Baybars, born in 1223 on the shores of the Black Sea, was a Kipchak Turk. With a life filled with wars, from slavery to sultanate, Sultan Baybars is known in history as the man who halted the Mongols.
Who is Baybars?
Baybars was the son-in-law of Berke Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan. However, in a battle with the Mongols, he was captured and sold as a slave in the market of Sivas. Later, he was brought to Cairo as a slave.
Baybars (1223-1277) was purchased by the Ayyubid ruler El Malik Salih in Cairo, where he started his life in Egypt. Baybars, a very intelligent, capable, and courageous young man, quickly rose through the ranks of the naval forces. Engaging in battles, especially against the Crusaders in Egypt and its surroundings, Baybars quickly gained prominence due to his bravery and combat abilities.
The King of France, accompanied by a large army, aimed to conquer Egypt and drive out the Muslims from the region. In response, the Egyptians, with Baybars leading the vanguard, employed a brilliant strategy and displayed tremendous courage in a battle against the French soldiers in Cairo. It is said that only 3 or 4 people from the French Army survived, and King Louis IX of France was captured.
During the French occupation, when Damietta was captured by the French, the ruler El Malik Salih died of grief, and Turanshah took the throne. After Turanshah came to power, he appointed his own men in the government and did not treat the Mamluks who drove out the French well. This led to internal turmoil, and Turanshah died as a result of an assassination. After a brief period of ruling as the Ayyubid Sultan, Turanshah's death led to the declaration of Türkic-originated Şecer-üd Dürr, the favored concubine of the deceased Salih Ayyub, as the new ruler. However, when the Abbasids in Iraq and the Ayyubids in Syria refused to accept a woman as an Islamic Sultan, Şecer-üd Dürr announced her abdication after about 80 days of ruling and married Aybeg, who was also of Türkic origin and was the Chief Commander. In the end, Aybeg became Sultan, officially establishing the Mamluk State. However, when the Syrian Ayyubids did not accept this, the battles of Salihiye and Kora were fought between the two countries, with Aybek's armies emerging victorious. Afterward, Aybek strengthened his power within the country, marking the end of the Ayyubid era in Egypt. Aybeg became the sole ruler of the Mamluks. However, in 1257, Aybeg was assassinated by his wife Şecer-üd Dürr out of jealousy. After his death, 13-year-old Sultan Mansur Ali ascended the throne, and Seyfeddin Kutuz was appointed as the Sultan's protector. It is believed that Aybek was killed by his wife out of jealousy. However, Kutuz, not content with being the Sultan's protector, soon sought the Sultanate for himself and, through a coup, took the lead, becoming the new Mamluk Sultan.
The Battle of Ayn Jalut
When Kutuz came to power, Baybars was outside the country, and Mongol invasions were approaching from the north. The invincible Mongol war machine under Hulagu had captured Baghdad and destroyed the Abbasids. Additionally, the Abbasid Caliph Mutasim had been killed by the Mongols. The Mongols continued their advance towards Egypt. At this crucial moment, Kutuz asked Baybars to lead the army, promising to appoint him as the Governor of Damascus if he won the battle. Baybars accepted, and the Mamluks' 20,000-strong army faced off against the Mongol army commanded by the renowned general Ketbuqa Noyan (which included Georgians and Armenians) in the region known as Ayn Jalut on September 3, 1260. The Mamluk army was familiar with the terrain. Baybars initially employed a feigned retreat tactic against the Mongol army, where a small Mamluk unit launched a simulated surprise attack, causing Ketbuqa Noyan's army to pursue the retreating Mamluk unit. Baybars then used archers and infantry to implement the crescent tactic, ambushing the dispersed and unprepared Mongol army. The Mamluks achieved a decisive victory over the Mongols at the Battle of Ayn Jalut, where the entire Mongol army was annihilated, and Ketbuqa Noyan perished on the battlefield.
As a result of the famous Battle of Ayn Jalut, the Islamic army, under the command of Baybars, achieved a significant victory against the Mongols. Baybars demonstrated that the Mongols could be defeated, and their advance was halted.
How Baybars Became Sultan
After the war, when Kutuz failed to fulfill his promise of appointing Baybars as the Governor of Damascus, chaos began to erupt within the country. When Kutuz was subsequently assassinated while on a hunting expedition, the throne was left vacant. In the absence of a clear successor, Baybars was chosen as the Sultan through a joint decision of the prominent tribal leaders in the region. He became the 4th Sultan of the Mamluks.
Baybars' Achievements
During his 17-year reign, Baybars abolished the heavy taxes imposed by Kutuz, prioritized infrastructure projects, and effectively dealt with internal disturbances by eliminating those who rebelled. He subsequently turned his attention to external conflicts, initially striving to secure trade routes to enrich commerce. He brought the heir to the throne of the Abbasid Caliphate, who was in Baghdad and had survived the Mongol onslaught, to Egypt. This move ensured the transfer of the Caliphate to the Mamluks. Baybars played a crucial role in strengthening his own rule, leading to increased prosperity within the country. With the rise in prosperity, he reached out to foreign states, forming alliances and seeking to gain influence.
In 1265, Baybars launched a campaign in Syria with the army he had established. This was crucial as all threats to the Mamluk state were coming through Syria. As a result of this campaign, he captured significant cities such as present-day Kayseri, Arsuz, and Sis.
Baybars and the Anatolian Turkmen
In 1277, in Elbistan, Baybars defeated the Mongol army, achieving another major victory. He then allied with the Turkmen chiefs who resisted the Ilkhanid Mongols in Anatolia. During this time, he granted the lands he had gained in Anatolia to the Turks, ensuring their protection. However, the Mongols returned with a massive army in hopes of capturing Baybars abroad. During this period, they exerted tremendous pressure and persecution on the Turks in Anatolia. Thousands of Turks were killed by the Mongols during this period.
Upon his return from Antioch, Baybars died of dysentery in 1277. However, according to legend, he did not die at the age of 54, but instead disguised himself and returned to his homeland.
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