The History of the Holy War, Book 4 · Chapter 22
Chap. 22. The conversion of the Tartarians. Haalon conquereth Persia, and extinguisheth the Caliphs of Babylon.
LEwis is gone, and left the Christians in Syria in a wofull condition, without hope of amendment. Now, can any good come out of Tartary? Can the Northern wind blow a comfortable warmth? Yea; see a strange vicissitude of things! Haito the Christian King of Armenia had travelled to Mango the Cham of Tartary,Marinus Sanutus. Magdeburg. Cent. 13. cap. 16. col. 699. to communicate to him the present danger of the Turks, and to consult of a remedy. He shewed, how if order were not taken with them in time, they would overrunne all Asia: Let him not count that he lay out of their rode, because of his remote situation: For what is the way wanderers will not trace? He might expect onelyonly this courtesie, to be last devoured. In conclusion, Haito prevailed so farre with this Pagan, that he not onelyonly promised his assistance, but also was baptized, and took the Christian religion on him: So also did his whole countrey by his example;1254 and Christianity being the Court-fashion, none would be out of it. Never since the time of Constantine the Great, did the devil at once lose a greater morsel, or was there made a more hopefull accession to the Faith.
Understand we this conversion of Tartary (though Authours predicate it universally of that whole countrey) onelyonly of Cathaia, the Eastern and most refined part of that Empire: For Cannibals were still in the North, who needed first to be converted to reason and to be made men, before they could become Christians. Also at this same time we find a swarm of Western Tartarian heathens forraging *Calvisius, ex Hist. Pol. in anno 1259.Poland. So it seemeth, so vast was the Empire, that it was still night in the West, though it was day in the Eastern part thereof.
Now, whether the conversion of these Tartarians was solemnly, deliberately, and methodically wrought by preaching, first those things wherein the light of Nature concurreth with Faith; then, those wherein humane reason is no foe but standeth neuter; lastly, such as are merely of Faith, leaving the issue of all to God, whose *foreign, Athanasius.oratory alone can perswade souls: or whether (which is more probable) it was but tumultuously done, many on a sudden rather snatching then embracing religion, we will not dispute.1255 Sure it is that Mango sent Haalon his brother (who is said to have married a wife an excellent Christian, and *Magdeburg. Cent. 13. cap. 2. pag. 5.descended from the Wise-men who came to see our Saviour) with a great armie to suppresse the Turks and assist the Christians. It seemeth his armie rid post; for falling into Persia, he conquered it sooner then one can well travel it, *So Knolls, Turk. Hist. pag. 112. The Magdeburgenses say lesse, Semestri spatio, Cent. 13. cap. 16. col. 699.in half a yeare. It facilitated his victory, because that countrey had much unfurnished her self to furnish her forrein colonies and garisons in Syria: And generally active nations are strongest abroad, and weakest at home; where they are onelyonly strong with a conceit of their strength beleeved in other countreys. The citie Samarchanda onelyonly resisted him.1256 Haalon seeing it would not come at the first, let it stay; counting it beneath a conquerour to tempt his fortune with a long siege, which perchance might alter the whole course of the cards, and make him rise a loser. Wherefore he himself onelyonly skimmed the cream of the conquest, and went away with what was easie and smooth, deputing an inferiour captain to hew this knotty service; who after a long siege subdued it. For in respect of the age of this siege, that of Troy was but a child, it lasting *Magdeburg. & Knolls, ut priús.seven and twenty yeares; and at last not taken but yeelded up, the defendants then wanting clothes to cover their nakednesse.
From Persia Haalon marched to Babylon:1258 The Caliph whereof called Musteazem, was so superstitious an idolater to his wealth, that he would not provide necessaries for the defense of the city; and therefore it was quickly subdued. The covetous Caliph he *Calvisius, in anno 1158. ex Bizaro.famished to death, and then filled his mouth with melted gold. Every where Mosques went down and Churches up.
Hence into Mesopotamia: which he instantly conquered, with the cities of Aleppo and Edessa.1260 He wonne and restored many places to Conrade the Christian Prince of Antioch, which the Turks formerly detained from him. Yea, this Tartarian armie so awed Melechem the Mammaluke Prince of Egypt, who succeeded Tarqueminus, that he durst not budge. And many other good offices this Haalon did to the Christians in Syria.