Buscarello de Ghizolfi
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Buscarello de Ghizolfi, or Buscarel of Gisolfe was a Genoese from the great de Ghizolfi family, who settled in Persia in the 13th century. He was an ambassador to Europe for the Mongol rulers Arghun, Ghazan and then Oljeitu from 1289 to 1305, and played an important role in trying to set up a military alliance between the Mongols, favourable to Christianity, and Christian princes, against the Muslims. Other adventurers, such as Tommaso Ugi di Siena or Isol the Pisan, are known to have played similar roles at the Mongol court. Hundreds such Western adventurers entered into the service of Mongol rulers.[1]
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[edit] Early life
Buscarello is first mentioned in 1274 in relation to the arming of a galley. He is next seen in Ayas in Cilician Armenia in 1279. He then entered the service of Arghun, becoming Officer of his guard, with the title of Qortchi ("Quiver carrier").[2][3]
Buscarello had a son, Argone de Ghizolfi, whom he named "Arghun" after his patron.[4]
[edit] 1289 embassy
In 1289, Arghun sent his third mission to Europe, in the person of Buscarel of Gisolfe. The objective of the mission was to determine at what date concerted Christian and Mongol efforts could start. Arghun committed to march his troops as soon as the Crusaders had disambarked at Saint-Jean-d'Acre. Buscarel was in Rome between July 15th and September 30th 1289. He was in Paris in November-December 1289.[5] He remitted a letter from Arghun to Philippe le Bel, answering to Philippe's own letter and promisses, and pressing for a clear military commitment:
"Under the power of the eternal sky, the message of the great king, Arghun, to the king of France..., said: I have accepted the word that you forwarded by the messengers under Saymer Sagura (Bar Sauma), saying that if the warriors of Il Khaan invade Egypt you would support them. We would also lend our support by going there at the end of the Tiger year’s winter [1290], worshiping the sky, and settle in Damascus in the early spring [1291].
If you send your warriors as promised and conquer Egypt, worshiping the sky, then I shall give you Jerusalem. If any of our warriors arrive later than arranged, all will be futile and no one will benefit. If you care to please give me your impressions, and I would also be very willing to accept any samples of French opulence that you care to burden your messengers with.
I send this to you by Myckeril and say: All will be known by the power of the sky and the greatness of kings. This letter was scribed on the sixth of the early summer in the year of the Ox at Ho’ndlon."
—Letter from Arghun to Philippe le Bel. Dated May 11th, 1289. France royal archives[6]
Buscarello's message were accompanied by a promise to deliver between 20,000 to 30,000 horses and all needed supplies to the Crusaders as they arrived in the Holy Land.[7][8] Buscarello remitted to Philippe le Bel a memorandum in French describing the details of the proposed combined action:
"First of all, Arghun informs the King of France as a brother that, in all parts of the Orient among the Tartars, the Sarassins and any other people, the greatness, power and faithfulness of the Kingdom of France has a certain renown, as well as the King of France, his Barons and his powerfull Knights, who came several times to the help and the conquest of the Holy Land, in the honor of the son of the Virgin Mary and of all the Christian people. And the said Arghun informs the King of France as his brother that he himself and his army are ready and equipped to go to the conquest of the Holy Land, and to be together with the King of France in this rightfull service.
And I, Buscarel, in respect to this message from Arghun, say that if you, King of France, come in person to accomplish this rightfull service, Arghun will bring with him two Christian Georgian kings under his lordship, who will be able to bring with them more than 20,000 horsemen.
I also say that, since Arghun has heard that it was very difficult for the King of France and his Barons to bring with them across the sea all the horses needed for their knights and their men, the King of France will receive from Arghun 20,000 to 30,000 horses as a gift.
Similarly, if you, King of France, so desires, Arghun will have all Turkey (Seljoukid Anatolia) prepare for you and for this rightfull service animal meats, oxens, cows and camels, grains and flour, and any other available food according to your wish and request.
—Memorandum from Buscarel to Philippe le Bel.[9]
Buscarel then went to England to bring Arghun's message to Edward I. He arrived in London January 5, 1290. Edward, whose answer has been preserved, answered enthusiastically to the project but deferred the decision about the date to the Pope, failing to make a clear commitment:[10]
"Glorificetur Dominus qui tam bonum tanque laudibile propositum inspiravit conceptui mentis vestrae, ut contra soldani Babylon, suaeque gentis perfidam exurgere delectamini in terrae sanctae subsidium et fide, christianae beatum vos dicent omnes generationes, si vobis votum perseveret hujusmodi..."
