Al-Muzaffar Sayf AD-DIN Qutuz

Al-Muzaffar Sayf AD-DIN Qutuz or Qutuz is a sultan Mamelouk bahrite of Egypt having reigned of 1259 with 1260.

Biography

Qutuz is of noble and Turkish origin. It was made prisoner by the Mongolian which sold it like slave in Syria. It is resold with the founder of the dynasty mamelouke `Izz AD-DIN Aybak.

It climbs the military levels and becomes the chief of the armies of Aybak when this one takes to the capacity with his wife the widowed queen Chajar AD-Durr of the last sultan ayyoubide Have-Salih Ayyoub.

In 1257, after the assassination of Aybak and his wife Chajar AD-Durr, Qutuz becomes the tutor of their son Al-Mansur. In November 1257 and April 1258, it overcomes Mamelukes bahrite coming from Palestine. That causes dissensions in the Mamelukes of Egypt because some of them wished their arrival.

Sultan ayyoubide of Alep and Damas Al-Malik Year-Nâsir Yûsuf, awakes too late to answer the Mongolian threat. He had sent in Egypt an emissary to ask military reinforcements which would enable him to face the Mongolian projection. Many Syrians flee towards Egypt which feels threatened in its turn. The news of these invaders causes in Egypt a general terror.

The reign

This situation gives to Qutuz the pretext of reverse too young Al-Mansur to assume the war against the Mongols. The occasion to seize the power to him was given the November 12th 1259. This day there the princes left to hunting in the area Al `Abbâsiyyah, Qutuz benefits from this absence to stop the young sultan. Qutuz starts by reinforcing its capacity by convainquant the other Mamelukes who it had not acted like fighting the Mongols effectively. He also promised to grant to them what they wished once the acquired victory.

The chief of the Mongolian armies, Hulagu asks him to go. Qutuz refuses and kills the ambassadors of Hulagu. In August 1260, Qutuz leaves Egypt with the head of the armies Egyptian and Syrian joined together to go to face the Mongols. It sends the general Baybars in reconnaissance mission with part of the army. During this recognition Baybars had to face a Mongolian quota and carried the victory. This first success against the Mongols raised moral Moslem troops.

Baybars crosses what there remains Royaume of Jerusalem and installs its camp in front of Saint Jean d' Acre. The Crusaders of Acre offer supports to them. Qutuz prefers to simply obtain the pledge of their neutrality. It joined Baybars in the valley of `Ayn Jâlût, between Bîsân and Nablus. The Mongolian army, is carried out by Kîtbûqâ since the sudden departure of Hulagu caused by the death of Möngke and the successional disorders which resulted from this. Kîtbûqâ undertakes to gather its troops which had scattered in Syria, in only one and single army. Its vanity makes him refuse to await reinforcements on behalf of Hulagu. The Mongols also advance until `Ayn Jâlût.

The battle of Ayn Jâlût

September 3rd 1260, Qutuz and Baybars come to end from the Mongolian army led by Kîtbûqâ to the battle from `Ayn Jâlût. Syria is allocated to the Mamelukes and Mongolian withdraws itself beyond Euphrate. Qutuz returns to Egypt on October 4th, 1260. This victory marks the stop of advanced Mongols who did not avoid invincible any more.

Its end

Qutuz does not have a male heir. The princes Mamelukes plotted against him and killed it with Have-Sâlihiya on October 23rd, 1260 in the presence of Baybars which became sultan of Egypt.

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