Re: Banter:Re:Period

["Stephanie M. Thorson" <smt2@st-andrews.ac.uk>]

Poster: "Stephanie M. Thorson" <smt2@st-andrews.ac.uk>

On Wed, 26 Mar 1997, Malcolm MacCulloch wrote:

> 
> "The SCA is based on Pre-17th Century Western European Culture"
> 
>     Well, I guess we're going to have to start revoking membership cards from
> those Tuchux, Hordesmen, and Japanese personas.....(I'd like to be there when
> they try to take Count Ki's card...*grin*)

Well, in fairness to us Mongol types (Horde and non-Horde alike), the
Mongols did actually come to Europe ... in large numbers.  Right about
1241-1242, which was after the decease of Chinggis Khan, so don't go
blaming him.  The Great Khan in Karakorum was Ogedei, and the drive
westward across Europe was led by Batu (Chinggis Khan's grandson and
founder of the Khanate of the Golden Horde) and Subedai, who had been one
of Chinggis Khan's most brilliant generals.  If Ogedei hadn't
inconveniently died and left a power struggle behind him, the Mongols
might well have taken Europe entirely.  As it was, they did rule Russia
for a few hundred years, and Russia is Eastern European (or was the last
time I checked).  Furthermore, several of the Mongol Khans sent emissaries
to European courts, including those of the Pope and the king of France,
not to mention Constantinople.  Several Europeans also trekked out to the
court of the Great Khan - the Franciscans John of Plano Carpini and
William of Rubruck both did so in the 1250s, in separate missions.  Plano
Carpini was present at the enthronement of Guyuk, and Rubruck arrived
during the reign of Mongke (Khubilai's elder brother).  And of course
there was that Johnny-come-lately Marco Polo, although his veracity is the
subject of some debate.  I have loads of bibliography for the interested,
if such people will contact me by email. 

Alianora
Celtic Mongol and Professional Historian
*****************************************************************************
Stephanie M. Thorson			|  SCA: Lady Alianora Munro
Dept. of Scottish History		|  Clan White Wing
University of St Andrews		|  Tarkhan, Khanate Red Lion

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