Hayton of Korikos’s western orientation and Georgia

Abstract

In the 13th century, the appearance of the Mongol Empire changed the configuration of the political forces of the time. The European crusaders were very interested in the Tartars hoping to establish close alliance with these new forces from Asia against the Muslims to reconquer the Holy Land. The Mongols were more tolerant of Christians than Muslims; They were interested in different religions including Christianity, some khans are converts to Christianity; So, the European Crusaders thought of allying with the Mongols to strengthen their positions in the Middle East. The stories of Jean de Plan Carpin, Guillaume de Rubrouck, Marco Polo give us information on the Mongols and the relations between Europeans and Tartars. The chronicler of Armenian origin, Prince Hethoum of Korikos or Hayton, (circa 1230-1308), the author of The Flower of Stories from the Land of the East also tells us the history of the Mongols and the relations between Armenia of Cilicia, the principality of Antioch and the Tartars.