[108] History of [the decade starting with] 700 A.E. [1251] and the events occurring in it.

In the year 702 A.E. [1253] King Het'um of Armenia disguised himself as a servant with a pack animal, arose from his country of Cilicia with a few men, and headed East to the Nation of Archers [Mongols], to the Khan named Monge (Mango). With great dread he crossed through [g229] the country of Cappadocia where Ishmaelite tribes dwelled. He was led by a monk named Barsegh, who had taking the same route on many occasions. They reached the borders of T'e'odupo'lis [Karin/Erzerum] and lodged in the home of a certain prince K'urd, in a place called Vardeni, where they waited for the gifts which they had readied for the Khan to arrive from the country of Cilicia, [since they had been] sent after them. Kostandin, the king's father, had prepared the goods and sent them to King Het'um with trustworthy men. Then the king took those gifts which were all most desirable and went to Mongke-Khan. He gave them [to Mongke-Khan] and [Mongke-Khan] joyfully received King Het'um, granting him whatever he requested. [Mongke-Khan] also placed his own attendants—Markatea, who was one-eyed, and Pach'u—among with those who had come from the land of Cilicia. In the same year they took Sipil, daughter of King Het'um, and married her to Bohemond, prince of Antioch and count of Tripoli.

In the year 703 A.E. [1254] there arose a certain one of the tent-dwelling Turkmens named Islampak. From the same line, those called Aghach'arik' joined him and created numerous difficulties for the Christians. They burned many places at the base of the Taurus Mountains, enslaved and burned the town of Krakka. But after a few days that dog perished and that mountainous country was in peace.

[109] In the year 704 A.E. [1255] Prince Geoffrey from the country of Cilicia passed from this life with good confession. He was a eunuch, and from a Christian family [g230].

In the year 705 A.E. [1256] in the month of September, Het'um, king of the Armenians, came back from Mongke, who had been designated Khan. And if, in going to him, he had moved clandestinely, in his return he went through them like a lion. He came peacefully and reached the village called Bardz [Bardzrberd] where his father, Kostandin, and his sons and daughters were, and they rejoiced exceedingly. In the same year in the month of October, King Het'um convened an assembly, together with his brothers and all his relations and gentry. And they say that they had assembled some 100,000 men and with them he invaded the district of Rum by the base of the Taurus Mountains, near the city of Ar'akil in the corridor of Churches and in Murand. There he gained many cattle, sheep, horses, and mules, servants and gold, and he returned to his own land with much booty. They rejoiced for many days. In the same year King Het'um wanted to seat his eldest son, Lewon, on a horse. He went to the capital of Mamistra and sent to Antioch summoning his son-in-law, Bohemond, prince of Antioch and the Tripoli area, to come to him with his company. Similarly he sent to Julian, lord of Sidon, to come with his company. He also sent to [Marie], the Countess of Jaffa, and glorified all her relations to come to him. All ranks of the church monastics assembled before him for the joyous event. And they placed Lewon on a horse in the year [g231] 705 A.E. [1256] on the fifteenth day of November to the great joy of the king and his father and his entire family and those who were present.

