Qutuz
Saif ad-Din Qutuz also spelled Kutuz, (Arabic: سيف الدين قطز) (epithet: al-Malik al-Muzafar Saif ad-Din Qutuz (Arabic: الملك المظفر سيف الدين قطز) (died October 24,1260 , Al-Salihiyya ) was the third [1] of the Mamluk Sultans of Egypt in the Turkic line [2] [3] from 1259 until his death in 1260. It was said that he belonged to a royal family, his orginal name was Mahmud ben Mamdud and his mother was the sister of Sultan Jalal ad-Din Khawarezm Shah [4], before he was captured by the Mongols and sold as a slave, ending up in Syria, from which he was sold to an Egyptian slaves merchant who sold him to Aybak. Though Qutuz reign was of a short duration, he stands in Islamic history on same line of Saladin , Baibars and Al-Ashraf Khalil .
Background
Qutuz was appointed vice-Sultan in Egypt in 1253, under sultan Aybak. Aybak was assassinated in 1257 and Qutuz remained vice-Sultan for Aybak's son al-Mansur Ali. In November 1257 and April 1258 he defeated raids of the forces of al-Malik al-Mughith [5] of Al Karak which were supported by the Bahriyya Mamluks [6] and included Shahrzuri Kurds [7] [8] . The raids caused a dispute among the Bahriyya Mamluks in Al kark as some of them wanted to support their followers in Egypt [9].
In February, 1258, the Mongol army sacked Baghdad, massacred its inhabitants and killed the Abbasid Caliph Al-Musta'sim and advanced towards Syria which was ruled by the Ayyubid king an-Nasir Yusuf who was frightened after he heard that the Mongol army crossed the river Euphrates and received a threatening letter from Hulagu [10] . Vice-Sultan Qutuz and the Egyptian Emirs were alarmed by a massage from an-Nasir Yusuf in which he appealed for immediate help from Egypt. The Emirs assembled at the court of the 15-year-old Sultan Al-Mansur Ali and Qutuz told them that due to the earnest of the situation, Egypt should have a strong and a capable Sultan who can fight the Mongols. On November 12, 1259, Al-Mansur Ali was deposed by Qutuz who became the new Sultan promising the Emirs that they can instal any other Sultan after he defeats the Mongols [11] . Qutuz kept Emir Faris ad-Din Aktai al-Mostareb [12] as the Atabeg of the Egyptian army and began to prepare for the fight. [13]
Mongol threat
Hulagu advanced towards Damascus. Some of the Syrian Emirs suggested to an-Nasir Yusuf to surrender and submit to Hulagu as the best solution to save themselves and Syria. Baibars who was present at the meeting was upset by the suggestion [14] and the Mamluks decided to kill an-Nasir Yusuf at the same night but he managed to escape with his brother to the Citadel of Damascus. Baibars and the Mamluks left Syria to Egypt where they were warmly welcomed by Sultan Qutuz who granted Baibars the town of Qalyub [15][16] [17]. When an-Nasir Yusuf heard that the Mongol army was approaching Aleppo he sent his wife, his son and his money to Egypt. The population of Damascus and other Syrian towns began to flee [18] . After sieging Aleppo for seven days the Mongols sacked it and massacred its population. When an-Nasir Yusuf heard about the fall of Aleppo he fled towards Egypt, leaving Damascus with its remaining population defenseless , but Qutuz denied him entry thus he stayed on the border of Egypt, deserted by his Emirs who left him and were allowed to enter Egypt. Sultan Qutuz ordered the seizing of the jewelry and the money of an-Nasir Yusuf which he sent to Egypt with his wife and servants. Damascus surrendered to the Mongols without fight sixteen days after the sack of Aleppo and an-Nasir Yusuf was captured on the Egyptian border and was sent to Hulagu [19] [20]
With Damascus captured, Egypt became the first target in Hulagu's schedule and thus soon four messengers from Hulagu arrived at Cairo with a threatening letter urging Qutuz to surrender and submit to the king of the kings the great Khan Hulagu [21]. Qutuz tore Hulagu's letter and assembled the Emirs and together they decided to execute the messengers of Hulagu. The messengers were cut in two and their heads were mounted on Bab Zuweila gate in Cairo [22] . Qutuz decided to go to the Mongols and fight them far away from Egypt instead of waiting for them [23] . Calls on Egyptians to defend Egypt and Islam were loudly echoed all over Egypt [24]. Moroccans who resided in Egypt fled westward while Yemenis escaped to Yemen and Hejaz [25] .
