William of Rubruck facts for kids
William of Rubruck (also known as Willem van Ruysbroeck or Guillaume de Rubrouck) was a Flemish Franciscan missionary and explorer. He lived in the 1200s. He is famous for his long journeys to the Middle East and Central Asia. This included visiting the huge Mongol Empire. His travel stories are considered some of the best writings from the Middle Ages. They are often compared to the famous adventures of Marco Polo.
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Why William Went on His Journey
William was born in a place called Rubrouck in Flanders. In 1248, he joined King Louis IX of France during the Seventh Crusade. On May 7, 1253, King Louis asked William to go on a special trip. His mission was to try and convince the Tatars (Mongols) to become Christians.
First, William stopped in Constantinople. There, he talked with Baldwin of Hainaut. Baldwin had just returned from Karakorum, the capital city of the Mongol Empire. William received important letters for some Tatar leaders from the emperor.
William then followed a path that other European travelers had taken before him. His group included Bartolomeo da Cremona, an assistant named Gosset, and an interpreter called Homo Dei. William's journey was the fourth time Europeans had tried to reach the Mongols. King Louis hoped to send this mission because he heard there were Christians at the Mongolian court.
William's Amazing Travels
William reached a town called Sudak in Crimea. From there, he continued his journey using oxen and carts. After crossing the Don River, he met Sartaq Khan. Sartaq Khan was a ruler of the Golden Horde.
Sartaq Khan sent William to his father, Batu Khan. Batu Khan lived near the Volga River in a place called Sarai. Five weeks after leaving Sudak, William reached Batu Khan's camp. Batu Khan did not want to become a Christian. Instead, he sent William to the main Mongol ruler, Möngke Khan.
On September 16, 1253, William and his friends started a very long trip on horseback. They traveled about 9,000 kilometers (5,600 miles) to reach Möngke Khan's court in Karakorum. They arrived in late December and met the Khan on January 4, 1254.
William wrote many details about Karakorum. He described the city's walls, busy markets, and temples. He also noted that Muslim and Chinese craftspeople lived in separate areas. The city was very diverse, with people from many different places. He even met other Europeans there! These included an English bishop's nephew, a woman from Lorraine who cooked for him, and a French silversmith. The silversmith, Guillaume Boucher, made beautiful decorations for the Khan's wives and altars for the Nestorian Christians.
William stayed at the Khan's camp until July 10, 1254. Then, they began their long journey back home. After stopping with Batu Khan and spending Christmas in Nakhchivan (in modern-day Azerbaijan), William and his friends finally reached the County of Tripoli on August 15, 1255.
William's Important Report
When William returned, he gave King Louis IX a very clear and detailed report. It was called Itinerarium fratris Willielmi de Rubruquis de ordine fratrum Minorum, Galli, Anno gratiae 1253 ad partes Orientales. William's report had 40 chapters. The first 10 chapters described the Mongols and their way of life. The rest of the chapters (11-40) told the story of William's journey.
In his report, William described many unique things about the Mongol Empire. He also made many important observations about geography. For example, he was surprised to find Islam in Inner Asia.
William also solved a big question of his time. By traveling north of the Caspian Sea, he proved that it was an inland sea. This meant it did not flow into the Arctic Ocean. While other explorers knew parts of the area, William was the first to write down this important fact.
William of Rubruck's report is a masterpiece of medieval travel writing. He was a great observer and a skilled writer. He asked many questions and did not just believe old stories. He was also good with languages, noticing how similar some Asian languages were to European ones.
In May 1254, while with the Mongols, William took part in a famous debate. The Khan encouraged Christians, Buddhists, and Muslims to discuss their faiths. Three judges, one from each faith, would decide which religion was correct. A Chinese person joined William in this debate.
A famous writer named Roger Bacon, who lived at the same time as William, used William's writings a lot. Bacon called William "Brother William" and said he traveled to the east and north. Bacon carefully read William's book.
See also
In Spanish: Rubruquis para niños
