The Mongol arrival imposed the need for fast footwork. In 1251 and 1256, the prudent and multi-lingual Orbelian prince Smbat made arduous pilgrimages to Karakorum, armed with a splendid jewel and divine blessing, and persuaded Möngke Khan, son of Genghis, the Mongol ruler, to make Syunik and its churches a tax-exempt fiefdom under Mangu's (or at least his Christian mother's) direct patronage.
The arrival of the Mongols prompted Smbat, a skilled Orbeli prince, to make arduous journeys to Karakorum in 1251 and 1256. He carried a precious jewel and divine blessing, and successfully persuaded Möngke Khan, son of Genghis, to grant Syunik and its churches tax exemption under Mangu's (or his mother's) patronage.