February 19, 2026
Crusaders catfished, comments on fire
The Mongol Khans of Medieval France
France fangirled the Mongols—then got ghosted by 'King David'
TLDR: Medieval France built huge Mongol archives after a mythical “King David” rumor lit up the Crusades. Commenters split between wide-eyed fascination and fiery debates over imperial admiration, Mughal vs British governance, and a “reverse Marco Polo” ambassador—proof that history can still start internet wars.
Medieval France wasn’t just curious—they were full-on fanboying the Mongols, building giant archives after hearing a rumor that a Christian savior named “King David” was marching from Asia to rescue the Crusaders. Spoiler: he never showed. Cue the community meltdown and meme-fest. One user, jmyeet, framed it as empire-envy: France admired the Mongols because both dreamed in superpower size. Meanwhile, Brajeshwar crashed the thread with “site’s down” chaos and a history nerd flex, dropping a 6+ hour YouTube epic, The Mongols – Terror of the Steppe. Book people chimed in too—astrolx recommended Umberto Eco’s witty, myth-tangled Baudolino.
The hottest take came from orwin, who turned the Mongol thread into a governance cage match: Mughal-era administration (the Mongols’ South Asian heirs) meant fewer famines; British rule brought regular, deadly ones. The replies went spicy fast—“sources pls” energy, but also applause. Then suddenlybananas dropped a crowd-pleaser: why no mention of Rabban Bar Sauma, the Beijing-born Christian who literally walked to Paris—a “reverse Marco Polo”—as a Mongol ambassador (link). The vibe? French kings sliding into Mongol DMs, Crusaders getting catfished by “King David,” and commenters bingeing docs, books, and arguments. History drama never sleeps—and this thread brought receipts, jokes, and a whole lot of Khan-core enthusiasm.
Key Points
- •In 1221, crusaders at Damietta received reports of a Christian king “David” from Asia; the ally never appeared and the crusade failed.
- •The “King David” story was a misinterpretation of Chinggis Khan’s conquests, marking Europe’s earliest surviving reports of near-contemporary Far Eastern events.
- •James of Vitry’s dispatches to Paris helped establish one of Eurasia’s largest archives on the Mongols, reflecting strong French interest.
- •By 1237–1241, reports intensified as Mongols advanced under Ögedei Khan and invaded Hungary and Poland, prompting a flood of letters to French leaders.
- •Chroniclers like Alberic of Trois-Fontaines and Matthew Paris recorded European reactions, while figures such as Louis IX and William of Auvergne received detailed communications.