47 Facts About Baybars

Baybars was one of the commanders of the Muslim forces that inflicted a defeat on the Seventh Crusade of King Louis IX of France.

Baybars led the vanguard of the Mamluk army at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260, which marked the first substantial defeat of the Mongol army and is considered a turning point in history.

The reign of Baybars marked the start of an age of Mamluk dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean and solidified the durability of their military system.

Baybars managed to pave the way for the end of the Crusader presence in the Levant and reinforced the union of Egypt and Syria as the region's pre-eminent Muslim state, able to fend off threats from both Crusaders and Mongols, and even managed to subdue the kingdom of Makuria, which was famous for being unconquerable by previous Muslim empire invasion attempts.

Possibly based on the Turkic meaning of his name, Baybars used the panther as his heraldic blazon, and placed it on both coins and buildings.

Baybars was described as a tall man with olive skin and blue eyes.

Baybars had broad shoulders, slim legs, and a powerful voice.

Baybars was a Kipchak thought to be born in the steppe region north of the Black Sea, or Dasht-i Kipchak at the time.

Baybars then sent 'Ala al-Din Taybars al-Waziri to discuss with Qutuz his return to Egypt, which was eagerly accepted.

Baybars was still a commander under sultan Qutuz at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260, when he decisively defeated the Mongols.

Baybars manage to suppress the rebellion quickly as he surrounded and arrested them all.

Baybars started with the Principality of Antioch, which had become a vassal state of the Mongols and had participated in attacks against Islamic targets in Damascus and Syria.

In 1263, Baybars laid siege to Acre, the capital of the remnant of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, although the siege was abandoned when he sacked Nazareth instead.

Baybars next attacked Atlit and Haifa, where he captured both towns after destroying the crusaders' resistance, and razed the citadels.

Baybars promised the knights safe passage to the Christian town of Acre if they surrendered their fortress.

On capturing Safed, Baybars did not raze the fortress to the ground but fortified and repaired it instead, as it was strategically situated and well constructed.

Baybars installed a new governor in Safed, with the rank of Wali.

Later, in 1266, Baybars invaded the Christian country of Cilician Armenia which, under King Hethum I, had submitted to the Mongol Empire.

Baybars actively pursued a close relationship with Berke, the Khan of Golden Horde.

Baybars particularly was recorded to receive the first two hundred soldiers from Golden Horde to visit warmly, where Baybars persuade them to convert to Islam while observing the growing enmity between the Golden Horde Khan with Hulagu.

Baybars continued to conduct warm correspondence with the Golden Horde, particularly with Mengu Timur's general Noqai, who unlike Mengu Timur was very cooperative with Baybars.

However, Baybars was pragmatic in his approach and did not want to become involved in complicated intrigue inside the Golden Horde, so instead he stayed close to both Mengu Timur and Noqai.

Three years later the Makurians attacked and destroyed Aswan, but this time, Baybars responded with a well-equipped army setting off from Cairo in early 1276, accompanied by a cousin of king David named Mashkouda or Shekanda.

The king of al-Abwab handed David over to Baybars, who had him executed.

Baybars then completed his conquest of Nubia, including the Medieval lower Nubia which was ruled by Banu Kanz.

In 1277, Baybars invaded the Seljuq Sultanate of Rum, then controlled by the Ilkhanate Mongols.

Baybars defeated a Ilkhanate army at the Battle of Elbistan and captured the city of Kayseri.

Baybars himself went with a few troops to deal with the Mongol right flank that was pounding his left wing.

Baybars ordered a force from the army from Hama to reinforce his left.

Pervane sent a letter to Baybars asking him to delay his departure.

Baybars chastised him for not aiding him during the Battle of Elbistan.

Baybars told him he was leaving for Sivas to mislead Pervane and the Mongols as to his true destination.

Baybars sent Taybars al-Waziri with a force to raid the Armenian town of al-Rummana, whose inhabitants had hidden the Mongols earlier.

Baybars's demise has been the subject of some academic speculation.

Sultan Baybars married a noble lady from Tripoli named Aisha al Bushnatiya, a prominent Arab family.

Baybars met Sultan Baybars after he camped in Tripoli during his siege.

Baybars was the daughter of Barka Khan a former Khwarazmian amir.

Baybars had seven daughters; one of them was named Tidhkarbay Khatun.

Baybars played an important role in bringing the Mongols to Islam.

Baybars developed strong ties with the Mongols of the Golden Horde and took steps for the Golden Horde Mongols to travel to Egypt.

Baybars was a popular ruler in the Muslim world who had defeated the crusaders in three campaigns, and the Mongols in the Battle of Ain Jalut which many scholars deem of great macro-historical importance.

Baybars was arguably the first to employ explosive hand cannons in war, at the Battle of Ain Jalut.

Baybars was an efficient administrator who took interest in building various infrastructure projects, such as a mounted message relay system capable of delivery from Cairo to Damascus in four days.

Baybars built bridges, irrigation and shipping canals, improved the harbours, and built mosques.

Baybars was a patron of Islamic science, such as his support for the medical research of his Arab physician, Ibn al-Nafis.

Baybars's memoirs were recorded in Sirat al-Zahir Baibars, a popular Arabic romance recording his battles and achievements.

Baybars has a heroic status in Kazakhstan, as well as in Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria.