A stirring tale of delicious complexity

James Barr

IN 1252 MONGKE, THE NEW MONGOL ruler, ordered his brother Hulegu to embark on a new push to expand their empire westwards. Having reminded Hulegu to consult his Christian wife, Doquz Khatun, “in all matters” and to treat those who readily submitted mercifully, he continued, “Grind beneath the feet of your wrath those who resist, along with their wives, children, kith and kin.” Hulegu would have known what was required. The Mongols had already turned death into a performance art designed to sap their would-be enemies’ morale: his and Mongke’s grandfather, the great Chinggis (Genghis) Khan, had executed one opponent by pouring molten metal into his eyes, mouth and ears. With this in mind, Nicholas Morton starts from the simple proposition that the Mongols’ impact was felt long before they…

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The Critic (Digital) - 1 Issue, August - September 2023

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