 Louis IX of France had communications with the Mongols throughout his own crusades . During his first venture to Outremer , he was met on December 20 , 1248 in Cyprus by two Mongol envoys , Nestorians from Mosul named David and Marc , who brought a letter from the Mongol commander in Persia , Eljigidei . The letter communicated a more conciliatory tone than previous Mongol demands for submission , and Eljigidei 's envoys suggested that King Louis should land in Egypt while Eljigidei attacked Baghdad , as a way of preventing the Muslims of Egypt and those of Syria from joining forces . Louis responded by sending the emissary Andrew of Longjumeau to the Great Khan Güyük , but Güyük died from drink before the emissary arrived at his court . Güyük 's widow <unk> <unk> simply gave the emissary a gift and a condescending letter to take back to King Louis , instructing him to continue sending tributes each year . 