Qutuz went to Al-Salihiyya [26] [27] and assembled his commanders to decide when to march to the Mongols. But the Emirs showed timidity. " Emirs of the Muslims, for some time now you have been fed by the country treasury and you hate to be invaded. I will go alone and who likes to join me should do that and who does not like to join me should go back home, but who will not join will carry the sin of not defending our women. " Qutuz told the Emirs and they agreed to join him [28].
Qutuz ordered Baibars to lead a force to Gaza to observe the Mongols there. When Baibars arrived to Gaza the Mongols left so he recovered the city. After spending a day in Gaza, Qutuz led his army along the coast towards Acre which was a remnant of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. The army camped three days outside Acre [29] . The Franks came out of the City and offered their assistance but Qutuz thanked them and asked them to stay neutral warning them if they do the Muslim army any harm he will fight them before he fights the Mongols [30] . Baibars was ordered again to lead a vanguard to clash with the Mongols and lure them to Ain Jalut.
The Battle of Ain Jalut
The battle of Ain Jalut[31] which was fought on September 3, 1260 was one of the most important battles and a turning point in history. In 1250, only ten years before the battle of Ain Jalut the same Bahariyya Mamluks ( Qutuz, Baibars and Qalawun ) led Egypt against the Seventh Crusade of Louis IX King of France. The Mongol army at Ain Jalut that was led by Kitbuqa, a Nestorian Christian, was accompanied by the Christian king of Cilician Armenia and by the Christian prince of Antioch [32] . Considering the fact that Egypt, after the fall of Khawarezm, Baghdad and Syria, was the last citadel of Islam in the Middle East in addition to the existence of crusade beach-heads along the coast of the Levant which were already forming a serious menace to the Islamic World [33] , the future of Islam and of the Christian west as well depended on the outcome of that battle [34] which was fought between two of the most powerful fighters of the Middle Ages, the Mamluks and the Mongols accompanied by some Christian crusaders. Islam had never been in such great jeopardy at any date since its birth [35] .
Baibars, who was known to be a swift commander, succeeded in his maneuver and lured the Mongol army to the Ain Jalut where the Egyptian army led by Qutuz waited. The Egyptians at first failed to counter the Mongol attack and were scattered after the left flank of their army suffered a severe damage but Qutuz stood firm, he threw his helmet to the air and shouted " O Islam " and advanced towards the damged side followed by his own unit [36]. The Mongols were pushed back and fled to a vicinity of Bisan followed by Qutuz Forces but they managed to gather and returned to the battlefield making a successful counterattack. Qutuz cried loudly three times " O Islam ! O God grant your slave Qutuz a victory against the Mongols ". The Mongols were totally defeated by Qutuz' enthusiast army and fled to Syria where they became a prey for the local population [37] . Qutuz kissed the ground and prayed while the soldiers collected the booties. Kitbuqa the Commander of the Mongol army was killed and his head was sent to Cairo [38]. This was the first defeat suffered by the Mongols since they attacked the Islamic world. Qutuz entered Damascus with his army and sent Baibars to Homs to liquidate the remaining Mongols. Alam ad-Din Sonjar was nominated by Qutuz as the sultan's deputy in Damascus and a new Abbasid Chaliph was about to be installed by Qutuz [39] . All the levant from the border of Egypt to the river Euphrates was freed from the Mongols. By this remarkable and prestigious victory the Mamluks stretched their sovereignty to the Levant and were recognized by the Ayyubids and the others as legitimate rulers. When Hulagu heard about the defeat of the Mongol Army he executed an-Nasir Yusuf near Tabriz [40] . Hulagu kept threatening the Mamluk Sultanate, but soon he was struck hardly by conflicts with the Mongols of the Golden Horde, in the the western half of the Eurasian Steppe, who converted to Islam (see Berke-Hulagu war). Hulagu died in 1265. He never could to revenge the defeat of the the Mongols at Ain Jalut.
Assassination
On his way back to Cairo, Qutuz was assassinated in Al-Salihiyya while he was on a hunting expedition by Emir Badr ad-Din Baktut, Emir Ons and Emir Bahadir al-Mu'izzi [41] . It was believed by some historians that Baibars was involved in the conspiracy and either wanted to revenge the killing earlier of his friend and leader of the Bahariyya Faris ad-Din Aktai during Sultan Aybak reign [42] or because Qutuz did not grant him Aleppo as he promised him before the battle of Ain Jalut [43] . Qutuz was buried in the town of Al-Qusair then was reburied in a cemetery in Cairo [44] . Baibars returned to Cairo which was decorated and celebrating the victory over the Mongols [45] , and became the new Sultan. Baibars was at once admired by the people as he relinquished the war taxes which were imposed by Qutuz [46] .
Qutuz ruled Egypt for one year. He had no children. He was remembered by Muslim historians as a virtuous and an extremely courageous Sultan.
