In A.D.1245, the Pope Innocent Ⅳ dispatched Jean de Plan Carpin to go to Mongolia, who was a friar of Catholic Fransisco, taking a letter with him, in which the Pope pledged Mongolian Khan not to attack other ethnics and wish convert his idea to Christianity. Jean de Plan Carpin set off from Lyons of France on April 16, 1245 and left Kiev on Feb 3, 1246, by way of Germany, Poland, and Russia. April 4, 1246, Jean de Plan Carpin was allowed to meet the King of Khifshak Kingdom, at the lower reaches of the Volga River, and was sent to meet with the Khan of Mongolia under the king's order. He traveled across the south of Barkash Lake, which was even the territory of the former KaraKhitan Kindom instead of going across the usual way—Kzyl-Orda City, the lower reaches of the Ili River, Yemili River, and former Nanman territory. On July 22, 1246, Jean de Plan Carpin arrived at Tent Palace (Xilaganerduo) between which there was only half of the day trip. Kuliletai was just held up there. He saw that Guiyou was elected as the chief leader, and wrote some vivid description, “when the Guiyou was elected he was about 40 or at least 45 years old. He was mid-high, very bright and intelligent and he behaved quite seriously and steadily. I had never seen him laugh loudly or indulge in carnal enjoyment.” By religion, Guiyou believed in Nestorianisme, and Jean de Plan Carpin saw the celebration meeting in the front of GuiyouKhan's tent palace, which was held by the people of Nestorianisme. Jean de Plan Carpin gave the statement of the purpose for which he visited Mongolian Palace, with a mediation of Zhenhai and Hedahei. The letter, P.Pelliot found in the Muniment Room of Vatican was written back to the Pope, in which Guiyou did not advocate Christianity, and he invited the Pope and the Christian aristocrats to come to him, before they attempted to sermon the evangel of Christian. Guiyou claimed his power blessed by god and that he was speaking with the name of Changshentian who was the highest representative of all the super beings and all the rulers all over the world.

Jean de Plan Carpin left the tent city—Xilaganerduo and returned home, after having the letter from Guiyou. Sept. 5, 1247, Jean de Plan Carpin got to Batu’s kingdom, and from which he returned to the west by way of the Volga River and Kiev.

The time, Armenian Grand General Shengbote came to meet Guiyou as the envoy of the king of Armenia who was his brother (Shengbote's travel last from 1247 to 1250), Shengbote seemed to know how to benefit the Catholic world with cooperation with Mongolia much better than Jean de Plan Carpin. Guiyou met him kindly and endowed him a certification which guaranteed that King Hethoum be protected by him and King Hethoum had the friendship from him. Grand General wrote to King of Shengbote, King of Cyprus, Henry I, who was his brother–in-law. The letter had been maintaining for now, which was signed as a date of Feb.7th 1248, and was mailed from Samarkand. emphasized the importance of follower of Nestorianisme being in the Mongolian palace in the letter and said, “The Eastern Christians have been protected themselves by GuiyouKhan and were met with the Khan in the kind way; The Khan made them tax free and forbid people to interrupt them.”

Guiyou impressed Jean de Plan Carpin with gracefulness, which would be testified in the written paper by Lashite. Guiyou was very capable, ambitious and was very careful for his power in order to make it beyond other people's invading. Guiyou thought that the country's rule had weakened during his kind father King's and his mother's ruling, so he decided to recover the power relationship between the emperor and the Kings to Genghis Khan's period. He investigated some suspicious attitude of his uncle—Tiemugegancijin who attempted to attack the empress and punished Tiemugegancijin's fellowmen. King of Chahetai Kingdom lying along the Ili River valley, selected his grandson HalaHülegü (who was Muagan's son and Muagan was dead when he was leading troops to surround Manyan) as his fellow one. Guiyou intervened the affairs of Chahetaiwulushi, selecting Yesumengge who was his close friend and the son of Chahetai, as the King of Chahetai Kingdom instead of that young man, in 1247. GuiyouKhan sent his close fellowman Yelizhiji to Persia. From 1247 to 1251, Yelizhiji's title was on the same level with that of general Baizhu, the commander of Mongolian troops stationed in Muganyuan, even higher than him. In Far East, GuiyouKhan killed the Minister of Treasure Oudujiheman who had ever ruled the financial affairs of Chinese provinces and devoured the money, and put Yajiguici to take the position of him. Zhenhai who believed in Lieshituolian, was selected as Prime Minister of Mongolian Emprise, and he was just acting as it when Jean de Plan Carpin met him. To Guiyou's subjects, he gave Kateliya to Daweishala; made Daweinalin, Queen Lusudan's son only keep Aimailidiya. Guiyou put the King Crown of Salghuk Sudan Kingdom (Konya) on the head of Qiliciaershilan the Forth instead of Kaierwushi the Third, the brother of Qilici who was ruling at that time.

When Guiyou decided to cancel the autonomy rights which had been held by the descendents of Genghis khan and which had been stronger and stronger, Guiyou had conflicts with Batu who was the eldest son of Genghis Khan and the leader of Cishu family group. 1248, the relation between them was quite sanctified so that both began to prepare fighting. Guiyou left Halahelin and marched toward west with the excuse of inspecting his hereditary area Yemili. Meanwhile, Batu got the information from Princess Suoluhepani, the chief leader of Tuolei family and marched toward Xiemilieqieye. Batu arrived at Alakamake from which there was less 7 days' walk to Haiyali (nowadays Kapar). Batpord explained that Batu arrived at Alatau which were between Oz Issyk Lake and Ili River. The fight seemed sure of happening, till Guiyou died from indulging in drinking and eating for a long time; he died in the way of some place, which was a day's walk long to Beshbal. Batpord thought he was dead in Wurgu River area; P·Pelliot said he was dead in Beshbal (nowadays Jimsar). Chinese history book took the time of his death as March 27th, 1248 to April 24th, when he was only 43 years old.

Guiyou's death possibly made Europe avoid a great disaster. Guiyou dreamed not only to defeat Qincha Kingdom,--according to Jean de Plan Carpin's record—but also conquer the Catholic world. No mater how, it seemed that he paid attention to Europe. On the contrary, the descendents of Tuolei family—first Mengge, second Hubulie—were to put the Mongolians main attention on the Far East.

Note: Armenia Historical Records 1,605,651 of the Historians of the Crusades Period

Written by www.travel-silkroad.com
Translated by Beijing Star-light Translation Center
Oct. 15, 2000