Willem Van Rubroeck

Overview

In the second episode, Arnout jumps into the saddle and travels on horseback through the Mongolian steppe. Along the way he experiences how difficult this journey must have been 750 years ago. This is also evident from the diary of Willem van Rubroek, a monk from French Flanders. At that time, the Mongolian Empire was in full ascendance and also threatened the borders of Europe. The French king orders William to travel to the Mongolian capital Karakorum with a letter for Mangoe Khan, the great leader of the Mongols. Willem was one of the first westerners to travel deep into the Mongolian empire.