How a mechanical silver tree served drinks in the heart of the Mongol Empire.

History · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 13th century, the Mongol capital of Karakorum was a cosmopolitan hub where a Parisian goldsmith’s automaton—a silver tree—poured wine for the Khan’s guests. Far from a mere nomadic camp, this walled city bridged East and West, hosting mosques, churches, and temples under the watchful eye of the Mongol elite.

Founded as a city in 1220 and fortified by Ögedei Khan in 1235, Karakorum served as the central power base for the Mongol Empire. Its location in the Orkhon Valley was strategically chosen for its abundant grazing land during the Medieval Warm Period and its symbolic history as the seat of earlier empires like the Xiongnu and Uyghurs. By the mid-13th century, the city had become a melting pot of global influence, featuring fixed houses, paved roads, and sophisticated floor-heating systems.

The city’s most famous marvel was the Silver Tree, designed by the enslaved Parisian goldsmith Guillaume Bouchier. Rising from the palace courtyard, this mechanical sculpture featured golden serpents and a trumpet-playing angel. When the Khan wished to entertain, the automaton would sound a horn, triggering the serpents to gush alcoholic beverages into a large silver basin. This display of mechanical ingenuity was housed within a palace complex that mirrored the internal layout of a traditional Mongolian ger, with the Khan seated in a high, north-facing position.

Karakorum’s status fluctuated as the empire fractured. After Khubilai Khan moved the capital to Dadu (modern-day Beijing) in 1260, the city declined into a provincial administrative center, suffering through civil wars and looting. Although the Ming army razed the site in 1380, its legacy persisted; in 1585, the Erdene Zuu Monastery was constructed using materials salvaged from the ruins. Today, the site remains a subject of intense archaeological study, with recent excavations clarifying the layout of the Khan’s palace and the city’s complex history of reconstruction.

The city functioned as a vital node for world politics, where Russian princes traveled to secure their thrones and envoys like the Franciscan missionary William of Rubruck documented its religious diversity. While Rubruck famously compared the city unfavorably to Saint-Denis, his detailed accounts provide a rare glimpse into a society that balanced nomadic traditions with the administrative demands of a vast, multi-ethnic empire.

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