16 Facts About Qalawun

Qalawun was a Kipchak from the Burj Oghli tribe, the same tribe as the earlier Mamluk sultan Baybars.

When he was 14 years old, Qalawun was brought by slave merchants to Egypt, which was under Ayyubid rule at the time.

Qalawun was then purchased as a mamluk sometime in the 1230s or 1240s, by a mamluk amir whom different historical sources name as either 'Ala al-Din Aqsunqur al-Kamili or 'Ala al-Din Aqsunqur al-Saqi al-'Adili.

Qalawun was bought for the unusually high price of a thousand dinars, which earned him the nickname al-Alfi.

Qalawun initially spoke little Arabic, but he rose in power and influence, becoming an emir under Sultan Baibars, whose son, al-Said Barakah, was married to Qalawun's daughter.

In early 1279, as Barakah and Qalawun invaded the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, a revolt in Egypt forced Barakah to abdicate upon his return home.

Qalawun was succeeded by his brother Solamish, but it was Qalawun, acting as atabeg, who was the true holder of power.

Sunqur's claim of leadership was repelled in 1280, when Qalawun defeated him in battle.

Barakah died there in 1280, and Khadir gained control of the castle, until 1286 when Qalawun took it over directly.

In 1281 Qalawun negotiated an alliance with Michael VIII Palaiologos of the Byzantine Empire to bolster resistance against Charles I of Naples, who was threatening both the Byzantine Empire and the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Qalawun sent an emissary to ask for an explanation and above all to demand that the murderers be handed over for punishment.

Khalil was assassinated by the Turks in 1293, but Qalawun's legacy continued when his younger son, an-Nasir Muhammad, claimed power.

Qalawun was the daughter of Sayf ad-Din Karmun, a Mongol commander from the Golden Horde who had integrated the Mamluks.

Qalawun was the mother of his eldest son, as-Salih Ali and Ghaziya Khatun.

Qalawun was the mother of his second son, Sultan al-Ashraf Khalil.

Qalawun was the mother of his third son, Sultan an-Nasir Muhammad.