Thomas of Mancasola, or Thomas of Mancasol [1] ( fl. 1328), was a Dominican cleric [2] in the Chagatai Khanate who became bishop of Samarkand. [3]
Prior to his appointment Thomas had served as a cleric in Mongol-ruled Turkestan. The region, in Thomas's time ruled by Eljigidey khan, allowed local Christians significant freedom to worship, and Thomas obtained a commendation from Eljigidey for the trip to Rome that saw him granted the bishopric of Samarkand. [4]
Thomas is known from the Mirabilia of Friar Jordanus, which describes him as bishop of "Semiscat"; this place was positively identified as Samarkand during the nineteenth century. [5] [6] Thomas, according to the Mirabilia, accompanied Jordanus on a journey to take the pallium, an ecclesiastical vestment, to John de Cora, the newly appointed archbishop of Sultaniyah in Persia. [7] Thomas's bishopric, along with that of Jordanus, fell within the province of this new metropolitan. [8]
Thomas of Mancasola, or Thomas of Mancasol [1] ( fl. 1328), was a Dominican cleric [2] in the Chagatai Khanate who became bishop of Samarkand. [3]
Prior to his appointment Thomas had served as a cleric in Mongol-ruled Turkestan. The region, in Thomas's time ruled by Eljigidey khan, allowed local Christians significant freedom to worship, and Thomas obtained a commendation from Eljigidey for the trip to Rome that saw him granted the bishopric of Samarkand. [4]
Thomas is known from the Mirabilia of Friar Jordanus, which describes him as bishop of "Semiscat"; this place was positively identified as Samarkand during the nineteenth century. [5] [6] Thomas, according to the Mirabilia, accompanied Jordanus on a journey to take the pallium, an ecclesiastical vestment, to John de Cora, the newly appointed archbishop of Sultaniyah in Persia. [7] Thomas's bishopric, along with that of Jordanus, fell within the province of this new metropolitan. [8]