of the great priest. We did not let
you go with him because we need you. I shall honor you as one
of my grandees. If you have a wife, I shall bring her to you.
If not, I shall give you one of our women". And he immediately
gave us a tent and two lads to wait on us, saying: "Tomorrow
I shall give you a horse and make you happy. Stay loyal".
And he left.
By the grace of God, it happened that we secretly fled and escaped that same night. We came to the place of our birth, to the monastery called Getik; it had been ruined by them, the buildings in it, burned. And we stopped there. [g252]
Prince Shahnshah took his wife and children,
secretly went into the valley there and secured them in a cave.
He gave superintendence of the city to his father-in-law['s sons]
but because they were weaklings, they spent their time eating
and drinking and getting drunk, trusting in the strength of the
city walls, and not in God.
The enemy arrived. They dug at the base
of the walls and made them collapse, then settled around them
and kept watch so that no one would flee. Now once the inhabitants
of the city saw that [the Mongols] had taken the city, they began
to crowd with fear and filled up the valley. When the enemy saw
that, they started to enter the city and indiscriminately [216]
cut down men, women, and children taking their goods and belongings
as booty. They discovered the treasures of prince Shahnshah which
he had extorted and robbed from those he subdued. [He had] constructed
there a sturdy treasury which no one could see, since the mouth
of the pit was so narrow that treasures could be cast in, but
nothing could be removed. [g253] They killed Shahnshah's father-in-law['s
sons] and they did reconnaissance around all the fortresses in
the district taking many both by threats and by treachery. For
the Lord gave them into their hands.
They did the same to other cities, to Dumanis, to Shamshoylte, to the capital Tiflis, taking everything as booty, destroying or enslaving, spreading their raiding expeditions everywhere with merciless attacks, ravishments and destruction. There was no one to resist them or offer war against them. Therefore fear was everywhere. the queen of the Georgians, Ruzudan, had fled to wherever she was able. So all the princes surrendered [to the Mongols].
26. Concerning how prince Awag fell
into their hands.
When the great prince Awag, Iwane's
son, saw the g emand taxes from everyone) to the queen of the Georgians,
Ruzudan [telling her] to obediently submit to the great king.
Those who went to her encouraged her to submit to the great king and not to fear. Taking troops from her, they [229] returned to the emissaries with [a treaty containing] conditions [g266] of peace and friendship, that the queen would submit with her son (the young Dawit', the newly-enthroned king). And they did not break the oath.
30. Concerning the destruction which
occurred in the Xach'en area, and about the pious prince Jalal.
We have set out briefly what the crazed
troops called T'at'ars did throughout the country. Now we shall
speak about the destruction of Xach'en and what [the Mongols]
did there. For they had spread their raiding expeditions throughout
all parts, even dividing the land up by lots. Now some of the
chiefs reached [Xach'en] with a massive army and arms and all
the army baggage. They enslaved and killed many who were out in
open places. They also battled with fugitives and people in fortified
places; some they lowered down by treachery, others, by force.
There were those they killed and those they enslaved. But there
were many who had fortified themselves into secure places, which
were called "perches" because of their inaccessibility.
Those finding refuge in them felt safe.
[230] However, because destruction comes
from the Lord, [the Mongols] at an unexpected hour secretly arose
and entered the fortifications. They put a multitude of people
to the sword, while others they hurled off the cliffs. From the
multitude fallen covering the earth a small river of blood flowed
and coursed like water; and no one was spared. Even after a long
time the bones of the slain could be seen piled up like heaps
of stones. [g267]
[The Mongols) also came against the
pious prince Hasan whom they call Jalal. He was the sister's son
of the grandee princes Zak'are and Iwane, a pious and God-loving
man, mild and meek, merciful, and a lover of the poor, striving
in prayers and entreaties like one who lived in the desert. He
performed matins and vespers unhindered, no matter where he might
be, like a monk; and in memory of the Resurrection of our Savior,
he spent Sunday without sleeping, in a standing vigil. He was
very fond of the priests, a lover of knowledge, and a reader of
the divine Gospels.
He also had a pious mother who, after
the death of her husband Vaxt'ank (called Tankik), provided for
her three sons (Jalal, Zak'are and Iwane), and then went to the
holy city of Jerusalem remaining there for many years practising
great [231] asceticism. She astonished all who saw or heard about
her. For she had spent all her possessions for the poor and needy
(like Abgar's wife, Heghine) and she fed herself by her own embroidery
work. She died there, and since God glorifies those who glorify
Him, an arc-shaped light appeared over her grave to encourage
others to do similar benevolent deeds. [g268]
This wise prince [Hasan Jalal], as soon as he saw the attack of the infidels, secured the inhabitants of his land in the fortress which is called Xoxanaberd in Persian. When [the Mongols] arrived to besiege the fortress they saw that it was not possible to take it. So they called him to them amicably; and he wisely satisfied them. Later he himself went to them with many gifts. [The Mongols] honored him and gave him back his land and other lands besides and ordered him to come to them each year for military service, and to serve them loyally. Now he prudently arranged his land. Whatever it was possible for him to take for the needs of the [Mongol] travelers [baskaqs] who came to him he took, whether food or something else. He kept this himself, accumulated it and gave it to them when they came to him. [The Mongols] did not harry the land [by demanding provisions]; instead, they came to him, But in other lands, [the Mongols] did not do this; [232] rather, wherever they went they harassed the inhabitants.
