 Hulagu died in 1265 , and was succeeded by Abaqa ( 1234 – 1282 ) , who further pursued Western cooperation . Though a Buddhist , upon his succession he married Maria Palaiologina , an Orthodox Christian and the illegitimate daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos . Abaqa corresponded with Pope Clement IV through 1267 and 1268 , sending envoys to both Clement and King James I of Aragon . In a 1268 message to Clement , Abaqa promised to send troops to aid the Christians . It is unclear if this was what led to James 's unsuccessful expedition to Acre in 1269 . James initiated a small crusade , but a storm descended on his fleet as they attempted their crossing , forcing most of the ships to turn back . The crusade was ultimately handled by James 's two sons Fernando Sanchez and Pedro Fernandez , who arrived in Acre in December 1269 . Abaqa , despite his earlier promises of assistance , was in the process of facing another threat , an invasion in Khorasan by Mongols from Turkestan , and so could only commit a small force for the Holy Land , which did little but brandish the threat of an invasion along the Syrian frontier in October 1269 . He raided as far as Harim and <unk> in October , but retreated as soon as Baibars ' forces advanced . 
