Qutuz reigned as Sultan for less than a year, from 1259 until his assassination in 1260, but served as the de facto ruler for two decades.
21 Facts About Qutuz
1.
2.
Qutuz led an Egyptian Mamluk army north to confront the Mongols, who had made a pact with Egypt's long-time enemy, the Crusaders.
3.
Qutuz was assassinated by a fellow Mamluk leader, Baibars, on the triumphant return journey to Cairo.
4.
Qutuz received this name because he fought like a vicious beast against other slave children.
5.
Qutuz became the most prominent Mu'izi Mamluk of Sultan Aybak, and then became his vice-sultan in 1253.
6.
Aybak was assassinated in 1257, and Qutuz remained as vice-sultan for Aybak's son al-Mansur Ali.
7.
Qutuz led the Mu'izi Mamluks who had arrested Aybak's widow Shajar al-Durr and installed al-Mansur Ali as the new sultan of Egypt.
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Shajar al-Durr 8.
The emirs assembled at the court of the 15-year-old Sultan Al-Mansur Ali, and Qutuz told them that because of the seriousness of the situation, Egypt should have a strong and capable sultan who could fight the Mongols.
9.
When Qutuz became the new sultan, he promised the emirs that they could install any other sultan after he defeated the Mongols.
10.
Qutuz kept Emir Faris ad-Din Aktai al-Mostareb as the Atabeg of the Egyptian army and began to prepare for battle.
11.
Baibars and the Mamluks then left Syria, traveling to Egypt where they were warmly welcomed by Sultan Qutuz, who granted Baibars the town of Qalyub.
12.
Sultan Qutuz ordered the seizing of an-Nasir Yusuf's jewelry and money, which were sent to Egypt with his wife and servants.
13.
Qutuz ordered Baibars to lead a force to Gaza to observe the small Mongol garrison there, which Baibars easily defeated.
14.
Qutuz suggested a military alliance with the Crusaders against the Mongols, but the Crusaders opted to stay neutral.
15.
Qutuz kissed the ground and prayed while the soldiers collected the booty.
16.
Qutuz entered Damascus with his army and sent Baibars to Homs to liquidate the remaining Mongols.
17.
The Mamluks under Qutuz then went on to take back all of Iraq and Syria.
18.
On his way back to Cairo, Qutuz was assassinated while on a hunting expedition in Salihiyah.
19.
Al-Maqrizi further explains that the emirs who struck down Qutuz were Emir Badr ad-Din Baktut, Emir Ons, and Emir Bahadir al-Mu'izzi.
20.
Qutuz was first buried in Al-Qusair and then reburied in a cemetery in Cairo, Egypt.
21.
The coins during the reign of Qutuz are unique in the history of Mamluk coinages as no other names except his names and titles were inscribed on them: al-Malik al-Muzafar Saif al-Donya wa al-Din and al-Muzafar Saif al-Din.