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===Second mission, to Kings Philip and Edward=== [[Image:DebateBetweenCatholicsAndOrientalChristiansInThe13thCenturyAcre1290.jpg|thumb|right|Debate between Western Christians (left) and [[Assyrian Church of the East|Oriental Christians]] (right) in the 13th century. Miniature from [[Acre]], circa 1290.]] Apparently left without an answer, Arghun sent another embassy to European rulers in 1287, headed by the Nestorian [[Rabban Bar Sauma]], with the objective of contracting a military alliance to fight the Muslims in the Middle East, and take the city of [[Jerusalem]].<ref name=runciman-398/> The responses were positive but vague. Sauma returned in 1288 with positive letters from Pope [[Nicholas IV]], [[Edward I of England]], and [[Philip IV the Fair]] of France.<ref>Boyle, in Camb. Hist. Iran V, pp. 370-71; Budge, pp. 165-97. [http://www.encyclopediairanica.com/articles/v10f2/v10f216a.html Source]</ref> According to the medieval Syriac History of the two Nestorian Chinese monks, Bar Sawma of Khan Balik and Markos of Kawshang, as translated in Sir Wallis Budge's book ''The Monks of Kublai Khan Emperor of China'', Philip seemingly responded positively to the request of the embassy, gave him numerous presents, and sent one of his noblemen, Gobert de Helleville, to accompany Bar Sauma back to Mongol lands: {{quote|"And the King Philip said: if it be indeed so that the Mongols, though they are not Christians, are going to fight against the Arabs for the capture of Jerusalem, it is meet especially for us that we should fight [with them], and if our Lord willeth, go forth in full strength. . . And he said unto us, "I will send with you one of the great Amirs whom I have here with me to give an answer to King Arghon"; and the king gave Rabban Sawma gifts and apparel of great price."|"The Monks of Kublai Khan Emperor of China<ref> http://www.aina.org/books/mokk/mokk.htm</ref>}}<!-- Recommend deleting this quote. It's a third-party view of a medieval historian, and not necessarily reliable. --> [[Image:VoyagesOfRabbanBarSauma.jpg|thumb|[[Rabban Bar Sauma]] travelled from Pekin in the East, to Rome, Paris and Bordeaux in the West, meeting with the major rulers of the period, even before [[Marco Polo]]'s return from Asia.<!-- We need a paragraph somewhere about Marco Polo -->]] Gobert de Helleville departed on February 2, 1288, with two clerics Robert de Senlis and Guillaume de Bruyères, as well as arbaletier Audin de Bourges. They joined Bar Sauma in Rome, and accompanied him to Persia.<ref>"Histoires des Croisades III", Rene Grousset, quoting "La Flor des Estoires d'Orient" by [[Haiton]]</ref> According to a medieval historian, King Edward was also said to have welcomed the embassy enthusiastically: {{quote|"King Edward rejoiced greatly, and he was especially glad when Rabban Sauma talked about the matter of Jerusalem. And he said "We the kings of these cities bear upon our bodies the sign of the Cross, and we have no subject of thought except this matter. And my mind is relieved on the subject about which I have been thinking, when I hear that King Arghun thinketh as I think"|Account of the travels of Rabban Bar Sauma, Chap. VII.<ref>"The Monks of Kublai Khan Emperor of China", Sir E. A. Wallis Budge [http://www.aina.org/books/mokk/mokk.htm Source]</ref>}}<!-- Recommend deleting this quote. It's a third-party view of a medieval historian, and not necessarily reliable. --> In one of his letters, Nicholas IV also recognized the role of many Franks in the service of the Il-Khan, among them Ugi de Sienne, ''ilduci'' in the Guard of the Il-Khan, who would also bring a message to the West.<ref>Richard, "Histoire des Croisades", p.469</ref>
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