The
Fact That Azerbeijan And The Adjoining Regions Were Known As "The East" Is
Patent To The Readers Of This
Book in many a page, where the Khan and his
Mongols in occupation of that region are styled by Polo
Lord of the
LEVANT, Tartars of the LEVANT (i.e. of the East), even when the
speaker's standpoint is in far Cathay.[8] The mention of Ani as
identical with the Ecbatana of which Otto had heard is a remarkable
circumstance which I think even Oppert has overlooked. That this Georgian
hero was a Christian and that his name was John are considerable
facts. Oppert's conversion of Korkhan into Yokhanan or John is anything
but satisfactory. The identification proposed again makes it quite
intelligible how the so-called Prester John should have talked about
coming to the aid of the Crusaders; a point so difficult to explain on
Oppert's theory, that he has been obliged to introduce a duplicate John in
the person of a Greek Emperor to solve that knot; another of the weaker
links in his argument. In fact, Professor Bruun's thesis seems to me more
than fairly successful in paving the way for the introduction of a
Caucasian Prester John; the barriers are removed, the carpets are spread,
the trumpets sound royally - but the conquering hero comes not!
He does very nearly come. The almost royal power and splendour of the
Orbelians at this time is on record: "They held the office of Sbasalar
or Generalissimo of all Georgia.
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