Then terror, and fear, and trembling fell upon BAlDU and those who were with him, and they mounted their horses and went forth to engage KAZAN in battle. Then KAZAN, seeing that there was no occasion (or, room) for a fight, alighted from his horse; and when BAIDU saw him do this he also alighted from his horse. And they drew nigh to each other and embraced, each of them feeling ashamed before his companion because of the thing which he had done. BAIDU, because of the blameworthy haste with which he had hurried, and because he had not waited for KAZAN; and KAZAN, because he had come in a hidden and secret manner to capture BAIDU. And according to what is certain, but for the rains, and the lightnings, and the thunders which impeded KAZAN's troops, the whole company of BAIDU would have been left to complete annihilation, for in the night not even one man could have escaped [from KAZAN's attack], and they all would have been destroyed by the edge of the sword.
Now therefore, having made friends, they began to discuss the matter with each other, and to assign blame to each other. KAZAN himself exhibited a fine submission, together with praiseworthy discretion and wisdom, which it is absolutely necessary for kings to employ. He proved that he was reconciled to BAIDU, and he agreed with everything which was said to him [by him]. And they swore oaths to each other that [590] neither of them would quarrel with or abuse the other, but that with one consent, and one will, the two of them would live in love, and peace, and quietness. And when BAIDU wished to bring KAZAN to his camp to eat, and drink, and be happy together, and to rejoice in the peace which had been made between them, KAZAN said, 'we have exhausted ourselves greatly during this night. Let us reverse our actions a little, and alight from our horses, and rest ourselves, and then in the morning we will meet together again in one place.'
Then, in his simplicity, BAIDU accepted KAZAN'S proposal, and consented to his desire. And KAZAN, having parted from BAIDU and gone back, did not alight from his horse, but he began to ride from the evening of that day and he rode all night, looking behind him, and wondering how he could save himself from the hands of BAIDU. And when BAIDU reached his camp, he began to prepare meats and lavish gifts of every kind. And he did not rest, and he neither lay down nor slept, but he passed the whole night in thoughts as to how and by what means he could pacify the mind of KAZAN, so that there might be no cause at all of offence [left in it]. And as soon as ever the day broke he sent nobles to go and salute KAZAN, and to inquire of him concerning the exhaustion and fatigue which had attacked him. And having gone a distance of a parasang, or two,or three, or four, none of them found any man at all upon that road and nothing except perhaps foundered horses which had been left there; and some of them were lying as if they were dead. And so the nobles left and came back and informed BAIDU. Then BAIDU felt certain in his mind that KAZAN was offended, and was not inclined for a reconciliation, and that he had not gone back, and that he would make himself strong and would return and again attack BAIDU. And great fear came upon him, and terror not a little. And he sent [and commanded that] al the nobles and their companies of troops should gather together in all haste, and stand up against the violent onset of KAZAN, when he came back to attack him.
And KAZAN and NAWRUZ the great general (i.e. general-in-chief) took counsel together, and they made a plan that they would send and pacify the mind of BAIDU, and prevent him from enrolling the soldiers and peoples of KAZAN. For if BAIDU was to be pressing in collecting armies, he could collect many tens of thousands, and KAZAN would be unable to stand [591] before him. And they must make him content because the men who were with him (i.e. KAZAN'S own men) were already tired and exhausted, and their horses were emaciated and weak through shortage of food. For the plains of those regions are destitute of grass, and the districts [about the cities] are a waste, and neither hay for the horses nor food for men can be found. And through these excuses, and others which were like unto them, NAWRUZ undertook to go back in person to BAIDU, and by some means or other to coax him neither to put himself in motion nor to stir, but to be quiet and gracious in respect of KAZAN.
