Early Contacts Between Russia and China

Abstract

Having viewed the background and perspective of happenings in northern Asia in the seventeenth century, we now come to consider direct contacts between Russia and China. Although some Russians were in China during the Mongol period, details of these contacts are obscure and need not concern us here. It is interesting to note in passing, however, that Grand Duke Yaroslav attended the coronation of Grand Khan Kuyuk at Karakoram in 1246 where he died, apparently of poison,¹, and that during the reign of the Yüan Emperor Wentsung (Tob Timur, 1329–1332) many Russians (O-lo-ssu) were brought to China as prisoners and were organized as an “ever-faithful Russian life-guard.” This unit was assigned land for its support north of Peking and was to present game, fish, etc. for the emperor’s table.²