Battle of Ain JalutSeptember 3, 1260

Strategic ContextWhen Mongkhe Kahn became the Great Khan in 1251, he immediately set out to implement his grandfather Genghis Kahn’s plan for world empire. To lead the task of subduing the nations of the West, he selected his brother, another of Genghis Khan's grandsons, Hulagu Khan.

The Mongols, through their policy of “Surrender or Death,” were able to conquer the greatest of all nations; even the Abbasid Caliphate was destroyed and the capital Baghdad captured. This enraged all the Muslims worldwide including the great Mongol general, Berke Khan of the Golden (Kipchak) Horde who had just converted to Islam. The Mongols rapidly advanced through Persia into Levant, where they encountered the veteran, yet fatigued Mamluks. They offered peace to the Crusaders in order to buy time to prepare for their first battle with the Mongols. To the Mamluks, this was a battle that would decide the security of the three holiest cities and to avenge the humiliations to the Abbasid Caliph.

Stakes+ A Mamluk victory would halt the Mongols, preserving the three Holiest Islamic cities of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem from destruction.

+ A Mongol victory would give them the chance to invade Africa and destroy Islamic morale worldwide, facilitating further Islamic conquests.

By Mohammed Zaid, 2013

Ain Jalut, 1260Strength

Mamluks

Religiously motivated

Mongols

High morale due to recent victories.

Baibars Qutuz

20,000 men (including 500 Georgian Knights)

20,000 men

Kitbuqa

By Mohammed Zaid, 2013

Mongols

(Kitbuqa)

Mamluks

(Baibars & Qutuz)

The Mamluks, according to the tactic devised by Baibars, were divided into two forces. One force that would be the only one visible to the Mongols and will be acting as a kiting force. Another force cunningly hides behind the shade of the trees in the highlands, not visible to the Mongols. This will be the assault force. The Mamluk skirmishers were equipped with the first examples of hand guns in military history. This was used to scare away the Mongol horses when shot at. Baibars assumed direct command of the kiting force whereas the assault force was commanded by Qutuz.

Baibars launches a series of feint attacks on the Mongols, who grow impatient after each turn of attack. Soon, the Mamluks launch a strong volley and then pretend to retreat into the highlands, luring all of the Mongols into the pursuit, who follow them all the way up to the highlands. Baibars knows his plan will succeed when Qutuz suddenly attacks the Mongols from nowhere, completely surrounding them.

Mongols

(Kitbuqa)

20,000 men (including 500 Georgian Knights)

Mamluks

(Baibars & Qutuz)

20,000 men

Ain JalutCasualties & Aftermath

Mongols: Mamluks:

≈18-20,000

or

90-100%

≈10,000

or

50%

All the Mongols retreated to the vicinity of Bisan only to be killed on their returning attempt. However, the Mongol leader Kitbuga did not retreat, choosing instead to continue to fight, until he was eventually killed by a veteran Mamluk warrior Jamal al-Din Akoush al-Shamsy. When the battle ended, the Mamluk heavy cavalrymen had accomplished what had never been done before, defeating the Mongols in close combat.

On the way back to Cairo after the victory at Ain Jalut, Qutuz was assassinated by several emirs in a conspiracy led by Baibars. Baibars became the new Sultan. His successors would go on to capture the last of the Crusader states in The Holy Land by 1291. The Mongols were again beaten at the First Battle of Homs less than a year later, and completely expelled from Syria.

By Mohammed Zaid, 2013