And when NAWRUZ came to BAIDU he received him with great honour, and he revealed all his secrets to him. At length NAWRUZ said unto BAIDU, 'If thou dost not put thy trust in KAZAN, and thy mind is not pacified in respect of him, I myself will go and will send thee his head on a platter', although at the same time he was scheming in every way possible how to save himself and to get back to KAZAN in peace (i.e. safety). Then BAIDU rejoiced and was glad, and he danced about and exulted, saying, 'If thou art able to do this I will hand over to thee the administration of all the offices of my kingdom'. And he presented to him lavish gifts, and he put myriads of gold [coins] in his hands, and he wrote a Patent (i.e. authority) that he was to take another ten thousand from the city of KAZWIN, and set him free to depart. And when he went to KAZAN, they began to wonder, and to be seized with amazement at the simplicity with which NAWRUZ had thrown himself into the hands of BAIDU, and how BAIDU himself, with even greater simplicity had allowed him to live.
And behold, from this moment they began to make ready for war, and they collected armies. And NAWRUZ in person undertook the direction of bands of soldiers, and the gathering of them together from every quarter. And he sent KAZAN and a few men to the mountains of MAZINDARAN to hunt there, and the bodies of troops which were collected in another quarter, and he remained by himself in one place with his household. Then BAIDU was perplexed, [wishing] to know, 'Where were KAZAN and NAWRUZ? With what are they occupying themselves? Have they the intention to have war or not?' And he sent messengers unto them very frequently, and he schemed to spy upon [them] and to discover their astuteness. And so when the ambassadors [592] of BAIDU came to NAWRUZ, and tried their utmost to meet KAZAN in person, and to hold discourse with him, mouth to mouth, NAWRUZ would say to them, 'What benefit can ye gain in meeting a simple young man who never knoweth anything or understandeth anything? And behold, he is tramping about in the mountains and hills, and the only thing that he careth about is the chase. But if it be absolutely necessary for you to see him, behold there are men with me, and go ye to him.' And so the ambassadors of BAIDU took those men of his, and they marched with them by the desert road, and straying from the [right] road, and losing their way, and wandering about they went from village to village, and from city to city.
And after many days which [they spent] in bringing them to KAZAN, at the beginning of his meeting with them he complained about BAIDU, saying, 'Where are the promises which he made to me? And where are the camps, and the women, and the concubines of my father which he promised to send to me that I might take [them] and go from this place? If it be that he thus goeth back on his oaths, let him inform me [of it], so that I may leave and back to KHORASAN.' And when the ambassadors returned to BAIDU they swore and denied, saying, 'There is absolutely no gathering [of troops], and KAZAN careth nothing about engaging [in battle], but he is waiting for thee to send what thou didst promise him that he may take [them] and go back to his own place'.
Then with simplicity BAIDU consented to send to KAZAN more than the things which he had promised to send to him, but the astute men who were with him did not agree with him. 'For', they said, 'there is treachery to the fore, and his intention towards thee is not straight. And he is not fighting to take the camps of his father, but to prevail over them and attack thee; for he would go with tens of thousands of natives and foreigners, and horses, and possessions which are carried away from thee.'
And after a little KAZAN sent again to BAIDU, saying, 'Make haste, send me armies, for enemies from the east, who are on the banks of [the river] GIHON, are meditating the crossing over into the quarter of KHORASAN, and very many rebels have made themselves visible in these quarters'. And the astute and experienced men also who were with BAIDU pondered upon these crafty words and proposals. And so when KAZAN saw that this proposal was not coming [593] into being, he sent to BAIDU and said, 'There is no need for armies; thou shalt send no man', thus putting away from him this wicked suspicion.
