Latin Empire of Constantinople, the Jochids and Crimea in the Mid-Thirteenth Century

Uzelac, Aleksandar (2015) Latin Empire of Constantinople, the Jochids and Crimea in the Mid-Thirteenth Century. Zolotoordynskoe obozrenie, 3. pp. 62-76. ISSN 2308-152X (print)

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Abstract

The aim of this paper is the analysis of relations between the Latin Empire of Constantinople and Ulus of Jochi (the Golden Horde). It is primarily focused upon the diplomatic mission of Baldwin of Hainaut, which took place approximately between 1249 and 1252. As a representative of the namesake Latin Emperor, Baldwin of Hainaut led negotiations with the Batu’s son Sartak, and he traveled to the Far East, where he possibly met with the Great Khan Möngke. The aim of the mission was to secure the Mongol support for the defense of Constantinople against aggressive aspirations of the Empire of Nicaea. Important factor that led to the Baldwin’s enterprise were activities of Venetian and other Italian merchants. They served as primary intermediaries between the Frankish establishment of Constantinople and the Tatars, but they were not the only ones who played this role. Political and ecclesiastical elite of the Crimean cities, especially of its main port Soldaia, also had important place in these contacts. In such a way, in the mid-thirteenth century, Crimea became a contact zone between the two civilizations

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