Карпини

Carpini. John de Plano Carpini came from the surname del Plan di Carpini in Perugia; born, believed to be 1182. Little is known about his life. A contemporary of Francis of Assisi, he was one of the most famous members of the order founded by him, became famous for his preaching activities and the founding of monasteries in Poland, Germany, Spain, Bohemia, and Hungary. Since the destructive hordes of the Mughals after the conquest of Rus' in the forties of the 13th century began to threaten Europe, Pope Innocent IV decided at the Council of Lyon in 1245 to send a mission to distract the Mongols from Europe as much as possible; at the same time, the missionaries had to try to win over the Mongols to the Christian faith and collect, if possible, information about this people. John Carpini was chosen for the mission along with other brothers in the order - Benedict from Poland and others. The mission set off at the end of 1245 through Southern Russia and the Volga steppes, having previously purchased beaver and other furs for gifts. In the Volga steppes, Carlini saw Batu Khan, who met the ambassadors with honor. Batu sent them to the great khan himself, to the main camp of the nomads. The ambassadors' path ran through vast spaces occupied by the Tatars. The latter wanted to assure the ambassadors of the enormity and power of their kingdom. The journey was very difficult, especially since we rode very quickly, changing horses several times a day. At this time, the Mongols were preparing to elect Khan Kayuk, the eldest son of Khan Ogedei, at the “kurultai” (at the diet), and the ambassadors were in a hurry to be in time for the very ceremony of accession to the throne. On July 22, completely exhausted, Carpini and his companions arrived at their destination; They were given a comfortable tent, richly equipped with everything they needed. They lived here for quite a long time, were present at all celebrations, and were always given special honor. They were kindly received by the new khan, presented him with a papal letter, to which they received a response with the royal seal, after which they were released. The return journey had to be made in winter, which is why they had to endure even more difficulties. In June 1247 they reached Kyiv, where they were greeted as if they were the resurrected dead. From here they arrived safely to the pope and reported to him about the success of their embassy. Carpini's report was graciously received by the pope, who rewarded his ambassador with many tokens of his favor. In the subsequent years of his life, Carpini did not give up his preaching activities: we later meet him in the Czech Republic, Hungary and other countries where he preached the Gospel. He died in the rank of Archbishop of Antivari. The year of his death is unknown. Carpini carefully observed the life and activities of the Tatars both on the road and during his stay among them. He outlined his observations in the work “Libellus historicus” in Latin. With the exception of a few absurd fables inserted there, conveyed by Carpini, his messages contain a lot of interesting data for the ethnography and geography of Southern Russia and the Mongols. By the way, Carpini reports about the kingdom of Prester John, which he places in India (see “Enz.” VII). Carpini saw on his way the princes Vasilko Vladimir Volynsky, Daniil Romanovich Galitsky, convinced them to accept the union, recognizing the primacy of the pope, to which, allegedly, on the way back he received their consent (Yazykov, Travel to the Tatars, p. 9. 63; cf. E.E. Golubinsky, History of the Russian Church vol. II, 1, pp. 82–87). In the main camp, Carpini met with Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich of Suzdal, whom Batu sent to be present at Kayuk’s accession to the throne. Carpini speaks of the Tatars themselves with praise, noting their religious tolerance, loyalty to the khan, honesty in mutual relations, the chastity of their wives; but in relation to other peoples, the Tatars are distinguished by pride, arrogance, changeability, greed: - nothing can be achieved from them without gifts. Literature. Op. Carpini in Russian transl.: “The most curious journey of the monk Jean du Plan-Carpin, sent in 1246 with the dignity of legate-ambassador from Pope Innocent IV to the Tatars A. M... Moscow 1795.” D. Yazykov: Collection of travels to the Tatars and other eastern peoples in the XIII, XIV and XV centuries. I: Plano-Carpini; II: Astselin, St. Petersburg. 1825; Here are the Latin text and Russian translation of op. Carpini. A.N. Shemyakin, Medieval travelers who visited Russia and talked about it...: G. de Plano Carpini... in “Readings of Imp. General East. and Ancient Ross. at Moscow University" 1864, July-September, [† Prof. N.F. Krasnoseltsev, Western missions against the pagan Tatars and especially against the Mohammedan Tatars, Kazan 1872, pp. 38–46. Michaud, History of the Crusades IV, pp. 54 ff.] Critically revised and richly annotated, one might say an exhaustive edition - Relation des Mongols ou Tartares par le Frère de Jean du Plan de Carpin de Íordre des Trère-Mineurs, Légat du Saint-Siège Apostolique, Nonce en Tartarie pendant les années 1245, 1246，1247 et Archevêque d'Antivari par M. d'Avezac, Paris 1838; it is also in the Recueil de Voyages et de Mémoires, publiés par le Société de Géographie de Paris. vol. IV. p. 399–779. M. Ch. Sprengel, Geschichte der wichtigsten geographischen Entdeckungen, 1792. There are many detailed explanations regarding the journey of Pl. Carpini.