Then BAIDU relaxed somewhat, and he looked upon the shadow as if it was the substance, and after the manner of a small child he deceived himself with these machinations, and wiles, and cunning tricks. [The idea of] strife, and battle, and war he drove away from him, and he began to find pleasure in eating, that is to say drinking, only. He was wholly unconquered by lust and lasciviousness. and his mind was never led captive by any strange woman except his wives. And he never wished to gratify his lust in the Sodomite fashion like his predecessor, [that is to say KAIJATU]; but he conducted himself with understanding, and a well-ordered mind, a praiseworthy humbleness of disposition. And he received and honoured the men of high position, and the learned, and the monks and ascetics who were there, whatever the community to which they belonged might be; and he made men rich with gifts, and he made men splcndid with royal apparel. And because he had been acquainted for long years with the DESPOENA (?) (1), the daughter of the king of the GREEKS, who was the wife of 'ABAKA, he was favourably disposed towards the Christians, and for a certain number of years he made a church and a beater of the board (2) to march with his camp, moreover he boldy gave himself the name of ' Christian'.
And because at this time the MONGOLS, both the nobles and the inferior folk in their entirety, had become HAGARENES (i.e, MUSLIMS), and had already been circumcised, and had been well instructed in ablutions, and prayers, and the special customs and observances of the MUSLIMS, since it was pleasing to them BAIDU himself became a MUSLIM, and all the nobles of his kingdom rejoiced exceedingly. But he was unable to withdraw himself from converse with the Christians, and besides them he never consented to trust any man whatsoever in all the affairs of the administration of [his] kingdom. And behold because of this he began to be hampered by two barriers. To the Christians he used to say, 'I am a Christian', and he hung a cross on his neck. To the MUSLIMS he showed that he was a MUSLIM, but he was never able to learn the ablutions and the fasts. And whenever the headmen of their Faith were present with him, and they stood up to prayer, BAIDU used to send his son to pray with them, and in this way [594] he pacified their minds and cooled their wrath. But it was not hidden from the ARABS that he inclined towards the side of the Christians and that he leaned [on them]. And for about five months with such contradictory policies as these he ruled his kingdom.
And when the believing, and just, and righteous king HITAM [Het'um/Haithon] (II?) of CILICIA heard that BAIDU had triumphed, and that the kingdom of the MONGOLS was established for him, and that he was a friend of the Christians, and inclined to them more than to the other Faiths (or, Religions), he desired greatly to come to his service (i.e. to pay homage to him), and to meet him in person, and to put on a sure footing many matters between BAIDU and himself. And having set out from his own country he remained on the road nearly two months. And his arrival in the neighbourhood of SIAHKUH happened [at the same time as] the arrival of the great Amir NAWRUZ, with the troops who were with him, to capture BAIDU.
Now, because BAIDU was entirely engrossed with his own affairs he sent and said to the Armenian king HITAM (II) through an ambassador, 'Turn back to MARAGHA, and rest there for a little until I am at peace and return to the Camp, and then I will send and fetch thee'. And HITAM did so. And having arrived in MARAGHA he sat down there for about ten days, more or less. But BAIDU fled from before NAWRUZ the great general, and so the King of Kings, KAZAN, came, and he went and encamped on TELLA 'AUKAMA, which was near DIAHKHURKAN. And straightway king HITAM made ready and went to his service (or, to do homage), and he presented to him great gifts. And the King of Kings said unto him, 'Thou hast come to visit BAIDU and not us'. And king HITAM replied, 'I am bound to show subjection to all the seed of CHINGIZ KHAN, and I come to pay homage to whosoever is established on the throne'. Then the King of Kings welcomed him warmly, and he arrayed him in royal apparel. And he commanded that a Patent should be w'ritten for him, [595] and that all his petitions should be fulfilled.
Now inasmuch as some time before this the command had gone forth that the churches should be destroyed, HITAM begged from the King of Kings that the churches should not be destroyed, because they were the dwellings of God, and also houses of prayer. And so the King of Kings commanded that [the churches] should not be destroyed, and he wrote a Patent and gave it to an ambassador, [ordering] that the churches must by no means be destroyed, but that only the houses of images were to be overthrown, and that they should be henceforth mosques and colleges for the ARABS. And thus through this believing king many churches were freed from the destroyer. And this king went forth from the Camp with a happy heart, and gladness and rejoicing, on the first day of the week, on the ninth day of the month of the FIRST TESHRIN (OCTOBER) in this year, which is the year sixteen hundred and seven of the GREEKS (= A.D. 1295?).
