In the 13th century conflict started between the Mongols and the Mamluks, becoming one of the most important military conflicts in the medieval period. Mamluks and the Mongols were two powerful empires of that time and the Mongols crushed everyone only the Egyptian Empire was left which was led by Quartz (Mamluk Sultan) so the Mongols tried to crush them. Their conflict became one of the highlighted wars of that time.
History
Under the leadership of Genghis Khan and his successors, the Mongol empire rapidly grew and expanded its territory quickly. They expanded their borders across Asia and even though they conquered some of the European countries. The Mongol Empire was the largest land empire in history and no empire could expand its territories like the Mongols. In the early 13th century Mongols expanded their territories to a vast area, they conquered the Persian Empire, the Caucasus, and the eastern part of Europe. When they moved to the western part of the world their direct conflict started with Islamic states of the Middle East, they Conquered Baghdad and killed the Caliph of the Muslim world.
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In the 13th century, the Mamluks who originally were slave soldiers belonged to different Turk tribes. Mongols destroyed their tribes then they ran away with their families. Sultan Al-Kamil (Nephew of Sultan Salahuddin) allocated a place for Mamluks. Due to Sultan Al-Kamil’s illness, he died just after the Mamluks got settled in Egypt. After Sultan Al-Kamil his Son Al-Saleh became the Sultan of Egypt, he took care of Mamluks. Sultan Al-Saleh also bought some of Mamluk’s slaves in which he also bought Baibaras because he got Al-Saleh’s attention. Slowly Baibaras impressed Sultan with his Extraordinary skills in warfare. But Sultan Al-Saleh died in a very young age, after his death one of the Mamluk commanders became Sultan and married the wife of Sultan Al-Saleh. When Quartz (Mamluk Commander) became the Sultan of Egypt he gave Baibaras the Leadership of his army. Baibaras always said that Mongols are beatable and he can beat them. He even met with Batugha (Halaku Khan commander) as a doctor and gave medical suggestions to him. The Mamluk Empire was established after the end of the Ayyubid dynasty in 1250.
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The Battle of Ain Jalut (1260)
The battle of Ain Jalut started between The Mamluks and the Mongols and it was the first major conflict between them on September 3, 1260. Due to the death of Mengke Khan in 1259, the Mongol Empire faced internal conflicts which leave a negative impact on the Mongols. According to Mongol traditions Halaku Khan was called to attend the ceremony of the selection of a new Khaqan, that’s why he gave control of his army to one of his close military commanders Kitbugha and Halaku Khan left with a small army to attend the ceremony.
Sultan Qutuz and his Military commander Baibaras led the Mamluks. Before the batle of Ain Jalut Kitbugha sent his agents to put pressure on Sultan and surrender but Baibaras took the brave step and killed his agents and declared war. After this Baibaras met with Kitbuga as a doctor and took every necessary information. Baibaras was aware of the Mongol Military tactics and adopted the same tactic and surprised the Mongols. Mongols’ military tactics were, during the war they showed that they were running away that’s why opponents chased them but when the opponents came to the center of the battlefield the reserve Mongol army came from the back of the opponents and those who were running away turned back and start fighting so in the results the opponents got panic due to two-sided attacks and they surrender.
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During the Battle Mamluks also used gunpowder which helped them crush the Mongolian army. Mamluks won the battle at Ain Julat and Mongols took heavy losses, Kitbuga got killed and more than half of the Mongolian army got killed. This was the first loss for the Mongol Empire after their establishment. After the battle, Baibars knows that Halaku Khan will take revenge that why he burns all the fields so if Halaku Khan tries to return soon his animals will die due to lack of food. Baibaras also established a relationship with Barka Khan (Khaqan of Russia) because Barka Khan accepted Islam, Baibaras took advantage and asked for help to stop the military campaign of Halaku Khan.