On May 7, 1253, Christian missionary and traveler William of Rubruck began his great journey to Kharakhorum, the capital of the Mongol Empire, by the order of King Louis 9th of France at that time.The territry of the Mongol Empire reached the Black Sea in the west that year, and traces of Mongolian culture are noticeable even in the Crimean Peninsula.
In addition, The Mongol Empire expanded rapidly, and by the order of Munkh Khan, the great army led by his brother Khulegu advanced towards the Middle East to foster peace in the Arab world.Rubruck decided to travel along the route laid out by the Italian Plano Carpini around 1245. He traveled nine days by oxcart from the Crimean city of Sudak, crossed the Don River, met Sartag, the son of Bat Khan, and Sartag sent him to Bat's palace on the banks of the Izh River. It was only five weeks after leaving Sudak that Bat visited the king, and Bat sent him to the Munkh Khan, treating him as the emissary of the King of France. On September 16, 1253, his team and the envoys appointed by Bat Khan set out for the city of Karakorum, which is located 9,000 km away, and after a long but safe journey, he arrived in the capital Karakorum at the end of December of the same year.
On December 4th, he paid a courtesy call on the King with gifts and greetings.
The occurrences noted during William of Rubruck's journey to the land of Mongolia are recorded in association with the paramount ruler, signifying their significant relevance to Mongolian history.
In winter, they make a delicious drink that is as clear as wine, mainly from rice, millet, barley, and honey. Wine is brought from distant countries. In summer, they woud drink only airag. Airag is always placed at some distance in front of the ger, and musician sits next to it. Sitars and violins are not seen here; however, there are many musical instruments that aren't present in France.
Carrying milk and other beverages into the Royal residence is difficult. So William, as a native Parisian, crafted a large silver tree for the king. At its base, four silver lions were crafted with spouts, each of which spouted mare's milk. Four pipes were inserted into the silver tree, brought to the top, and the mouth was taken out from there to show a snake's mouth.
One tap pours wine, another pours black fermented milk or mare's milk, the third one pours honey, and the fourth one pours out a sour drink called teracin. At the foot of the tree, a silver tray was placed under each sweet dish. At the top of the silver tree, the craftsman carved the sky... On the eve of the Great Sacrifice of the Holy Spirit (May 30) , we gathered in our church. Munkh Khan Sent three emissaries from Christianity, Sarracin /Islam/, and Tun /Buddhism/ as arbiters.
The Mongol Empire was a global power that connected the West with the East, and at that time was supreme in its military, its culture, its commerce, and its infrastructure.