Immediately, suddenly and unexpectedly, NAWRUZ and his troops burst upon BAIDU at a place which is called KUNGUR 'AULAN. But BAIDU was unable to make a stand even for a single hour before the King of Kings, KAZAN, and to engage in battle with him and oppose him. And he quickly turned his back and fled before him on the Sabbath day, on the twenty-fifth (or, twenty-fourth) day of the month of ILUL (SEPTEMBER), in the year sixteen hundred and six of the GREEKS (A.D. 1295). And NAWRUZ pursued him and overtook him, and he put him to death on the fifth day [of the week] of the ninth day of the month of the FIRST TESHRIN (OCTOBER), of the year sixteen hundred and seven (A.D. 1296). And he issued a command that the churches, and the houses of images, and the synagogues of the JEWS should be destroyed, and that the priests [of the images] and the chief priests should be treated with ignominy, and that tribute and taxes should be imposed upon them. And no Christian was to be seen [in the streets] unless he had a girdle round his loins, and no JEW was to be seen [in the streets] unless he had a mark on his head.
And in those days the foreign peoples stretched out their hands to TABRIZ, and they destroyed all the churches which were there, and there was great sorrow among the Christians in all the world. The persecutions, and disgrace, and mockings, and ignominy which the Christians suffered at this time, especially in BAGHDAD, words cannot describe. Behold, according to what people say, 'No Christian dared to appear in the streets (or, market), but the women went out and came in and bought and sold, because they could not be distinguished from the Arab women, and could not be identified [596] as Christians, though those who were recognized as Christians were disgraced, and slapped, and beaten and mocked. And behold, all the Christians who were in these regions were tortured with punishment of this kind; I would not say abandoned by God. And whilst they were being driven hither and thither, and were being worn out by tempestuous storms, the enemies of righteousness were jeering at them, and saying to them, 'Where is your God? Let us see if you have a helper or one who can redeem and deliver [you].' Now this persecution had not dominion over our people alone, but also over the JEWS, and it was twice as fierce, many times over, on the priests who were worshippers of idols. And this after the honour to which they had been promoted by the Mongol kings, and which was so great that one- half of the money which was gathered together in the treasury of the kingdom had been given to them, and it had been expended (?) on the work of images of gold and silver. And a very large number of the pagan priests, because of the way in which they were persecuted, became MUSLIMS.
And subsequently there went forth a command from the King of Kings and Yarlike (i.e. Edicts) were written to all the countries, and Mongol messengers were sent to every country and town to destroy the churches and to loot the monasteries. And wheresoever the messengers went and found Christians who rose up before them to render them service, and to give them gifts, they were less severe and were more lenient. For they were far more anxious to collect money than to destroy the churches, according to what happened in the city of ARBELA. For when the officers arrived there they remained twenty days, and they expected that some one of the Christians would approach [them] and undertake [to bring] a certain amount of gold, and would manifest towards them open-handedness in return for sparing the churches which were there so that they might not be damaged; but no man approached [them]. And the Metropolitan himself who was there could not support the weight (i.e. burden) of his churches, and no other man took upon himself the care of the churches, but every man looked carefully after the management of his own individual house. Therefore there was given straightway an opportunity to the pagans, and they laid [their] hands on the three splendid churches which were there, and they destroyed them utterly, down to the very foundations. These things took place [597] on the fourth day of the week, on the twenty-eighth day of the month of the LATTER TESHRIN (NOVEMBER) in that year.
