When the papal envoy John of Plano Carpini protested Mongol attacks on Catholic kingdoms of Europe, Guyug stated that these people had slain Mongol envoys in the time of Genghis Khan and Ogedei Khan. He also claimed that “from the rising of the sun to its setting, all the lands have been made subject to the Great Khan”, proclaiming an explicit ideology of world conquest.^[6] The Khagan wrote a letter to Pope Innocent IV on the relations between the Church and the Mongols. “You must say with a sincere heart: ‘We will be your subjects; we will give you our strength’. You must in person come with your kings, all together, without exception, to render us service and pay us homage. Only then will we acknowledge your submission. And if you do not follow the order of God, and go against our orders, we will know you as our enemy.” According to the account of Plano Carpini, Chingis Khan’s daughter or the aunt of the Khagan was executed for poisoning Ogedei.

Guyuk followed his father’s policy and had Fatima arrested and executed for bewitching his brother Koden (Khuden) and Abd-ur-Rahman was also beheaded for corruption. Of the provincial officiars appointed under Toregene, only the Oirat official Arghun Aqa remained. Guyuk had Temuge’s case indicated by Orda Khan and Mongke, and they had him executed.^[7] Guyuk replaced the child khan Qara Hulegu of the Chagatai Khanate with his favorite cousin Yesu Mongke to secure his position. He also restored his father’s officials, Mahmud Yalavach, Masud Beg and Chinqai to positions in the provinces.