Prelude:
In 1216 Temujin, later to be known as Genghis Khan, converts to Nestorian Christianity after being convinced by the many influential Nestorians in his court that it was the one true faith. At first, this momentous event that would reverberate throughout the whole world for centuries to come would remain a secret, so as not to upset the various other religious groups that comprised his ever-growing empire. Muslims tribes dominated the western steppes such as the Kazakhs, Uzbeks, and even the Uighurs who had willingly submitted to Mongol rule, and Genghis knew his conversion would not be welcomed among these Turkic groups. Most Mongols followed the Tengri faith, an ancient belief system of the steppes, but fanaticism was non-existent and they found it natural to tolerate other groups within the Horde’s boundaries. Nestorianism however had a long history on the steppe, with influential Mongol tribes like the Kerait and Naimans who had been converted by travelling missionaries over the centuries of long isolation from civilization. Thus, Nestorianism was nothing new to the Khan and after conquering Nestorian realms such as the Kara Khitai who were the most dominant Nestorian polity of the steppe, controlling waypoints on the silk road like Navekath and Kashgar, the many scholars who had been taken to the Mongol court in Karakorum saw their influence in a rapidly growing empire the perfect opportunity to spread the faith. What Genghis did not realise at this point however was that beyond the vast realms of the Muhammadans, lay Europe, a land engaged in perpetual war against those who would soon become a mutual enemy; and history would be changed forever.