Rabban Bar Sauma facts for kids

Rabban Bar Ṣawma traveled from Beijing in Asia to Rome and Paris and Bordeaux in Europe, meeting with the major rulers of the period.

Rabban Bar Ṣawma (which means "Son of Fasting" in Syriac) was a special monk and diplomat. He lived from about 1220 to 1294. He belonged to a Christian group called the Church of the East in China. He was from a Turkic group, possibly the Uyghur or Ongud people.

Bar Ṣawma is famous for his amazing travels. He first went on a long trip from China towards Jerusalem with his student, Rabban Markos. They could not reach Jerusalem because of fighting along the way. Instead, they stayed for many years in Baghdad, which was then controlled by the Mongols.

Later, his student Markos became the leader of the Church of the East, known as Yahballaha III. Markos then asked his old teacher, Rabban Bar Ṣawma, to go on another important journey. This time, Bar Ṣawma was to be a Mongol ambassador to Europe. He met with many kings and even the Pope. The goal was to create an alliance between the Mongols and European Christians. This alliance was meant to fight against a common enemy, the Muslim Mamluks.

Even though the alliance did not happen, Bar Ṣawma's travels were very important. He wrote down everything he saw and experienced. His writings give us a rare look at medieval Europe through the eyes of someone from the East. He saw Europe just as the Crusades were ending. His story is unique because it shows us Europe from a different point of view, before Marco Polo returned to Europe.

Early Life and Becoming a Monk

Rabban Bar Ṣawma was born around 1220. He was born in or near what is now Beijing, China. At that time, the city was called Zhongdu. Later, under Mongol rule, it was known as Khanbaliq. Even though his name meant "Son of Fasting," he came from a rich family.

He followed the Christian faith of the Church of the East. When he was about 20 years old, he decided to become a monk. For many decades, he was a respected religious teacher.

Journey to Jerusalem and Baghdad

When he was older, Rabban Bar Ṣawma and his student, Rabban Markos, started a long trip. They wanted to go from China to Jerusalem as pilgrims. They traveled through many lands, including Khotan, Kashgar, and Khorasan (now Afghanistan). They also passed through Maragha and Mosul, finally reaching Ani in Georgia.

However, they heard that the roads to southern Syria were too dangerous. So, they changed their plans. They went to Mongol-controlled Persia, known as the Ilkhanate. There, they were welcomed by the leader of the Church of the East, Patriarch Denha I.

The Patriarch asked the two monks to visit the Mongol ruler, Abaqa Khan. They needed to get official letters confirming the Patriarch's position. During this trip, Rabban Markos was made a bishop. The Patriarch then tried to send the monks back to China. But fighting along the way stopped them, so they stayed in Baghdad.

When the Patriarch died, Rabban Markos was chosen as the new leader in 1281. He became Yahballaha III. The two monks went to Maragheh to get this choice approved by Abaqa. But Abaqa Khan died before they arrived. His son, Arghun, became the new ruler.

Ambassador to Europe

Arghun, the new Mongol ruler, wanted to make an alliance with Christian Europe. He hoped they could fight together against their common enemy, the Muslim Mamluk Sultanate in Cairo. A few years later, Patriarch Yahballaha III suggested his old teacher, Rabban Bar Ṣawma, for this important mission. Bar Ṣawma was to go to Europe to meet the Pope and the kings.

In 1287, Bar Ṣawma, who was now an elderly man, began his journey to Europe. He carried gifts and letters from Arghun for the Eastern Roman emperor, the Pope, and European kings. He traveled with many helpers and 30 riding animals. He likely spoke Chinese, Turkic, and Persian, but not European languages. People spoke to him in Persian.

Meeting Rulers and Seeing Wonders

Bar Ṣawma traveled through Armenia to the Black Sea. From there, he sailed to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). He met with Emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus. Bar Ṣawma was very impressed by the beautiful Hagia Sophia church.

Next, he sailed to Italy. On his way, he saw the huge volcano Mount Etna erupting on June 18, 1287. A few days later, he saw a naval battle in the Bay of Sorrento. This battle was part of a conflict called the Sicilian Vespers.

He then went to Rome. He was too late to meet Pope Honorius IV, who had just died. So, Bar Ṣawma talked with the cardinals and visited St. Peter's Basilica.

Bar Ṣawma continued his journey, stopping in Tuscany and Genoa. He spent the winter of 1287-1288 in Genoa, a city famous for banking. In France, he spent a month with King Philip the Fair. The king seemed happy about the Mongol visit. He gave Bar Ṣawma many gifts. He also sent one of his noblemen, Gobert de Helleville, to go back with Bar Ṣawma to Mongol lands.

Bar Ṣawma also met King Edward I of England in Bordeaux, in southern France. King Edward was also excited about the idea of an alliance. However, he could not join a military alliance because he had problems at home, especially with the Welsh and the Scots.

Return to Baghdad

When Bar Ṣawma returned to Rome, he was warmly welcomed by the new Pope, Nicholas IV. The Pope even gave him communion on Palm Sunday in 1288. He also allowed Bar Ṣawma to celebrate his own Christian service in Rome. Pope Nicholas asked Bar Ṣawma to visit Christians in the East. He also gave him a special crown to give to Mar Yahballaha, Bar Ṣawma's former student.

Bar Ṣawma returned to Baghdad in 1288. He carried messages and many gifts from the European leaders. Arghun replied to these letters in 1289. In his letter to King Philip IV, Arghun mentioned Bar Ṣawma. He talked about the idea of attacking Egypt together.

The plans for an alliance with the Europeans did not work out in the end. Arghun eventually gave up on the idea. However, Rabban Bar Ṣawma did make important connections. These connections helped improve communication and trade between the East and West. The Pope also sent missionaries, like Giovanni da Montecorvino, to the Mongol court.

Later Years and Writings

After his journey to Europe, Bar Ṣawma lived the rest of his life in Baghdad. It was probably during this time that he wrote about his travels. His book was later published in French and English. It was called The Monks of Kublai Khan, Emperor of China.

His story is very special because it shows us what medieval Europe was like. He described it through the eyes of an intelligent observer from a culture thousands of miles away.

Rabban Bar Ṣawma died in Baghdad in 1294.

Images for kids

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  A young woman, possibly Uyghur or Han Chinese, from a Nestorian church (now in Gaochang, China), Tang period, 602–654

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  Wall painting from a Nestorian church showing a scene of preaching on Palm Sunday, Qocho (now Gaochang, China), 683–770 AD

See also

In Spanish: Rabban Bar Sauma para niños