While playing a game of Europa Universalis IV, as the Mongols, I encountered the Christian kingdoms of the West and began to wonder "How was the interaction between these two peoples?".

After a series of Google searches, I learned that in the times before the conversion of the Golden Horde and Chagatai khanates, as well as the Ilkhanate, the Mongol empire consisted of many people discovering other faiths and converting to them. I was surprised to know that even as far as China, Christians were somewhat substantial in the Mongol ranks, as well as Buddhists as far as the Middle East, and finally Islam as empire wide as others. I did not know that Christian and Muslim missionaries alike gained substantial followings to the point that Karakoram was one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.

Upon hearing about this, I delved a little deeper into finding that the Great Khan himself hosted religious debates to determine which religions was "correct". The most famous one, from what appears to me, seems to have been publicized in Karakoram in 1253, documented by William of Rubruck, a Flemish Roman Catholic missionary.

I was also able to find various letters between Khans and Kings of France, and sometimes the Pope. However these letter begging for conversion of the Mongols seemed to have been rather uneasy, as every time a letter was sent out, the Mongols would reply with a maybe on the condition of ceding the entirety of one's holdings and vassals to the Khan.

We all know from history class that a lot of the generals that invaded the Middle East held deep hatreds for Islam, and were extremely friendly with the Christian nations in Georgia, to the point of sparing Christians in cities where most inhabitants were slaughtered, the prime example in Baghdad, as well as intermarrying with a somewhat sizable amount of the Caucasian royalty.

So I'll wrap it up by asking again, How influential was Christianity in the Mongol Empire? What caused the Mongols to turn away from their Christian allies and vassals for Islam in 3 of the 4 Khanates? How close was Christianity to being adopted by the majority? Was Christianity more of a fad to the Mongols then an actual serious commitment when converted?

Sorry if I come off as annoying and rather biased in favor of Christianity, I just had no idea that it actually had attention payed to it. I assumed the Mongols just separated themselves from the conquered peoples until later years when Khanates became a little more localized.

Thanks for reading my wall. :)