31. Concerning the church [Hassan Jalal]
built.
To the glory of God, Jalal constructed
a beautifully adorned church with a heavenly dome where services
were constantly being offered by this lamb of God, so that the
sins of the land be removed. The church was built in the monastery
called Gandzasar, opposite Xoxanaberd, [g269] in the place of
their cemetary. Many years of work went into its building,
Once it was completed a solemn preliminary
ceremony was held to [begin to] consecrate it. Present were the
kat'oghikos of Aghbania, lord Nerses with many bishops,
the great vardapet Vanakan with many teachers, the holy
vardapets of Xach'en, Grigoris and lord Eghia, relatives,
both glorifiers of God (They passed to Christ and are buried in
the cemetary of the glorious church at Xada. Grigoris died in
687 A.E. [=1238] and Eghia in 698 A.E. [=1249]). They blessed
the church with many priests and it is said that the number of
priests present reached seven hundred.
When the church was annointed, a great
dinner was prepared and [Jalal] himself served the multitude with
his own hands. [233] He gave abundant gifts to each according
to his rank and sent the crowd on its way. This occurred in 689
A.E. [=1240] on the day of the great Feast of the Transfiguration.
[Jalal's] wife Mamk'an built a marvellous portico in front of the church. She herself was given over to a life of virtue; she practised asceticism, fasting and praying and reading with enthusiasm, adhering to the precepts of the Lord day and night, according to Scripture. [g270]
[Translator's note: for a scholarly commentary on this
chapter see J.A. Boyle, "Kirakos of Ganjak on the Mongols",
Central Asiatic Journal 8(1968) pp. 199-214.]
32. A brief description of the T'at'ars'
appearance.
We gladly leave a testament for the
generations to come for we have hope of salvation from the difficulties
of this world, which surround us. Therefore we shall briefly set
forth for the inquisitive, [an account of] what [the Mongols]
looked like, and what their language was like.
They had a hellish and frightening appearance.
They had no beards, although some of them had a few hairs above
their lips or on their chins. They had narrow and quick-seeing
eyes, high, shrill voices; they were hardy and long-lived.
[234] Whenever possible they ate and
drank insatiably, but when it was not possible, they were temperate.
They ate all sorts of animals both clean and unclean, and especially
cherished horsemeat. This they would cut into pieces and cook
or else roast it without salt; then they would cut it up into
small pieces and sop it in salt water and eat it that way. Some
eat on their knees, like camels, and some eat sitting. When eating,
lords and servants share equally. To drink kumiss or wine,
one of them first takes a great bowl in his hand and, taking from
it with a small cup, sprinkles the liquid to the sky, then to
the east, west, [g271] north and south. Then the sprinkler himself
drinks some of it and offers it to the nobles. If someone brings
them food or drink, first they make the bearer eat and drink of
it, and then they themselves [will accept it] lest they be betrayed
by some poison.
They take as many women as they want
but they do not let prostitutes live among their women. However,
wherever they chance upon foreign women, they copulate with them
indiscriminately. [The Mongols] loathe theft so much that they
torture to death anyone caught at it.
There is no religion or worship among
them, but they [235] frequently call on the name of God in all
matters. We do not know (nor do they) if this is to thank the
God of Being or some other thing that they call god. However,
usually they say that their king is a relative of God. God took
heaven as his portion and gave earth to the Khan, for they say
that Chingiz-Khan, the father of the [present] Khan was not born
from the seed of man but that a light came from the unseen, entered
through a skylight in the home, and announced to his mother: "Conceive
and you will bear a son who will be ruler of the world".
And they say that [Chingiz-Khan] was born from that.
This was related to us by prince Grigor,
son of Marzpan, [g272] brother of Aslanbek, Sargis and Amira of
the Mamikonean family. [Grigor] himself heard it from one of their
great nobles named Ghut'un-noyin one day while he was instructing
small children.
When one of them dies or they kill him,
they do as follows: some they take around with them for many days
since [they believe that] a devil entered the body and would say
frivolous things; and there were those that they burned. Others
they buried in the ground in deep ditches, placing with the deceased
his weapons and clothing, gold and [236] silver, whatever was
his share. And if the deceased was one of the great ones, they
place some of his servants and maids in the grave with him so
that, they say, they will serve him. They also put the horse in
since, they say, warfare there is fierce. If they want to recall
the dead, they cut open the belly of a horse and pull out all
the flesh without the bones. Then they burn the intestines and
bones and sew up the skin of the horse as though its body were
whole. Sharpening a great piece of wood, they pierce the horse's
abdomen and draw it out of the mouth, and so erect it on a tree
or in some elevated spot.
