The Tartars came, being there created, from a great plain of sand where no good thing would grow. This plain began from certain rocks, very great and marvelous, which are at the world’s end, towards the East; and the said rocks have never been passed by man, as the Tartars testify. And they said that within these rocks are enclosed the people of God and Magog, who are to come at the end of the world, when Antichrist shall come to destroy all things.
A map of the Empire of Prester John.
In this plain dwelt the people of the Tartars; and they were subject to Prester John, and to the Emperor of Persia, whose land came next to his, and to several other misbelieving kings, to whom they rendered tribute and service every year, for the pasturage of their beasts, seeing they had no other means of livelihood. This Prester John, and the King of Persia, and the other kings, held the Tartars in such contempt that when they brought their rents they would not receive them face-wise, but turned their backs upon them.
Among the Tartars was a wise man, who journeyed over all the plains, and spoke with the wise men of the plains, and of the different places, and showed them in what bondage they stood, and prayed them all to consider how best they might find a way of escape from the bondage in which they were held. He wrought so effectually that he gathered them all together at the end of the plain, over against the land of Prester John, and explained matters to them. And they answered that whatever he desired, that they would do. And he said that they would achieve nothing unless they had a king and lord over them. And he taught them after what manner they might obtain a king; and they agreed.
Tartars painted by JRyszkiewicz 1909.
And this was the manner: out of the fifty-two tribes that there were, each tribe was to bring an arrow marked with its name, and by consent of all the people it was agreed that the fifty-two arrows so brought should be placed before a child aged five years; and the arrow that the child took first would mark the tribe from which the king would be chosen. When the child had so lifted up one of the arrows, the wise men caused all the other tribes to draw back; and it was settled that the tribe from which the king was to be chosen should select among themselves fifty-two of the wisest and best men that they had. When these were elected, each one brought an arrow marked with his name. Then was it agreed that the man whose arrow the child lifted up should be made king. And the child lifted up one of the arrows, and it was that of the wise man by whom the people had been instructed. Then were the people glad, and each rejoiced greatly. And the wise man bade them all be silent, and said: “Lords, if you would have me to be your king, swear to me by Him who made the heavens and the earth, that you will keep my commandments.” And they swore it.
The ordinances that he established had for purpose the maintenance of peace among the people; and they were to this effect: that none should steal another man’s goods, nor any man strike another, on penalty of losing his fist; that no man should have company with another’s wife or daughter, on penalty of losing his fist, or his life. Many other good ordinances did he establish among them for the maintenance of peace.
Geoffroy de Villehardouin and Jean de Joinville, Memoirs of the Crusades, trans. Sir Frank Marzials (New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., n.d.), 254-5.
Short Stories on Honor, Chivalry, and the World of Nobility—no. 502
