Aïbeg and Serkis
Encyclopedia
Aïbeg and Serkis, also Aibeg and Sergis or Aïbäg and Särgis, were two ambassador
s sent by the Mongol ruler Baichu to Pope Innocent IV
in 1247–1248. They were the first Mongol envoys to Europe
.
Aïbeg ("Moon Prince") is thought to have been a Turcophone
Christian
, possibly Uighur
, and Serkis (from the Roman and later Christian name "Sergius" or "Sarkis") a Nestorian Christian, possibly Syrian or Armenian
. Both were sent by Baichu, to accompany the 1245 embassy of the Dominican
Ascelin of Lombardia back to Lyon
, France
, where the Pope was residing at the time. They stayed there for about a year.
Aïbeg and Serkis met with Innocent IV in 1248, and remitted to him a rather vexing letter from Baichu, expressing his difficulty in understanding the Pope's message, and asking for his submission:
As a reply to the letter from Baiju, Innocent IV remitted to the envoys the letter known as Viam agnoscere veritatis
. According to historian Kenneth Setton
, it "stated that Innocent IV had acted out of a sense of duty to let the true religion be known to the Mongols, and that he regretted the Mongols' perseverance in their errors and adjured them to cease their menaces." The Pope appealed to the Mongols to stop their killing of Christians, while indicating no further interest in continuing the dialogue.
Aïbeg and Serkis stayed at Lyon for about a year, before returning to the Mongol realm on November 22, 1248.
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
s sent by the Mongol ruler Baichu to Pope Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV , born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was pope from June 25, 1243 until his death in 1254.-Early life:...
in 1247–1248. They were the first Mongol envoys to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Aïbeg ("Moon Prince") is thought to have been a Turcophone
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, possibly Uighur
Uyghur people
The Uyghur are a Turkic ethnic group living in Eastern and Central Asia. Today, Uyghurs live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China...
, and Serkis (from the Roman and later Christian name "Sergius" or "Sarkis") a Nestorian Christian, possibly Syrian or Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
. Both were sent by Baichu, to accompany the 1245 embassy of the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
Ascelin of Lombardia back to Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where the Pope was residing at the time. They stayed there for about a year.
Aïbeg and Serkis met with Innocent IV in 1248, and remitted to him a rather vexing letter from Baichu, expressing his difficulty in understanding the Pope's message, and asking for his submission:
As a reply to the letter from Baiju, Innocent IV remitted to the envoys the letter known as Viam agnoscere veritatis
Viam agnoscere veritatis (1248)
Viam agnoscere veritatis is the name of a letter written by Pope Innocent IV to the Mongols. It was written on November 22, 1248, and was Pope Innocent's reply to a message from Mongol commander Baiju...
. According to historian Kenneth Setton
Kenneth Setton
Kenneth Meyer Setton was an American historian and an expert on the history of medieval Europe.- Early life, education and awards :...
, it "stated that Innocent IV had acted out of a sense of duty to let the true religion be known to the Mongols, and that he regretted the Mongols' perseverance in their errors and adjured them to cease their menaces." The Pope appealed to the Mongols to stop their killing of Christians, while indicating no further interest in continuing the dialogue.
Aïbeg and Serkis stayed at Lyon for about a year, before returning to the Mongol realm on November 22, 1248.