Background
The Mongols had been proselytised since about the 7th century. Many Mongol tribes, such as the Kerait, the Naimans, the Merkit, the Öngüd, and to a large extent the Kara Khitan (who practiced it side-by-side with Buddhism), were Nestorian Christian.
Genghis Khan himself was a Shamanist, but was tolerant of other faiths. When, as the young Temüjin, he swore allegiance with his men at the Baljuna Covenant around 1200, there were representatives of nine tribes among the 20 men, including "several Christians, three Muslims, and several Buddhists." His sons were married to Christian princesses of the Kerait clan who held considerable influence at his court. Under the Great Khan Mongke, Genghis's grandson, the main religious influence was that of the Nestorians.
Some of the major Christian figures among the Mongols were:
- Sorghaghtani Beki, daughter in law of Genghis Khan by his son Tolui, and mother of Möngke, Kublai Khan, Hulagu Khan and Ariq Boke, who were also married to Christian princesses;
- Doquz Khatun, wife of Hulagu and mother of the Ilkhan Abaqa, who for his part married Maria Palaiologina, daughter of Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus in 1265. After the death of Arghun's mother Doquz, Maria filled her role as a major Christian influence in the Ilkhanate.
- Sartaq, son of Batu, who converted to Christianity during his lifetime;
- Kitbuqa, general of Mongol forces in the Levant, who fought in alliance with Christian vassals.
- Mar Yaballaha III, an Ongud Mongol earlier known as Rabban Marcos, who became the highest authority (Patriarch) of the Nestorian church from 1281 to 1317.
- Rabban Bar Sauma, Chinese monk who made a pilgrimage from Khanbaliq (Beijing), and testified to the importance of Christianity among the Mongols during his visit to Rome in 1287.
Read more about this topic: Christianity Among The Mongols
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