The book presents the text and translation of a literary monument of the 13th century. “History of Tartarus” by brother C. de Brides, created based on the materials of the first diplomatic embassy of the Roman Curia to the Great Khan of the Mongols. The publication is accompanied by detailed historical and literary comments. The monument is being published in Russian for the first time. Table of contents: From the publisher 5 Exposition 71. Empire as a text 82. Goals and objectives of the Franciscan mission of 1245 183. Bibliographic paradoxes 22 Part one. A VIEW FROM THE HEIGHT OF THE TOWER OF BABYLON 311. The power of rumors 322. Nine questions about the deeds of the Mongols 413. The Scourge of God 57Part two. CRITICAL TEXT AND TRANSLATION OF THE “HISTORY OF TARTARUS” BY FROTHER C. DE BRIDIA 75Hystoria Tartarorum fratri S. de Bridia 77 “History of Tartarus” by Brother C. de Bridia 99Part Three. RESEARCH AND MATERIALS 1271. Ambassador of the Apostolic See (HT, §1) 1282. Ethnonym Tatars (HT, §1) 1293. Land of Tartars (HT, §2) 1344. The term Mongols (HT, §2) 1425. Genghis Khan. The history of the rise through the eyes of contemporaries (HT, §3) 1456. Su-Mongals (HT, §3) 1527. “River Tartar.” Medieval etymologies of the name “Tatars” (HT, §3) 1538. Merkits and Mekrits (HT, §4) 1589. Uighurs (HT, §5) 16010. Mongolian writing of the 13th century. (HT, §5) 16311. Mongol campaigns in China (HT, §6) 16712. Naiman region (HT, §7) 17113. Kara-Kytai (Khitan) (HT, §7) 17214. Naiman and Mongols (HT, §7) 17515. Woirat, Sari-Uighurs and other peoples (HT, §8) 17616. Siege of the Chinese capital (HT, §9) 17917. Title Khan (HT, §9) 18418. Order to conquer the world (HT, § 11) 19319. Solangia (HT, §12) 19820. Adamant or magnetic mountain (HT, §12) 20221. Mysterious instrument of the “people of the sun” (HT, §13) 20822. Little India, or Ethiopia (HT, §17) 21223. Genghis Khan and Prester John (HT, §17) 21424. Conquest of Buritebet (HT, §19) 22125. The imaginary campaign of Jochi (HT, §20) 22726. Battle of Kalka (HT, §20) 23527 Baskart, or Great Hungary (HT, §20) 24028. Sons of Genghis Khan (HT, §23) 24929. Grandsons of Genghis Khan (HT, §23) 25230. Names of Mongol leaders (HT, §23) 25531. Military campaigns of Khan Ogedei (HT, §24.1) 25832. Land of the Bisermins (HT, §24) 26333. City of Barchin (HT, §24) 26534. City of Yangikent (HT, §24) 26735. Ornas (Urgench) (HT, §24 ) 27036. Aral Sea (HT, §24) 27337. Invasion of Rus' (HT, §25) 27738. Death of Khan Ogedei (HT, §26) 28039. Volga Bulgaria (HT, §27) 28240. Foreigners in the Mongol armies (HT, §27) 28541. Mongol invasion of Poland (HT, §27) 28742. Death of Henry of Silesia: myth and reality (HT, §28) 28943. Mongol invasion of Hungary (HT, §29) 29744. Khan's court in red tent (HT, §30) 30245. Disagreements between Guyuk and Batu (HT, §30) 30546. Mourning custom (HT, §31) 30647. Mongol campaign against Armenia (HT, §31) 30948. Mongol campaign against Georgia ( HT, §31) 31149. Lands of the Caliph of Baghdad (HT, §31) 31250. The imaginary campaign to the West (HT, §33) 31551. “List of conquered peoples” (HT, §34) 31752. Karakorum in the 13th century. (HT, §38) 33753. What did the Franciscans fail to figure out? (HT, §39) 33954. Decree of Genghis Khan on the conquest of the world (HT, §41) 34255. “The Prophecy of Genghis Khan” (HT, §41) 348 NOTES 353 SOURCES AND LITERATURE 399 Sources used 400 Selected bibliography 406 Bibliographical abbreviations 448 Co abrogation 449INDEXES 451Name index 452Geographical index 461Index of ethnic names, dynasties, sects 469