DescriptionLetterOljeituToPhilipLeBel.jpg | Letter from Ilkhan Öljeitü to Philip le Bel, 1305. Paper. Original size: 36 cm x 117 cm. Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, Inv-no. 96-9-13. [NO: the letter is kept in the French National Archives (Paris, Archives nationales de France, shelf mark: AE III 203; link: https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr/siv/rechercheconsultation/consultation/ir/consultationIR.action?irId=FRAN_IR_055193&udId=A1_137&details=true&gotoArchivesNums=false&auSeinIR=true&formCaller=GENERALISTE&fullText=AE%20III%20203] In this letter, written in Mongolian language and script, Öljeitü informs Philip that the relations between the Mongol domains are fine again and reminds him of the earlier good relations between the Ilkhanids and the Europeans ("Franks?"). French translation in Mostaert/Cleaves, Les lettres de 1289 et 1305 des Ilkhan Argun et Öljeitü à Philippe le Bel, Cambridge 1962, p. 56/57, German translations in Erich Haenisch, "Zu den Briefen der mongolischen Il-Khane Argun und Öljeitü an den König Philipp den Schönen von Frankreich (1295 u. 1305)", in Oriens, 2, 1949, p. 229/230 and in Michael Weiers, "Die Mongolen im Iran", in Die Mongolen. Beiträge zu ihrer Geschichte und Kultur", Darmstadt 1986 Transcription of the introduction: "Olziit Sultan ug maani. Iridfarans (Roi de France) Sultanaa. Ertnees ta buriin Frankuud irgenii sultad manai sain elents, sain ovog, sain etseg, sain akh dor amraldaj, khol beer bogoos oir met setgej, alivaa ugsee ochij, elchinee, esnii belguudee ilgeeldseniig yu andakhun ta?" Translation of the introduction: "Oljeitu Sultan our word. To the Iridfarans (King of France) Sultan. How could it be forgotten that from ancient times all you sultans of the Frank citizens have dealt peacefully with our good great-grandfather (Hulegu Khan), good grandfather (Abaga Khan), good father (Arghun Khan) and good brother (Ghazan Khan), esteeming us near although you are far, pronouncing your various words and sending your ambassadors and gifts of health-wishing?" Transcription of another line: "Naran urgakhui Nankhiyasiin ornoos avan Talu dalai khurtel ulus barildaj zamuudaa uyuulav." Translation of the line: "Our nation has been interlocked (peacefully connected) from the land of the Nankhiyas (plural for 'Chinese') where the sun rises to the Talu Ocean (Mediterranean Sea) and our roads have been tied together." Red seal imprints with the same ten seal script Chinese characters: 真命皇帝天順萬夷之寶 Zhēnmìng huángdì tiānshùn wànyí zhī bǎo ("Precious seal of the Emperor truely mandated [by Heaven] to pacify the ten thousand foreign peoples"). |