TAMTA'S WORLD : the life and encounters of a medieval noblewoman from the middle east to... mongolia

This book tells the compelling story of a Christian noblewoman named Tamta in the thirteenth century. Born to an Armenian family at the court of queen Tamar of Georgia, she was ransomed in marriage to nephews of Saladin after her father was captured during a siege. She was later raped and then married by the Khwarazmshah and held hostage by the Mongols, before being made an independent ruler under them in eastern Anatolia. Her tale stretches from the Mediterranean to Mongolia and reveals the extraordinary connections across continents and cultures that one woman could experience. Without a voice of her own, surviving monuments - monasteries and mosques, caravanserais and palaces - build up a picture of Tamta's world and the roles women played in it. The book explores how women's identities changed between different courts, with shifting languages, religions and cultures, and between their roles as daughters, wives, mothers and widows. This Book Tells The Compelling Story Of A Christian Noble Woman Named Tamta In The Thirteenth Century. Born To An Armenian Family At The Court Of Queen Tamar Of Georgia, She Was Ransomed In Marriage To Nephews Of Saladin, After Her Father Was Captured During A Siege. She Was Later Raped And Then Married By The Khwarazmshah And Held Hostage By The Mongols, Before Being Made An Independent Ruler In Eastern Anatolia Under Them. Her Tale Stretches From The Mediterranean To Mongolia And Reveals The Extraordinary Connections Across Continents And Cultures That One Woman Could Experience. Without A Voice Of Her Own Surviving Monuments - Monasteries And Mosques, Caravanserais And Palaces - Build Up A Picture Of Tamta's World And The Roles Women Played In It. It Explores How Women's Identities Changed Between Different Courts, With Shifting Languages, Religions And Cultures, And Between Their Roles As Daughters, Wives, Mothers And Widows. A New World Of Encounters : The Life Of Tamta Mqargrdzeli -- Tamta's Origins : The World Of The Mqargrdzelis -- Tamta, Ivane And Akhlat In 1210 -- Al-awhad And Tamta's First Marriage -- Women And Power -- Akhlat : Identity And Life In The Medieval City -- Tamta : Ayyubid Wife Of Al-ashraf Musa -- Tamta : A Christian At The Ayyubid Court -- Tamta At Court -- Akhlat, Builders And Buildings -- Tamta And The Khwarazmians -- Tamta And The Mongols -- Tamta As Ruler Of Akhlat -- Afterlife. Antony Eastmond, Courtauld Institute Of Art, London. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 395-424) And Index. Cover 1 Half title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 Illustrations 10 Acknowledgements 22 Transliteration 24 Abbreviations 25 1 A New World of Encounters: The Life of Tamta Mqargrdzeli 31 2 Tamta’s Origins: The World of the Mqargrdzelis 51 3 Tamta, Ivane and Akhlat in 1210 96 4 Al-Awhad and Tamta’s First Marriage 109 5 Women and Power 133 6 Akhlat: Identity and Life in the Medieval City 162 7 Tamta: Ayyubid Wife of al-Ashraf Musa 210 8 Tamta: A Christian at the Ayyubid Court 244 9 Tamta at Court 280 10 Akhlat, Builders and Buildings 328 11 Tamta and the Khwarazmians 368 12 Tamta and the Mongols 388 13 Tamta as Ruler of Akhlat 414 14 Afterlife 437 Bibliography 441 Primary Sources 441 Secondary Sources 446 Index 471 The compelling story of a thirteenth-century Christian noblewoman ransomed to the family of Saladin, made a ruler by the Mongols, and with extraordinary connections across continents and cultures from the Mediterranean to Mongolia. This book will be important for students and scholars of Byzantine, Crusader and Islamic history, art and architecture. The compelling story of a thirteenth-century Christian noblewoman ransomed to the family of Saladin, and made a ruler by the Mongols