CHAPTER XXXVIII.
WOE TO THE CALIPH.
I HAVE mentioned that, in the middle of the thirteenth century, theMoguls, or Tartars, were the terror of Asia and Europe. In consideringtheir energy and cruelty as warriors, is it wonderful that theirmovements should have been regarded with lively alarm? From the YellowRiver to the banks of the Danube they had marched, conquering andslaughtering; marking their way with devastation, and making the twocontinents resound with the tumult of war and the crash of empires.
Originally a number of hordes, inhabiting the waste regions that liebetween ancient Emaues, Siberia, and China, and the sea of Kamschatka,the Tartars formed several nations of hunters and shepherds, livingunder tents, with their families subsisting on the produce of the chaseand the flesh of their flocks, and acknowledging one God, the sovereignof heaven, but reserving their worship for the genii, who, as theybelieved, followed their steps, and watched over the safety of theirfamilies. They moved from place to place, despising agriculture, and notdeigning to build. Even as late as the twelfth century, they had onlyone city--Karrakoroum--situated on the Orgon, in the countrysubsequently the residence of the Grand Lama. In short, they looked uponall the world as their own, and, disliking all neighbours and rivals,were frequently engaged in war, which they deemed the sole occupationworthy of their attention.
As warriors, the Tartars early proved themselves most formidable. Theirvalour and discipline were remarkable; and they had neither baggage norprovisions to encumber their marches. While the skins of sheep or bearsserved them for clothing, they made a little hardened milk, diluted withwater, suffice them for food. On horseback, they were as much at home asa sea king on the deck of his war-ship, and their seat was so easy andfirm, that they were in the habit of eating, and even sleeping, withouttaking the trouble to dismount. They fought with lance and bow, rearedmachines of terrible power; and all the stratagems of war were familiarto them. They excelled in the art of fighting while flying; and, withthem, retreat was often the signal for victory.
It was in the twelfth century that Gheniskhan was elected by the Tartarsas their ruler, and that, under his leadership, they struck terror intothe surrounding nations. Under Gheniskhan, the Tartars made themselvesmasters of China, and the empire of Karismia; and, during the reign ofhis son Octai, they added Turkistan and India and Persia to theirconquests. Moreover, at that time, they turned their eyes westward; and,having crossed the Volga, they overran Russia, ravaged Poland,desolated Hungary, devastated the frontiers of Germany, and caused suchdread, that even England was agitated with the danger that threatenedall Christendom.
About the year 1245, however, Mango, the grandson of Gheniskhan,professed a desire to embrace Christianity; and Oulagon, the brother ofMango, espoused a Christian woman; and, when King Louis was wintering inCyprus, ambassadors from Tartary reached the island, with messages tothe effect that the great khan had been baptised, and that he wouldreadily aid the Crusaders in rescuing Jerusalem from the Moslems. Thesaint-king received the ambassadors with joy, entertained themhospitably, conducted them to church, and, when they departed, sent twomonks with magnificent presents to the great khan, and exhortations tohold fast the profession of his faith without wavering. Even when theTartars menaced Bagdad, an ambassador, despatched by King Louis fromAcre, was at the court of the great khan, with the object of convertingthe Tartars; and it appears clear that, however little they might carefor either faith, the Tartars, in the struggle of Christian and Moslemin the East, were ever ready to take the side of the Christian againstthe Moslem.
Such being the state of affairs, Mango sent his brother with an army tobesiege Bagdad; and Oulagon, raising his banner, marched towards thecity of the caliph. Now it happened that Musteazem, being at once underthe influence of the most egregious vanity and of the most sordidavarice, neither believed in his danger, nor had the heart to expendmoney to provide the means of defence, but devoted to the hoarding ofthe jewels, gold, and treasures with which his palace abounded, thewhole time that should have been employed in mustering armies andpreparing for war.
However, when the caliph learned that Oulagon was approaching to attackBagdad, he partially awoke from his dream, and sent offers to treat.Oulagon, who either suspected, or pretended to suspect, a snare,thereupon proposed that a marriage should take place between thechildren of the caliph and the great khan, as the best way of preservingpeace; and Musteazem expressed his entire satisfaction with theproposal.
The Tartar then requested the caliph to send sixty of his chief men totreat of the marriage; and, when this was complied with, he demandedsixty more, that he might have full security for the fulfilment of thetreaty. Not doubting Oulagon's good faith, Musteazem did as he was askedto do; and the royal Mogul smiled grimly.
'Now,' said Oulagon to his Tartars, 'seeing that we have in our handssix score of the caliph's chief counsellors and most wealthy subjects, Icannot doubt that the remainder are very common sort of people, and notlikely to offer much resistance. My plans have been laid with suchsecrecy and caution, that nothing is suspected. I have only to appearbefore Bagdad, and take possession.'
And no time was wasted. In fact, Oulagon had no motive for sparing theseat of the caliphate; and no sooner did he get the six score ofMusteazem's chief men into his hands, than he ordered them to bebeheaded, and prepared for an attack. Nor, as he rightly anticipated,was there much danger of an obstinate resistance. In fact, not only wasthe city undefended by any regular force: it was divided against itself.The citizens were formed into various sects, all at daggers drawn, andmuch more earnest in their conflicts with each other than in resolutionto repulse assailants.
It was early morning when the inhabitants of Bagdad were aroused fromtheir slumbers with loud shouts of alarm, and cries that the Tartarswere upon them. Resistance was vain; and equally vain was any hope ofmercy. Having set up his machines of war, Oulagon gave the word ofcommand, and the Tartars rushed to the assault with all the ferocity oftheir nature. Entering the city sword in hand, Oulagon gave it up to thefury of his soldiers. Carnage, and all the horrors of war, followed; thegutters ran with blood; and the caliph who, a few hours earlier, deemedhis person so sacred that he would not even consent to touch the hand ofa Frank, experienced such rough treatment that he shrunk and shudderedand sickened.
Oulagon, however, was in no mood to respect the person of the head ofthe Moslem religion. No allegiance did the grim Tartar owe to the heirof Mahomet. Having seized Musteazem in his palace, Oulagon, afterseverely reproaching him with meditating treachery, caused him to beconfined in an iron cage; and, after keeping him in durance for sometime, came to add insult to injury.
But, ere relating what passed, it is necessary to return to theChristian ambassadors.
Boy Crusaders: A Story of the Days of Louis IX. Page 39