See also
Notes
- ^ Some historians, however, consider Shajar al-Durr as the first of the Mamluk Sultans. Thus, to them Qutuz was the fourth Mamluk Sultan and not the third. ( Shayal, p.115/vol.2.)
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p.507/vol.1
- ^ Holt, P.M. & Lewis, Bernard. "The Cambridge History of Islam"
- ^ Al-Maqrizi,p. 520/vol.1
- ^ al-Malik al-Mughith Omar Ben al-Adil II Ben al-Kamil Muhammed ( Arabic: الملك المغيث عمر بن العادل الثانى بن الكامل محمد ) was the Ayyubid ruler of Al Karak. During the reign of Sultan Baibars he was killed in the Citadel of Cairo .
- ^ After the assaassination of Faris ad-Din Aktai the leader of the Bahariyya Mamluks, during the reign of Sultan Aybak, many Mamluks fled from Egypt. Baibars, Qalawun and other prominent Mamluks took refuge in Syria, but after a dispute with an-Nasir Yusuf the Ayyubid king of Syria they moved to Al Kark which was also ruled by an Ayyubid king.
- ^ See Al-Mansur Ali
- ^ Shahrzuriyah were kurds who escaped from Mesopotamia after the Mongol invasion. They deceived al-Malik al-Mughith during the second battle and walked over to the Egyptian side. ( Al-Maqrizi,p500/vol.1 )
- ^ During the reign of Sultan Aybak many Bahari Mamluks fled from Egypt after their leader Faris ad-Din Aktai was assassinated. The stayed in Syria, Al Karak and the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm . Two of the most prominent Mamluks Baibars al-Bunduqdari and Qalawun al-Alfi went to Syria then to Al Kark where they persuaded al-Malik al-Mughith the Ayyubid king of Al Kark to attack Egypt. ( See also Aybak , Al-Mansur Ali and an-Nasir Yusuf ).
- ^ The message was given by Hulagu to an-Nasir's son al-Malik al-Aziz. some of its passages said : " As al-Malik an-Nasir the ruler of Aleppo knows, we have conquered Baghdad by the sword of the almighty God, we killed its knights, we razed its buildings and we captured its inhabitants " " When you receive this message, you should at once submit with your men, your money and your knights to the king of kings the ruler of the earth. By doing that you can be saved from his evil and gain his goodness." " We have heard that the merchants of the Levant and others have fled with their money and women to Egypt. If they hide in mountains we will raze the mountains and if they hide in the earth we will sink the earth down. Where is safety ? none can flee because I own both the land and the sea..The lions were despised by our dignity and the princes and the viziers are held in my grasp ". ( Al-Maqrizi, p.506/ vol.1 )
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p.507/vol.1
- ^ Not to be confused with his namesake and contemporary Faris ad-Din Aktai al-Jemdar who was the leader of the Bahari Mamluks and who was assassinated by Al-Mansur Ali's father Sultan Aybak.
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p.508/vol.1
- ^ The surrendering to Hulagu suggestion was uttered by the Syrian Emir Zain ad-Din al-Hafizi. Baibars who was outraged struck and insulted the Emir saying to an-Nasir Yusuf and his Emirs: " You are the reason of the destruction of the Muslims ! " ( Al-Maqrizi, p. 509/vol.1 )
- ^ Qalyub is a town in the Qalyubia Governorate now, north of Cairo.
- ^ Qaylub on map
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 509/vol.1
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 509/vol.1
- ^ Al-Maqrizi,p. 513/vol.1
- ^ An-Nasir Yusuf, his son al-Aziz, and his brother al-Zahir were abducted in Gaza by one of his servants and were sent to Hulagu. In another account, an-Nasir went to Kitbuga who arrested him and sent him to Hulagu.
