Image: ArghunLetterToPhilippeLeBelExtract1289

Description: Arghun Letter To Philippe Le Bel, in Mongolian language and script, Extract, 1289 ink on parchment 185 × 25 cm (72.8 × 9.8 in) Transliteration: "Monkh Tengeriin khuchin dor. Khaanii suu dor. Argun ug maani. Ired Faransaa. Nodnin chi Mar Bar Sawma sagura terguuten elchineer ochij ilgeeruun: Ilkhanii tserguud Misiriin zug morilvoos bid beer endees morilj khamsay khemen ochij ilgeesniig chin zovshooj Tengeriig zalbirch bars jil ovliin etses sard morilj khavryn terguun saryn arvan tavnaa Dimisq buuya khemeev. Edugee unen ugtee khuren, tserguudee bolzol dor ilgeej, tengert mor ogtoj, ted irge avbaas Orislimiig tanaa ogiye. Khem bolzol khojdoj tserguudiig nemuulbees yu zokhikh? Khoino beer genevees yakhan tus aa? Bas ali beer khelen nemen elchineeree jiguur aguulgan Ferenkuudiin gazryn tansguud, shonkhod, eldev ongoton goroos ogch ilgeevees kher ba soyorkhokhiig Tengeriin khuchin Khaany suu medtugei, khemeen Muskeril khorchiig ilgeev. Bichig maani ukher jil zuny terguun saryn zurgaan khuuchdad Khondlonoo bukhui dor bichvei." Translation: "Under the power of the Eternal Heaven. Under the majesty of the Khan (Kublai Khan). Arghun our word. To the Rey da France (King of France). Last year you sent your ambassadors led by Mar Bar Sawma telling us: "if the soldiers of the Il-Khan ride in the direction of Misir (Egypt) we ourselves will ride from here and join you", which words we have approved and said (in reply) "praying to Tengri (Heaven) we will ride on the last month of winter on the year of the Tiger and descend on Dimisq (Damascus) on the 15th of the first month of spring." Now, if, being true to your words, you send your soldiers at the appointed time and, worshipping Heaven, we conquer those citizens (of Damascus together), we will give you Orislim (Jerusalem). How can it be appropriate if you were to start amassing your soldiers later than the appointed time and appointment? What would be the use of regretting afterwards? Also, if, adding any additional messages, you let your ambassadors fly (to us) on wings, sending us luxuries, falcons, whatever precious articles and beasts there are from the land of the Franks, the Power of Tengri and the Majesty of the Khan only knows how we will treat you favorably. With these words we have send Muskeril (Buscarello) the Khorchi. Our writing was written while we were at Khondlon on the sixth khuuchid of the first month of summer on the year of the Ox." Red seal imprints with the same six seal script Chinese characters: 輔國安民之寶 Fǔguó ānmín zhībǎo ("Precious seal of the upholder of the State and the purveyor of peace to the People").
Title: ArghunLetterToPhilippeLeBelExtract1289
Credit: Archives nationales
Author: Arghun
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No