136 CHKISTIAN1TY IN CHINA, ETC. but transitory, and as Queen Rhouzoudan also had an- nounced that she had repulsed their attack, little more was thought of news that did not seem of much import- ance. Then came the death of Tchinguiz-Khan, which changed the course of events, and gave the Christians still some breathing time ; but when Ogotai, his suc- cessor, had annexed to the Mongol empire the whole of China, as far as the Blue River, he raised an army of a million and a half of men, with the purpose of carrying on his operations at the same time, at the two extremi- ties of Asia. Thus the peace which appeared to reign in remote Asia became fatal to Europe. Batou, the son of Djoutihi, was the principal chief of the formidable expedition now preparing ; and with him were associated several other generals and princes of the blood of Tchinguiz-Khan. The Mongol army, after subjugating the Coumans * and Bulgarians, entered Russia, and took Moscow and the principal towns of what are now the governments of Vladimir and JeroslaAV ; and the Grand Dukes of Russia then became the tributaries of the Grand Khan of the Tartars. At the same time, another army of Mongols, accom- companied by their wives and children, advanced towards Georgia and Armenia, under the conduct of Tcharmagan, and seventeen other generals. According to the laws established by Tchinguiz-Khan, they had orders to treat well the princes and nations who should submit at once, deliver up their towns, and consent to pay tribute. Others were to be abandoned to the fury of the soldiers. The inhabitants of towns were to be
- The country beyond the Kuban was often called Couraania.
