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==Papal overtures (1245-1248)== [[Image:Letter from Guyuk to Innocent IV.gif|thumb|left|The 1246 letter of [[Güyük]] to [[Pope Innocent IV]], written in [[Persian language|Persian]].<ref>David Wilkinson, Studying the History of Intercivilizational Dialogues [http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:j2zJq7QI4goJ:www.unu.edu/HQ/japanese/dialogue/wilkinson-presen-s1e.doc]</ref>]] The [[Mongol invasion of Europe]] subsided in 1242 with the death of the Great Khan [[Ögedei Khan|Ögedei]], successor of Genghis Khan. However, the relentless march westward of the Mongols had displaced the [[Khawarizmi Turks]], who themselves moved west, and on their way to ally with the [[Ayyubid]] Muslims in Egypt, took Jerusalem from the Christians in 1244.<ref>Runciman, p.256</ref> This event prompted Christian kings to prepare for a new Crusade, decided by Pope [[Innocent IV]] at the [[First Council of Lyons]] in June 1245, and revived hopes that the Mongols, who had their Nestorian Christian princesses among them and had brought so much destruction to Islam, could be converted to Christianity and become allies of Christendom.<ref>Runciman, p.254</ref><ref name=newman-1274>Sharan Newman, "Real History Behind the Templars" p. 174, about Grand Master Thomas Berard: "Under Genghis Khan, they [the Mongols] had already conquered much of China and were now moving into the ancient Persian Empire. Tales of their cruelty flew like crows through the towns in their path. However, since they were considered "pagans" there was hope among the leaders of the Church that they could be brought into the Christian community and would join forces to liberate Jerusalem again. Franciscan missionaries were sent east as the Mongols drew near."</ref> In 1245, Pope Innocent IV issued [[Papal bull|bulls]] and sent an envoy in the person of the [[Franciscan]] [[Giovanni da Pian del Carpine|John of Plano Carpini]] to the "Emperor of the Tartars". The message initiated what was to be a regular pattern in Christian-Mongol communications:<ref>Richard, p. 422 (english) "In all the conversations between the popes and the il-khans, this difference of approach remained: the il-khans spoke of military coopration, the popes of adhering to the Christian faith."</ref> Pope Innocent asked the Mongol ruler to become a Christian and to stop killing Christians. The new Mongol khan [[Güyük]] was installed at [[Karakorum]] on April 8, 1246<ref name=ce>[http://www.ewtn.com/library/CHISTORY/CE_CRUSA.HTM Catholic Encyclopedia, "The Crusades"]</ref> and received numerous personalities and ambassadors from foreign countries including John of Plano Carpini: the Grand Duc of Moscow [[Yaroslav II of Vladimir]], the incumbents for the throne of [[Kingdom of Georgia|Georgia]], the brother of the king of Armenia [[Sempad the Constable|Sempad]], the future [[Seljukid]] [[Kilij Arslan IV]], ambassadors of the Baghdad Califate and of the emperor of [[India]].<ref>Jean-Paul Roux, ''L'Asie Centrale'', p.312</ref>. He replied to the Pope's letter with a demand for his submission and a visit from the rulers of the West in homage to Mongol power:<ref>David Wilkinson, Studying the History of Intercivilizational Dialogues [http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:j2zJq7QI4goJ:www.unu.edu/HQ/japanese/dialogue/wilkinson-presen-s1e.doc]</ref> {{quote|"You must say with a sincere heart: "We will be your subjects; we will give you our strength". You must in person come with your kings, all together, without exception, to render us service and pay us homage. Only then will we acknowledge your submission. And if you do not follow the order of God, and go against our orders, we will know you as our enemy."|Letter from [[Güyük]] to [[Pope Innocent IV]], 1246.<ref>Quoted in Michaud, Yahia (Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies) (2002). Ibn Taymiyya, Textes Spirituels I-XVI". Chap XI</ref>}} [[Image:Hetoum and Zabel.jpeg|thumb|Coin showing the Christian Armenian king [[Hetoum I]] with his wife and predecessor, [[Queen Zabel of Armenia]]. Hetoum I was a major ally (some say vassal) of the Mongols.]] This pattern was to be repeated over and over during the coming decades. In 1245 Innocent sent another mission, through another route, led by the [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] [[Ascelin|Ascelin of Lombardia]], also bearing letters. The mission met with the Mongol commander [[Baichu]] near the [[Caspian Sea]] in 1247. Baichu, who had plans to capture Baghdad, welcomed the possibility of an alliance and had envoys, Aïbeg and Serkis, accompany the embassy back to Rome, where they stayed for about a year.<ref>Runciman, p.259</ref> They met with Innocent IV in 1248, who again appealed to the Mongols to stop their killing of Christians.<ref>David Wilkinson, Studying the History of Intercivilizational Dialogues [http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:j2zJq7QI4goJ:www.unu.edu/HQ/japanese/dialogue/wilkinson-presen-s1e.doc]</ref><ref>Runciman, p.259</ref> ===Mongol relations with Cilician Armenia=== {{main|Armeno-Mongol alliance}} In the meantime, the Christian king [[Hetoum I]] of [[Cilician Armenia]], seeing that the Mongols were approaching rapidly and he had to choose between submission or annihilation,<ref name=bournotian-109>Bournotian, p. 109. "It was at this juncture that the main Mongol armies appeared [in Armenia] in 1236. The Mongols swiftly conquered the cities. Those who resisted were cruelly punished, while submitting were rewarded. News of this spread quickly and resulted in the submission of all of historic Armenia and parts of Georgia by 1245.... Armenian and Georgian military leaders had to serve in the Mongol army, where many of them perished in battle. In 1258 the Ilkhanid Mongols, under the leadership of Hulagu, sacked Baghdad, ended the Abbasis Caliphate and killed many Muslims."</ref> sent his brother [[Sempad]] to the Mongol court in Karakorum. Sempad met Kublai Khan's brother Mongke Khan, and made a formal agreement in 1247 between Cilicia and the Mongols, against their common enemy the Muslims.<ref name=bournotian-100>Bournotian, p. 100. "Smbat met Kubali's brother, Mongke Khan and in 1247, made an alliance against the Muslims"</ref> The nature of this relationship is disputed by various historians, some of whom call it an alliance,<ref>Mutafian describes it as "The Armeno-Mongol Alliance", p.56</ref> and others who say that the Armenians had submitted to Mongol overlordship, and had become a vassal state similar to any other conquered region.<ref name=weatherford-181/><ref>Stewart, "Logic of Conquest", p. 8. "The Armenian king saw alliance with the Mongols -- or, more accurately, swift and peaceful subjection to them -- as the best course of action."</ref> Armenian and Georgian military leaders were required to serve in the Mongol army, and many of them perished in Mongol battles.<ref name=bournotian-109/>
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