[110] In the year 707 A.E. [1258] the Nation of Archers came against the city of Baghdad (Babylon) with all their chiefs of thousand[-man brigades] and hundred[-man brigades], having Hulegu-Khan as their supreme chief. They besieged the city and fiercely afflicted it. The inhabitants of the city were extremely numerous, and in addition, all races of Muslims had assembled there for two reasons. First, one year earlier they had [already] learned about the Khan's intentions to come against them, and so they had made all preparations for war. The other reason was that the caliph who had resided in Cairo had transferred thence during the time when King Baudoin resided in Jerusalem and was harassing Egypt. The sultan of Aleppo had slain the caliph and thenceforth the filthy seat of their patriarchate had been transferred [back] to Baghdad, and thus they had assembled there at the command of their leader. The residents of the city arose against [the Mongols] in battle and killed many troops of the Nation of Archers, putting [others] to flight. After pursuing them a bit, they returned to the city and [the Mongols] turned back upon the city for battle. The caliph sent to Hulegu-Khan, saying: "Take your forces and depart. Otherwise, when I bring forth the robe of our prophet [Muhammad] for people to see, you will be destroyed one and all. But those among you who are of our faith I will spare if they are [already] on the road." When the khan heard these words, he ridiculed the caliph, and spat while chewing [g232], as though spitting on the caliph's face. And Hulegu loudly declared: "By the aid of God and the yasax [xrad] of Chingiz-Khan, I will put to the sword all of you who boast of your prophet." When they heard this the two sides arose to fight each other. The Nation of Archers attacked them and, shrieking out [war cries], they beat them severely. [The defenders of Baghdad] turned back in flight and [the Mongols] pursued them into the city, generally killing men and women to the point that the wide Euphrates River, which ran through the city, was the color of blood for many days. After such a slaughter they stopped. And then they designated chiefs and tax collectors over [the conquered population] and returned to their own place with enormous booty. In the same year King Het'um's true younger brother, Lewon, prepared to go to Cyprus to take a wife. He had everything required for the marriage put on boats and was awaiting a north wind. So he arose and came to his father, Kostandin, to be blessed by him. However it happened that [Lewon] grew ill and died on May 30th in the city of Adana. They opened his stomach and took a portion [of his organs] to the blessed congregation of Akner, where they were buried. His body was taken to the blessed congregation of Mlich, which is near Paper'o'n, and buried there. From that day forth, sorrow was visited on the king's father, Kostandin, and on King Het'um and on all their clan. In the same year a certain Turkmen named Sarum assembled not a few troops and came to the village of Krakka. Finding it unprepared, he enslaved many people and then took them away unharmed. But after a short time he perished [g233].

In the year 708 A.E. [1259] King Het'um took ship with 200 men and went to Tripoli, to make peace between his son-in-law, the prince of Antioch and count of Tripoli, and his princes since there was rancor between them. The king reconciled them and then returned to his own land. In the same year on the feast of Pentecost a great assembly was held in the city of Tarsus and after some days they ordained as archbishop the king's brother, Baudoin, calling him lord Yohane's. On the same day they seated on a horse the king's son, T'oros. However prior to this a certain prince named O'shin who was of Byzantine nationality stole the keep of Mundas. As soon as Sultan Rukn ad-Din of Rum heard of this he assembled many of his troops, designated chiefs for them, and sent them to the aforementioned keep of Mundas to besiege it. From this fortress a certain [man] departed and came to King Het'um. [111] He told him about the large concentration of Christians gathered in that keep and about the sultan's coming against them. The king ordered his forces to assemble. Taking them at once he reached the borders of the fortress. Accompanying the king was the blessed, life-giving, holy icon called Ko'sitar', which manifested great wonders. For as they were going secretly in the night it was visible to all, since it went alight before the king. [Furthermore] although it was the month of July, as they approached the fortress, they were going over snow. The aspasalar Lewon, surnamed Aplhasan, traveled foremost and en route came upon infidel troops who were designated to guard their forces. They attacked each other and] [the Armenians] defeated the infidels, putting them to flight, as far as Ar'akli. As soon as the infidels heard the clamor of the believers, they armed and went to battle, front against front [g234]. They began to crush the Christians and got that renowned warrior, Vahram of Hamus, trapped in their midst, surrounded on four sides by their spears, but they were unable to throw him. When this was observed by the most valiant warrior, Smbat, the sparapet [Constable] of the Armenians, the king's true brother, he took a spear and went upon them and covered the ground with their corpses, freeing from their clutches his son-in-law, Vahram, and bravely pressing them to their camps. At that point the power of the holy cross came upon them and everyone bravely applied himself to the battle. They put them to flight, killed many of the infidels, while the survivors went to their sultan in Iconium [Konya], full of shame. Meanwhile the king, taking great booty and property from them peacefully returned to Cilicia. He removed that great multitude which had gathered in the keep and brought them to his land.

