 In 1299 , he made the first of what were to be three attempts to invade Syria . As he launched his new invasion , he also sent letters to the Franks of Cyprus ( Henry II , King of Cyprus ; and the heads of the military orders ) , inviting them to come join him in his attack on the Mamluks in Syria . The Mongols successfully took the city of Aleppo , and were there joined by their vassal King Hethum II , whose forces participated in the rest of the offensive . The Mongols soundly defeated the Mamluks in the Battle of Wadi al @-@ Khazandar , on December 23 or 24 , 1299 . This success in Syria led to wild rumors in Europe that the Mongols had successfully re @-@ captured the Holy Land , and had even conquered the Mamluks in Egypt and were on a mission to conquer Tunisia in northern Africa . But in reality , Jerusalem had been neither taken nor even besieged . All that had been managed were some Mongol raids into Palestine in early 1300 . The raids went as far as Gaza , passing through several towns , probably including Jerusalem . But when the Egyptians again advanced from Cairo in May , the Mongols retreated without resistance . 
