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| - The Mongols had been proselytised by Christian Nestorians since about the 7th century and many of them were Christians. Many Mongol tribes, such as the Kerait, the Naiman, the Merkit, the Öngüd, and to a large extent the Kara Khitan, were Nestorian Christian. Under Mongka, the main religious influence was that of the Nestorians. Overall, Mongols were highly tolerant of most religions, and typically sponsored several at the same time. Rabban Bar Sauma testified to the importance of Christianity among the Mongols, during his visit in Rome in 1287:
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| abstract
| - The Mongols had been proselytised by Christian Nestorians since about the 7th century and many of them were Christians. Many Mongol tribes, such as the Kerait, the Naiman, the Merkit, the Öngüd, and to a large extent the Kara Khitan, were Nestorian Christian. Under Mongka, the main religious influence was that of the Nestorians. Overall, Mongols were highly tolerant of most religions, and typically sponsored several at the same time. Some of the major Christian figures among the Mongols were: Sorghaghtani Beki, daughter in law of Genghis Khan, and mother of the Great Khans Möngke, Kublai, Hulagu and Ariq Boke, who were also married to Christian princesses; Sorghaqtani, wife of Tului; Doquz Khatun, wife of Hulagu and mother of the ruler Abaqa; Kutuktai, the principal Empress of Mongka; the Mongolian Khan Sartaq; the Naiman Kitbuqa, general of Mongol forces in the Levant, who fought in alliance with Christians. Marital alliances with Western powers also occurred, as in the 1265 marriage of ethnic Greek and Orthodox Christian Maria Palaiologina, daughter of Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus, with Abaqa. An Ongud Mongol was the highest authority (Patriarch) of the Nestorian church from 1281 to 1317 under the name Mar Yaballaha III. Gengis Khan himself was a Shamanist, but was tolerant of other faiths. His sons were married to Christian princesses, of the Kerait clan, who held considerable influence at his court. The Nestorian Christians of Central Asia were generally highly favorable to him. Rabban Bar Sauma testified to the importance of Christianity among the Mongols, during his visit in Rome in 1287: "Know ye, O our Fathers, that many of our Fathers (Nestorian missionaries since the 7th century) have gone into the countries of the Mongols, and Turks, and Chinese and have taught them the Gospel, and at the present time there are many Mongols who are Christians. For many of the sons of the Mongol kings and queens have been baptized and confess Christ. And they have established churches in their military camps, and they pay honour to the Christians, and there are among them many who are believers." —Travel of Rabban Bar Sauma The Mongol expansion throughout the Asian continent from around 1215 to 1360 helped bring political stability and re-establish the Silk Road (via Karakorum). The 13th century saw attempts at a Franco-Mongol alliance with exchange of ambassadors and even some limited military collaboration in the Holy Land. The Christian Chinese Mongol Rabban Bar Sauma visited the courts of Europe in 1287-1288. Other Mongols, such as the ruler of the Golden Horde Berke were on the contrary highly favourable to Islam, leading to conflicts between Mongol clans, as in the Berke-Hulagu war.
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