Ascellino (Asselino, Anselm)

ASCELLINO (ASSELINO, ANSELMO). - A Dominican, originally from Lombardy, known for the embassy to the Mongols entrusted to him by Innocenzo IV. After the Council of Lyons, the latter wished to send two expeditions for the conversion of the Tartars: one of Franciscans, led by Giovanni di Pian de' Carpini, the other of Dominicans, under the leadership of A. After spending some time at San Giovanni d'Acri for better preparation, A., toward the end of 1246, set out with his companions, among whom were Andrea di Longjumeau and Guiscardo di Cremona, experienced in the country and in the customs and ways of life of its inhabitants; and after 59 days of travel he met the Tartar general Batsciù, to whom he delivered the Pope's message. He did not, however, know how to conduct himself with due prudence, for he refused to bend the knee before the general, as protocol required, and greatly exaggerated the power of the Holy See. This placed his life in danger. After a stay of nine weeks, during which the Pope's envoys had to endure hunger, thirst, hardships, and insults from those still savage hordes, A. departed again, bearing an arrogant reply from the Tartar general to the Pontiff, ordering him to submit to the Great Khan. A. arrived in Rome to report on his mission around the autumn of 1248. It is not known whether he later returned among the Tartars, as some maintain, and suffered martyrdom there, or whether he remained in Italy instead.