Byzantium and the Mongol world

Abstract

This chapter presents the course of the Byzantine–Mongol relations from beginning of the thirteenth century to the beginning of the fifteenth century, that is, the time when the West Mongol uluses of the Golden Horde and the Ilkhanate were in direct contact with Byzantium and had a significant impact on the general political economic and social conditions in region of Eastern Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East. In the thirteenth and the first half of fourteenth century, Byzantium itself experienced very hard times. As is well known, in 1204, the Empire temporarily ceased to exist. Latin emperors reigned in Constantinople until 1261. With Egyptian mediation the friendly relations between Berke and Byzantium were eventually restored as well and Emperor even offered to Berke an annual tribute. Constantinople was filled with refugees and Tamerlane’s attack against the Ottomans caused deep fear in Byzantine capital, because his Turko-Mongol forces demonstrated enormous cruelty over the defeated enemies and the peaceful population.