—Extract of the answer from Edward I to Arghun.[11]
Buscarello returned to Persia, accompanied by an English envoy named Sir Geoffrey de Langley.[12]
[edit] 1290 embassy
Buscarello again returned to Europe and visited European monarchs in 1290, probably with new proposals and modifications of dates. He was accompanied by a noble Christian Mongol named Andrew Zagan, who was baptized on this occasion,[13] and another named Sabadin.[14]
Among the various actions discussed together, a maritime raiding force consisting in two war galleys was prepared in Baghdad in cooperation with the Genoese in 1290, in order to curtail the maritime trade of the Mamluks in the Indian Ocean. A contingent of 800 Genoese carpenters and sailors were sent to Baghdad, as well as a force of arbaletiers, but the enterprise apparently foundered when the Genoese government disowned the project, and an internal fight erupted at the Persian Gulf port of Basra among the Geneose (between the Guelfe and the Gibelin families).[15][16]
Buscarello was seen in Genoa in 1291.[17]
[edit] 1300 embassy
In 1300, Buscarello brought a message to Pope Boniface VIII, together with the Mongol Köködei.[18]
[edit] 1303 embassy
In 1303, Ghazan sent an embassy to Edward I, led by Buscarello de Ghizolfi together with three Mongols.[19] His letter reinterated Hulagu's promise that they would give Jerusalem to the Franks in exchange for help against the Mamluks.[20] In 1303, the Mongols invaded Syria in great strength (about 80,000) together with the Armenians, but they were defeated at Homs on March 30, 1303, and at the decisive Battle of Shaqhab, south of Damas, on April 21, 1303.[21] It is considered to be the last major Mongol invasion of Syria.[22]
[edit] 1305 embassy
In April 1305, Ghazan's successor Oljeitu sent letters the French king Philip the Fair,[23] the Pope, and Edward I of England, again through an embassy by Buscarel. After his predecessor Arghun, he offered a military collaboration between the Christian nations of Europe and the Mongols against the Mamluks:
"We, Sultan Oljaitu. We speak. We, who by the strength of the Sky, rose to the throne (...), we, descendant of Genghis Khan (...). In truth, there cannot be anything better than concord. If anybody was not in concord with either you or ourselves, then we would defend ourselves together. Let the Sky decide!"
—Extract from the letter of Oljeitu to Philip the Fair. French national archives.[24]
He also explained that internal conflicts between the Mongols were over:
"Now all of us, Timur Khagan, Tchapar, Toctoga, Togba and ourselves, main descendants of Gengis-Khan, all of us, descendants and brothers, are reconciled through the inspiration and the help of God. So that, from Nangkiyan (China) in the Orient, to Lake Dala our people is united and the roads are open."
—Extract from the letter of Oljeitu to Philip the Fair. French national archives.[25]
Buscarel wrote a translation on the letter of Oljeitu, which remains to this day. The embassy further promissed the delivery of 100,000 horses to the Crusaders upon their arrival in the Holy Land.[26]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Roux, p.410
- ^ Jean Richard Internet article
- ^ Jean-Paul Roux, p.410
- ^ Jean Richard Internet article
- ^ Grousset, p.711
- ^ Source
- ^ Peter Jackson, p.178
- ^ Jean Richard, p.468
- ^ Quoted in Grousset, p.712
- ^ "Histoire des Croisades III", Rene Grousset, p.713.
- ^ Grousset, p.846
- ^ Iranica Encyclopedia [1]
- ^ Jean Richard, p.468
- ^ Grousset, p.714
- ^ "Only a contingent of 800 Genoese arrived, whom he (Arghun) employed in 1290 in building ships at Baghdad, with a view to harassing Egyptian commerce at the southern approaches to the Red Sea", p.169, Peter Jackson, The Mongols and the West
- ^ Jean Richard, p.468
- ^ Roux, p.410
- ^ Roux, p.411
- ^ Roux, p.410
- ^ Encyclopedia Iranica article
- ^ Demurger, p. 158
- ^ Nicolle, p. 80
- ^ Mostaert and Cleaves, pp. 56-57, Source
- ^ Quoted in Jean-Paul Roux, "Histoire de l'Empire Mongol", p.437
- ^ Source
- ^ Peter Jackson, p.178
[edit] References
- Demurger, Alain (2007). Jacques de Molay (in French). Editions Payot&Rivages. ISBN 2228902357.
- Grousset, René (1935). Histoire des Croisades III, 1188-1291 (in French). Editions Perrin. ISBN 2-262-02569-X
- Jackson, Peter (2005). The Mongols and the West: 1221-1410. Longman. ISBN 978-0582368965.
- Richard, Jean (1996). Histoire des Croisades. Fayard. ISBN 2-213-59787-1
- Roux, Jean-Paul (1993). Histoire de l'Empire Mongol. Fayard. ISBN 2213031649
