 Historians dispute the exact meaning of Urban 's actions . The mainstream view , exemplified by British historian Peter Jackson , holds that Urban still regarded the Mongols as enemies at this time . This perception began changing a few years later , during the pontificate of Pope Clement IV ( 1265 – 68 ) , when the Mongols were seen more as potential allies . However , the French historian Jean Richard argues that Urban 's act signaled a turning point in Mongol @-@ European relations as early as 1263 , after which the Mongols were considered as actual allies . Richard also argues that it was in response to this forming coalition between the Franks , Ilkhanid Mongols and Byzantines , that the Mongols of the Golden Horde allied with the Muslim Mamluks in return . However , the mainstream view of historians is that though there were many attempts at forming an alliance , the attempts proved unsuccessful . 
