Hülegü’nün Ortadoğu Seferinde Kudüs ve Kentin Moğol-Haçlı İlişkilerinin Dönüşümündeki Yeri
Jerusalem During Hülegü’s Middle East Expedition and the Place of the City in the Transformation of Mongol-Crusader Relations

Summary/Abstract: Hülegü’s arrival in Iran undoubtedly meant a new era in the Middle East. This new period was shaped by a radical change with the elimination of the Assassin castles and the crushing of the elements of this sect in Iran in 1256, and after that with the destruction of the Abbasid Caliphate in 1258. Another impact on the change was brought about by the Crusaders. Although the events in Sidon led to a Mongol-Crusader struggle, the conditions for reaching a consensus between the two sides became possible as the Aynu Câlût battle ended with a Mamluk victory. A new process has started with a letter sent by the Crusaders in Akka to Hülegü followed by Hülegü himself sending letters in 1262 to Pope Urban IV and King of France Louis IX. The letter addressed to the King of France survived. The letter discloses an alliance proposal to the King which says Jerusalem could be left to the Pope after conquest as part of the alliance. This would mark a radical change in the Middle East. Because, it was the first time the Crusaders could ally with an active power in the region. A similar change was also observed in the Mongol politics. The Mongols who had formerly invited the western powers to submit to themselves, were now inviting them to an alliance. The focus of this invitation was a single point, Jerusalem. This study will focus on the diplomatic role of Jerusalem in the change of Mongol-European relations.

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