Pope Gregory XIII on the Armenians’ role in the Crusades

In 1584 Pope Gregory XIII of Rome wrote about the contribution of the Armenians to the Crusades. In his words, among this people’s services to the Church and the Christian commonwealth, it deserves special remembrance that no nation or people helped more readily and willingly than the Armenians those first, tried Christians who many times set out to regain the Holy Land. In that holy war the Armenians supported the Christians more bravely and faithfully than anyone, with soldiers, horses, weapons, provisions, counsel and, finally, with all their strength.

On the left is a portrait of the pope in a red cap and cape, with a Latin inscription. On the right is a page of Armenian text with a circular diagram.