Ранние джучидские военные кампании и про-толуидские письменные источники

Abstract

Research objectives: To analyze the information contained in diverse written sources about the early Jochid conquests which preceded the start of Batu’s western campaign in Eastern Europe (1236–1242) and to discuss the role in the implementation of these military campaigns that each of these diverse sources ascribes to Chinggis Khan’s eldest son, Jochi, and his progeny. Research materials: The author exclusively used written and already published sources – namely: Arabic works of Ibn al-Athir and Qaratay al-Izzi al-Khaznadari (the work of the latter author is often mistakenly attributed to Ibn Wasil); Persian works of al-Nasawi, Juzjani, Juwayni, and Rashid al-Din; the Mongolian Secret History of the Mongols and the Chinese official annals Yuan Shi and Shengwu qinzheng lu; Latin accounts on two travels of the Dominican Julian to pre-Mongol Eastern Europe, subsequent Latin reports by John of Plano Carpini and C. de Bridia on the first European diplomatic mission to the Mongol Empire, as well as the bulls of Pope Gregory IX regarding the situation in the Balkans during the arrival of the first Qipchaq refugees from the Mongols; the Greek works of George Akropolites, Ephraim, and Nicephorus Gregoras regarding the same situation in the Balkans, as well as a fragment from the Life of St. Louis by Jean de Joinville. Research novelty: Based on Christopher Atwood’s successful results in comparing the pro-Toluid sources with those written outside the Toluid courts, a similar method is employed here for Jochi’s last campaign as well as for the early campaigns of his successor, Batu. Research results: A comparison of both types of sources allows us to trace the delibe­rate understatement of the role of the Jochids in the pro-Toluid sources. As well, we are able to restore their real role, based on information from parallel sources.