In the year 709 A.E. [1260] Hulegu-Khan took his troops, whose multitude was like a spring torrent, and he subjugated the fortresses of the infidels along the way, some by friendship and some by battle. He came against Aleppo and surrounded it. He sent to King Het'um for him to come to him. When the latter quickly arrived at the khan['s camp] with his troops, the khan joyfully received him. And that victorious khan harassed Aleppo with numerous [war] machines. Despite the breadth of its walls and the depth of its moat, in seven days the attackers had breached [Aleppo's defenses] [g235]. Then, when they had raised a [battle] cry one and all, they began to move and the ground trembled [from their multitude]. They went into the fortress and, putting swords to work, mercilessly destroyed the Ismaelites. But they did not condemn the believers to death, merely looting their belongings. No one can put into writing the extent of the destruction. Then, taking all their spoil and captives, they went to Damascus. They put under their domination all the cities, villages, and fortresses as far as Jerusalem. Everywhere they installed their chiefs, and they designated as Ten Thousander a certain man named Ket-Buqa (K'it'pugha). And then the victorious khan took his troops together with his son, Abagha, and went to his place in the East. However the Ten Thousander Ket-Buqa did not remain faithful to the khan's order—which was to remain in his designated place. [112] Rather, he assembled troops including 500 men from the land of Cilicia which he had sent for from the king, and then went and entered Egypt. Egyptian spies reported this as soon as they observed it and [the Mamluks] immediately armed and prepared. They went four days' travel to intercept them, at a place called Pr'r'. They encamped a half-day's distance from [the Mongols]. At sunrise they massed front against front and battled ferociously. From the extreme heat and the weakness of their horses, the Nation of Archers was defeated and turned to flight. [The Mamlukes] pursued them and only a few escaped. [The Mongol] chief Ket-Buqa was slain in battle, while his wife and children were taken captive to Egypt. Meanwhile the survivors went to Hulegu-Khan and related to him what had happened. [Hulegu] roared like a lion and vowed to come and take [g236] vengeance for the blood of his troops. In the same year Het'um, king of the Armenians, assembled troops and went as though on a campaign through Cappadocia and Iconia to the Nation of Archers in the country of Galatia, to Gangra, which bordered Smyrna and [the holdings of] Lascaris. For earlier [the Mongols] had sent to the king [telling him] to go to them. When the king had prepared to go, [the Mongols already] had crossed over [that territory] and the king, out of fear of them, did not dare to delay his journey. Rather, putting his life at risk, he took a few men as we said, and went to meet them. But it was of no use. For wherever they went, [the people] had previously heard news about [their arrival] and had secured themselves in caves and crevices. So, they all returned empty-handed to their own places. Now it happened that a certain prince of Byzantine nationality among the troops of King Het'um, who was named Vasil Ker'o'nents', died during the journey. They brought his body to the land of Cilicia and buried it, near the graves of his ancestors.

In the year 710 A.E. [1261], Het'um, king of the Armenians, became the father-in-law of Kostandin, son of the lord of Sarvandik'ar, marrying his daughter Rita to him in the capital city of Sis. In December of the same year Sir Geoffrey, lord of Sarvandik'ar and a valiant warrior, passed to Christ with a goodly confession, leaving three sons: Kostandin, Smbat, and O'shin.

[113] In the year 712 A.E. [1263] unbearable mourning descended on the land of Cilicia [because of the death of the king's father, Kostandin]. Everyone said, with prophetic spirit, that the prosperity of this land coincided with the life of the king's father, Kostandin, who passed from this life on Sunday, Februry 24th of this year [g237]. [Kostandin] passed from this life to Christ with a goodly confession. He had been, as it were, the patriarch of the country of Cilicia, and by his counsel they had remained undisturbed and stable, as everyone was to see [by contrast] a few years after his death just how many believers had been taken captive to Egypt and how the houses of God were burned down by the nation of the Ishmaelites, as well as villages and farms in general. Now prior to the death of the king's father, Kostandin, a certain [individual] named Qaraman (Xoraman) arose from the tribe of tent-dwelling Ishmaelites and came [on an expedition], and as he was traveling many others from the same tribe joined with him. He had them call him sultan and [Qaraman] had grown so strong that the sultan of Rum, Rukn ad-Din, out of fear of him, did not dare to reproach him. And so, many areas with their fortresses were forcibly taken by him. He also caused great harassment in the area of Isauria and Selewkia, enslaving them. Twice he had destroyed troops of King Het'um, [including] the praiseworthy Halkam who had been designated as governor [of that area] who was slain there. As we mentioned earlier [Halkam] was of Byzantine nationality. Then Qaraman became hostile toward the king's brother, Smbat, because in the district Qaraman was inhabiting was a keep called Manio'n which had been wrested from the infidels through much labor and numerous gifts. Previously it had belonged to the Christians. Smbat, the king's brother and sparapet [commander-in-chief] of the Armenians, held [Manio'n] for three years in the midst of such a multitude of infidels. The boastful Qaraman harassed him fiercely and subjected Smbat [g238] to all kinds of dangers, causing him to spend a great deal of gold and silver for the needs of his soldiers and for the fortress. Qaraman came against this fortresses and surrounded it for nine months, severely harassing it. Then he began to speak insultingly and to give orders to the Armenian king, Het'um, saying: "If you want to come to me, you need not come to my feet, rather wait a bit until the autumn wind cleanses the bitterness from your country. That way, when I come I will not be weakened and unable to accomplish anything." As soon as King Het'um heard this, he arose and went to his father, Kostandin, and informed him. When the new patriarch, Kostandin, heard the news, he said to the king: "Arise and go immediately in response to those orders, for I have already heard news of his departure; furthermore I have heard about the defeat of your troops in Isauria and was fearful that, perhaps, a second Saladin had arisen. But when I heard that order which he sent to you, [I say] go bravely [against him] because God has given him into your hand." So the king arose and went to Tarsus, assembled his troops and went to Selewkia. There were gathered cavalry, infantry and bearers, since they were going to take 1000 k'or of grain to the [beseiged] fortress. When the Christian troops and the king reached the borders of the fortress, the infidels who were beseiging the fortress fled from its rear. When the king arrived at the fortress with his troops, they did not find the impious Qaraman there. The king ordered that the grain be unloaded at the fortress and they removed guards who had gone into exile and designated new ones in their place. Then they took to the road and returned to their land without a care. Now that impious Qaraman [g239] came to a swampy and harsh place, with a mound of stones and a tight pass like a tunnel, and there he waited in ambush. When the Christian forces reached that place, the infidels raised a shriek and struck the believers with arrows. The clamor reached the king and the bravest left their brigades and coursed on to the place of battle. Striking the infidels, they turned them to flight and pierced Qaraman with spears and arrows. [Qaraman] retreated in shame and this impious man died several days later of his wounds. And the impious man's brother, named Bunsuz (Po'nsuz), died in the place of battle, as well as his son-in-law...[words missing] and those slain from the king's troops included Kostandin of Soma, and prince Grigor who was the lord of Mazot Xach', whose right hand was cut off by the point of a sword and fell, and few were those lost by the Christians on that day. Now Smbat, Bakuran's and Kostandin's brother, who was of Byzantine nationality and still a boy, and who was related to King Het'um on his father's side, attacked along with the other braves and covered the ground with the infidels' corpses. When the king and many others saw this, they praised him and sent the glad tidings to Kostandin, the king's father. And when he heard it, he was overjoyed and sent [the lad] back home to his brothers and to his mother, lady (tikin) Shahanduxt, with generous awards and gifts. Then the king came joyfully to his own land, in great delight that he had put to shame such an irritant with so little labor [g240].

[114] In the year 712 A.E. [1263] the Armenian king, Het'um, went to Antioch for pleasure, to see the city. He took along the praiseworthy doctor and archbishop of Anazarba, lord Yakob, together with priests and deacons and many treasures of gold and silver from the chamber of his father, Kostandin, to distribute to the poor and to give to the places of pilgrimage in memory of his soul. When the king entered the city, [the residents] gladly came before him and went around the city with him to [the churches of] Saints Paul and Peter and other places of pilgrimage. He gave gifts to them and also to the blessed monastery called Che"pik'. He also went to the monastery which had received his father, Kostandin, as a brother and he himself, the king, became a brother to them, giving them many gifts by deed so that every year they come to his land and receive them. He stayed in Antioch not a few days and then returned to his own land of Cilicia. In July of the same year King Het'um travelled East to Hulegu-Khan, because of the yearly harassment occasioned by the House of Cappadocia against residents at the foot of the mountain in the land of Cilicia. Hulegu-Khan, because of his extreme affection for the king, sent after him Mongol jurists, Arghuch'ik', who accompanied the king as far as Ar'akli. Rukn ad-Din, the sultan of Rum, had also come and they remained there for some days. They swore a treaty of friendship and made peace. And the king and the sultan were like father and son. And then they returned to their own places. In this year, the countess of Jaffa, Kyra Maria (Ker'amar'), sister of King Het'um, who had come [to Lambron] out of sadness for her father, Kostandin, also died [g241]. She died in the fortress of Lambron and was buried in the blessed congregation of Skewr'a, leaving two sons and three daughters.

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