Their women are witches and divine everything. Without a command from the witches and sorcerers, they go on no journey; only if they permit it. [The Mongolian] language is barbarous and [was] unknown to us. They call God t'angri; man, ere, haran; woman, eme, ap'ji; father, ech'ka; mother, ak'a; brother, agha; sister, ak'achi; head, t'iron; eyes, nitun; ears, ch'ik'in; beard, saxal; face, yiwz, niur; mouth, aman; tooth, sxur, sidun; bread, ot'mak; ox, ok'ar; cow, unen; sheep, ghoyna; lamb, ghurghan; goat, iman; horse, mori; donkey, losa; camel, t'aman; dog, noxay; wolf, ch'ina; [237] bear, aytk'u; fox, honk'an; rabbit, t'ablghay, t'ulay; chicken, t'axea; dove, k'ok'uch'in; eagle, burk'ui-ghush; water, usun; wine, tarasun; sea, naur-tangez; river, moran-ulansu; [g274] sword, ioltu; bow, nemu; arrow, semu; king, melik'; patron, nuin [noyin]; great patron, ek'a nuin; earth, el, irkan; sky, gogay; sun, naran; moon, sara; stars, sargha, hutut; light, otur; night, soyni; secretary bit'ik'ch'i; satan, barhahur, elep, and so on with similar barbarous names which were unfamiliar to us for many years, but now, unwillingly, are known to us. The venerable, foremost leaders [of the Mongols] are as follows: first there is the great head and commander of all the forces, Chormaghun-noyin, a judicious and just man. His colleagues are Israr-noyin, Ghut'un-noyin, Tut'un-noyin, and Chaghatai who was a general of the army killed by the Mulhedk' [Assassins]. They had many other leaders and countless troops. [g275]
33. Concerning Rhaban of Syria.
Providential God Who wills life to all
(through His love for mankind) made manifest among them [the Mongols],
[238] a pious, God-loving man of Syrian nationality named Simeon
or Rhaban-at'a. He was known as the father of the Khan,
since in Syriac rhaban means vardapet [doctor of
the Church], while in T'at'ar [Mongolian], at'a means father.
As soon as he heard about the merciless killing of Christians
occasioned by the T'at'ar troops, he approached the Khan and beseeched
him for a letter to give to his troops, commanding them not to
kill innocent men the way they were doing--men who had not warred
against them--but instead to let them alone so that they might
serve the king. With great pomp, the king sent Rhaban himself
to his commanders with a written order that all obey his command.
When Rhaban arrived, many things became
propitious for the Christians, and the killings and captivity
ceased. Likewise he built churches in Tach'ik cities, where previously
no one dared utter the name of Christ--even in Tabriz and Naxchawan
which were yet more inimical to the Christians (so much so that
Christians did not dare appear or walk about [g276] openly, to
say nothing of constructing a church or erecting a cross).
Yet [Rhaban] erected cross and church,
and the [239] sounding-board was heard day and night. Christians
openly took their dead for burial with hooded crosses, Gospels
and worship, as is the Christian custom, while those opposing
them were put to death. No one dared come out against [Rhaban's]
order; on the contrary the T'at'ar army revered him like their
king and without him they neither planned nor did anything.
His merchants, [people] who had his
tamgha, that is to say his insignia and letter, boldly
circulated throughout the lands and no one dared approach those
[merchants] who mentioned Rhaban's name. Instead all the T'at'ar
commanders gave him gifts from their booty.
[Rhaban) was a man of pious conduct,
also modest in eating and drinking. Once a day, during the evening,
he ate a small amount of food. Thus God visited His people in
exile with the care of this kind of man. He baptised many of the
T'at'ars; and on account of his marvellous behavior and great
honor, everyone was terrified by him. [g277]
The things described happened here [i.e.,
in Greater Armenia] in 690 A.E. [=1241]. At the same time the
kingdom of [240] the Armenians in Cilicia was under the rule of
pious king Het'um. This was during the generalship of his brother,
the brave Smbat; during the reign of his father Kostandin as prince
of princes; in the kat'oghikosate of the old and virtuous
Kostandin, occupant of the throne of saint Gregory in Hrhomkla;
in the pontificate as archbishop of lord Barsegh brother of king
Het'um, whom they held as substitute on the holy throne of the
kat'oghikosate; in the kat'oghikosate of the Aghbanians
of the meek and humanitarian lord Nerses, who at this time sat
in the monastery called Xamshi in the Miap'or district; in the
pontificate as archbishop of his brother's son who had been ordained
recently; during the tyrany of the T'at'ars over everyone; and
when I was forty years old, more or less.
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