[54] Muradian, “The History of the Apostolic Church of Armenia,” p. 35. (This work is in the Armenian language.) [55] Ubicini, “Letter on Turkey,” Vol. II, pp. 285-6. [56] Lynch, “Armenia,” Vol. I, p. 275. [57] Moffat, “Church History in Brief,” p. 142. [58] Malon, “The Life and Times of St. Gregory,” p, 31. London. [59] Lynch, “Armenia,” Vol. I, p. 314. [60] Bryce, “Transcaucasia and Ararat,” pp. 341-2. [61] Muradian, “The History of the Apostolic Church of Armenia,” pp. 117-121, 127-128. VII THE PERIOD OF SUBJECTION The Mameluke Sultans of Egypt were the unhappy instruments of harassing and finally overthrowing the Armenian independence in Cilicia, but they did not enjoy the pleasure of ruling over Armenia, nor Cilicia and the Armenians. The course of events was taking a different shape in Western Asia. By a succession of influxes of the Mongolian hordes into the country, during the tenth, eleventh and twelfth centuries, the power of the Caliphs of Bagdad was broken into pieces and a vast empire was formed by the Seljukian Turks. After the death of the third sovereign, Malek Shah, the empire was divided into various principalities. One of these became a kingdom of considerable importance, lying on the frontier of the Greek empire, having Nice, afterwards Iconium (now Koniah), its capital. The same influx of the Mongolian invaders had not yet stopped on the one hand; on the other hand the Western Crusaders did render some service in annoying this kingdom, while the Mameluke Sultans by no means were at peace with the Seljukian Turks. The turbulent condition of Western Asia at this period (13th century) could well afford the growth of a new power, or dynasty, provided this power was in sympathy with the prevalent religion, Mohammedanism, and congenial with the invading hordes. Unfortunately for the Christians, both in Western Asia, and later in Eastern Europe, we find a power, growing out of a nomadic tribe into a formidable empire, which held the Christian world in terror for several centuries. The following is the origin of this empire: