Mamluk campaigns against Cyprus

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Mamluk campaigns of Cyprus

Limassol Castle suffered damages due to attacks of Mamluks
Date1424-1426[1]
Location
Cyprus
Result Mamluk victory, Cyprus became a tributary state
Belligerents
 Kingdom of Cyprus Mamluk Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
Janus, King of Cyprus Barsbay
Strength
First campaign 370 men and 6 ships.
Second campaign 11 or 12 ships.
Third campaign unknown at chirokitia, 14 ships.		 First campaign 4 or 5 ships.
Second campaign 40 ships.
Third campaign 100 ships.

the Mamluk campaigns of Cyprus was a series of military expeditions launched by Mamluk Sultanate into Kingdom of Cyprus between 1424 to 1426, the Mamluks were victorious and Cyprus became a tributary state

Background

In 1191, Richard I of England captured the island of Cyprus from the byzantines during the Third Crusade, the island was later sold to Guy of Lusignan who purchased Cyprus from the Templars in 1192, who had themselves purchased it from Richard, Cyprus served as a supplier to the Levantine crusaders, in 1271, Baybars attempted to capture the island with an armada of 17 ships, but it was wrecked and destroyed in Limassol[2]

Cyprus later became a base for Frankish pirates and raiders, in 1365, Peter I of Cyprus launched a raid into Alexandria and sacked the city for 3 days, killing its inhabitants and looting lots of treasures.[3]

Raids continued later on, in August 1422, the Cypriots captured a ship in the port of Alexandria[4] and in May 1424, they seized two ships from Damietta.[5][6]

These raids prompted the Mamluk sultan Barsbay to send naval expeditions to Cyprus.[7]

Campaigns

First Campaign

In late September 1424,[8][9] the Mamluk armada consisting of 4[10] or 5[11] landed near Limassol, the garrison knew about the incoming raid and evacuated the inhabitants before their arrival, leaving only 300 men and 70 knights led by the Bailli and reinforcements from Nicosia led by Philip Prevost,[12][13] the Mamluks attacked Limassol, defeated its garrison, killed Philip Prevost, sacked the city and burning it, they also burned 3 ships and sank 3 others, the mamluks captured 23 men.[14][15][16]

Second Campaign

In July 1425,[17] the mamluks launched an organized raid with an armada of 40 ships,[18][19][20] the fleet arrived south of Famagusta where the governor pledged allegiance to the sultan and showed hospitality to the mamluks,[21][22] the mamluks then raided the countryside, sacking, enslaving and ravaging everything in their way,[23] then they marched to Larnaca, where they met the Cypriot fleet consisting of 11 or 12 ships led by Janus's brother and defeat it,[24][25] the mamluks again sacked Limassol, killed many of its inhabitants and departed in August,[26][27] the number of slaves captured during the campaign was around 1060 people and it took 70 camels to collect the looted treasures.[28]

Third Campaign

The mamluks aimed at this time to subjugate the entire island, preparing a fleet consisting of 100 ships, the mamluks fleet again for the third time attacked Limassol on July 1, destroying the castle. The mamluks spent 6 days ravaging and destroying everything in their way until they met Janus's army in the fields of Khirokitia on July 7, the Cypriot army was routed and king Janus was captured in battle,[29][30][31] They marched to capture Nicosia, however learning the news of naval reinforcement of 14 ships, the mamluk marched to meet them and in the ensuing battle, they killed 1500 crusaders and then went on to capture Nicosia, sacking a side of the city,[32] on July 18, the mamluks embarked for home.[33]

Aftermath

When news reached Cairo, it was greatly celebrated in the city, and festivals were made,[34] the people welcomed the mamluks from their victorious campaign, the looted treasure, and the prisoners, around 1000, were paraded in the march, including Janus himself, envoys from Ottoman Empire, Hafsid dynasty and Sharif of Mecca praised Barsbay for his victory, Janus was then brought to the sultan, humiliated, he was forced to pay a 200,000 dinar ransom and agree to an annual tribute.[35][36]

References

  1. ^ Peter W. Edbury, Kingdoms of the Crusaders: From Jerusalem to Cyprus, p .76 [1]
  2. ^ Kenneth M. Setton, Robert Lee Wolff, "The Later Crusades, 1189–1311", p. 615-616
  3. ^ Alexander Mikaberidze, Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia, Vol.1, p. 71-72 [2]
  4. ^ Kadir I. Natho, Circassian History, p. 208
  5. ^ Kadir I. Natho, p. 208
  6. ^ Al-Maqrizi, al-Sulūk li-Ma‘rifat Duwal al-Mulūk, Vol VII, p. 99 [3]
  7. ^ Angel Nicolaou Konnari‏، Chris Schabel, Lemesos: A History of Limassol in Cyprus from Antiquity to the Ottoman Conquest, p. 284 [4]
  8. ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 103
  9. ^ Angel Nicolaou Konnari‏، Chris Schabel, p. 284
  10. ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 103
  11. ^ Angel Nicolaou Konnari‏، Chris Schabel, p. 284
  12. ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 103
  13. ^ Angel Nicolaou Konnari‏، Chris Schabel, p. 284
  14. ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 103
  15. ^ Angel Nicolaou Konnari‏، Chris Schabel, p. 284
  16. ^ Kadir I. Natho, p. 208
  17. ^ Susan Rose, Medieval Ships and Warfare, p .276
  18. ^ Susan Rose, p .276
  19. ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 121
  20. ^ Kadir I. Natho, p. 208
  21. ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 121
  22. ^ Susan Rose, p .276
  23. ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 121
  24. ^ Susan Rose, p .276
  25. ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 121
  26. ^ Angel Nicolaou Konnari‏، Chris Schabel, p. 285
  27. ^ Susan Rose, p .276
  28. ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 121
  29. ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 138
  30. ^ Angel Nicolaou Konnari‏، Chris Schabel, p. 285
  31. ^ Kadir I. Natho, p. 208
  32. ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 138
  33. ^ Kadir I. Natho, p. 208
  34. ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 138
  35. ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 139-140
  36. ^ Susan Rose, p .276
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