Now when [the NINEVITES] heard of the calamity which had taken place there, they were terrified and were exceedinly afraid. And when the nobles and the officers [of the Mongols] passed over into the region of MAWSIL, certain men who loved works [connected with] the holy churches, and who made themselves responsible for the troubles [which assailed them], approached them, and undertook [to give] much gold. And because they did not possess any of the mammon of the world, they laid [their] hands on the equipment and furnishing of the churches, and they did not leave untaken a cross, or an eikon, or a censer, or a Book of the Gospels which was mounted (or, inlaid) with gold. And when this was not sufficient, they made the believers who were in the towns and villages subscribe a certain amount of money. And they collected nearly fifteen thousand dinars, and they weighed them (i.e. paid) against the destruction of the churches, and the tribute of the Christians. And by the help of God not one church was damaged.
And in these days a certain tribe of MONGOLS, who were called 'AWIRATAYE, who were wintering round about the Monastery of MAR MATTAI, and it happened that they had a complaint against the King of Kings. And messengers came from him to them, uttering curses and threats, because in the days when BAIDU reigned, those 'AWIRATAYE had laid their hands on certain TURKOMANS and taken from them sheep and cattle, and herds of horses, and stallions, and mules, and camels without number. And after the kingdom of BAIDU had come to an end and KAZAN was ruling, the command went forth that the TURKOMANS should take it all back again from the 'AWIRATAYE, and every one who resisted and would not obey was to die the death. And because the great number of these possessions had come to an end, and nothing at all of them remained with the 'AWIRATAYE, they suffered great tribulation, and they were treated with contempt by the ambassadors and by the TURKOMANS. [And] [598] they leaped upon the ambassador and upon the TURKOMANS and killed them. And they took their families and everything which they were able to carry, and they fled to SYRIA--a body of ten thousand soldiers and fighting men. These things took place on the third day [of the week], on the twenty-ninth (or, nineteenth) day of the month of the FIRST KANON (JANUARY), in the year sixteen hundred and seven of the GREEKS (A.D. 1296).
Now in this year never a man of the cruel spoilers of SYRIA came forth to this eastern quarter, because the blood of those who were oppressed and they cry of the poor was heard before God. And justice was stirred up against them, that justice which watcheth times, and it wrought disasters on them by means of the famine and the pestilence which came upon their countries, especially in EGYPT. For they say that ALEXANDRIA was entirely emptied of [its] population. And since this story was not transmitted to us accurately, we do not enlarge our speech concerning the exciting rumours which [come] from the peoples, but that they occupy themselves with them in respect of famine and pestilence there is no doubt watsoever. Moreover, as to how, and were, and when, and at what time we are not certain about to this day.
In (3) the year sixteen hundred and eight of the GREEKS (A.D. 1297), during the twenty days in the month of HAZIRAN (JUNE), on the second day of the week, in the morning, 'ALA AD-DIN, who was called the son of JAJA, captured the city of 'AMID; he had with him a strong force of ARABS who were gathered together from the countries of SYRIA. And 'AMID went forth into bitter captivity; they took prisoners twelve thousand persons, and many believers were killed. And after they had made Saint MAR GREGORY of that city suffer beatings they killed him. And they dared to loot the great church of the Mother of God, and they burnt it with fire. And its buildings were destroyed, and its beautiful and wonderful porticoes and pillars were overthrown; and through the intensity of the conflagration and the fierceness of the flames it was reduced to a mere heap of stones. The fire continued to smoulder in it for a month. And these things took place because the citizens of 'AMID had rebelled against the lord of MARDIN, MALIK AS-SALIH. And it was he who sent to this man whom we have mentioned above to come to SYRIA. And he came and he brought with him about twelve thousand [599] horsemen. And there was in the city a certain Amir whose name was 'ALAM AD-DIN, and he opened the gates of the city before them, and brought them in without any man being conscious of the fact. But he himself brought them in, and he sallied forth and went to the lord of MARDIN, and they made themselves masters of the city together and destroyed it. They came to a man, and he and his wife and his children were sleeping together. And straightway they woke them up, and the man they killed, and the woman and the children they took prisoners.
(2) The board was struck by a sacrist and served as a bell.
(3) The following paragraph is only found in in an Oxford Codex (Bodl. I).
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