- ^ " From the King of Kings in the East and the West, the mighty Khan: In your name, O God, You who laid out the earth and raised up the skies. Let al-Malik al-Muzaffar Qutuz, who is of the race of Mamluks who fled before our swords into this country, who enjoyed its comforts and then killed its rulers, let al-Malik al-Muzzafar Qutuz know, as well as the Emirs of his state and the people of his kingdom, in Egypt and in the adjoining countries, that we are the army of God on His earth. He created us from his wrath and urged us against those who incurred His anger. In all lands there are examples to admonish you and to deter you from challenging our resolve. Be warned by the fate of others and hand over your power to us before the veil is torn and you are sorry and your errors are rebound upon you. For we do not pity those who weep, nor are we tender to those who complain. You have heard that we have conquered the lands and cleansed the earth of corruption and killed most of the people. Yours to flee: ours to pursue. And what land will shelter you, what road save you; what country protect you? You have no deliverance from our swords and you cannot avoid dreading us for our horses are swift, our arrows do pierce, our swords like thunder-bolts, our hearts like rocks and our numbers like sand. Fortresses cannot withstand us; armies are of no avail in fighting us. Your prayers against us will not be heard, for you have eaten forbidden things and your speech is foul, you betray oaths and promises, and disobedience and fractiousness prevail among you. Be informed that your lot will be shame and humiliation. "Today you are recommenced with the punishment of humiliation, because you were so proud on earth without right and for your wrongdoing" (Quran, xlvi, 20). "Those who have done wrong will know to what end they will revert" (Quran,xxvi. 227). Those who make war against us are sorry; those who seek our protection are safe. If you submit to our orders and conditions, then your rights and duties are the same as ours. If you resist you will be destroyed. Do not, therefore, destroy yourselves with you own hands. He who is warned should be on his guard. You are convinced that we are the infidels, and we are convinced that you are debauchers. God, who determines all and judges all, has urged us against you. What much for you is little for us, the honorable for you is base for us. Your kings should expect nothing from us except humiliation. Therefore, do not wait long but quickly answer us before the fire of war is set and the spark is thrown over you then You will not have from us dignity, nor comfort, nor protection, nor sanctuary and you will suffer at our hands the most fearful calamity, and your land will be empty of you. By writing to you we have dealt equitably with you and have awakened you by warning you. Now we have no other purpose but you. Peace be with both us and you, and with all of those who follow divine guidance, who fear the consequences of evil and who obey the Supreme King. Say to Egypt, Hulagu has come with swords unsheathed and sharp. The mightiest of her people will become humble and he will send their children to join the aged. " ( Letter from Hulagu to Qutuz )- Al-Maqrizi, p. 515-516/vol.1
- ^ (Al-Maqrizi, p. 514-515/vol.1) - ( Shayal, p.122/vol2 )
- ^ Ibn-Taghri, pp.105-273/vol.7 /Al-Muzafar Qutuz.
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 515/vol.1
- ^ Ibn-Taghri, pp.105-273/vol.7 /Al-Muzafar Qutuz.
- ^ Al-Salihiyyah on a Map
- ^ Al-Salihiyya Also 'As Salhiyah' in north Egypt, east of the Nile Delta. In Sharqia Governorate now .
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 515/vol.1
- ^ Riley-Smith,p. 204
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 516/ vol.1
- ^ Map of Ain Jalut
- ^ Toynbee, p. 449
- ^ Toyenbee, p.446
- ^ Shayyal,pp, 122-123,126 /vol.2
- ^ Toyenbee, pp. 446-450
- ^ (Al-Maqrizi, p.516/vol.1) - ( Ibn Taghri,pp.105-273/ Al-Muzafar Qutuz )
- ^ ( Ibn Taghri,pp.105-273/ Al-Muzafar Qutuz)- ( Al-Maqrizi, p.517/vol.1)
- ^ Al-Maqrizi,p.517/vol.1
- ^ While in Damascus, Qutuz chose an Abbasid named Abu al-Abbas Ahmad to become the new Abbasid Chaliph. After the assassination of Qutuz, Baibars invited Abu al-Abbas to Cairo but before his arrival another Abbasid named Abu al-Qasim Ahmad arrived to Cairo and was installed by Baibars as the new Chaliph. Qutuz' candidate Abu al-Abbas returned to Syria. ( Shayyal, 132/vol.2 )
- ^ Hulagu executed An-Nasir Yusuf and his brother al-Zahir Ghazi near Tabriz. Tuquz Khaton wife of Hulagu apealed for the life of Yusuf's son al-Aziz and he was not executed. -( Al-Maqrizi,pp.518-519 )
- ^ Al-Maqrizi,p. 519/vol.1
- ^ See Faris ad-Din Aktai
- ^ It should be noted that the story of the involvement of Baibars in the assassination of Sultan Qutuz was told by different historians in different ways, in one account the assassinators killed Qutuz while he was giving hand to Baibars. (Al-Maqrizi) and (Ibn-Taghri). On another account, which is an ayyubid source, Qutuz was giving hand to someone when Baibars struck his back with a sword.(Abu-Al-Fida). A third account mentioned that Baibars tried to help Qutuz against the assassinators.(Hassan,O.)
- ^ Al-Maqrizi,pp.519-520/vol.2
- ^ Shayyal, p.126/vol.2
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 521/vol.1
References
- Abu al-Fida, The Concise History of Humanity
- Al-Maqrizi, Al Selouk Leme'refatt Dewall al-Melouk, Dar al-kotob, 1997.
- Idem in English: Bohn, Henry G., The Road to Knowledge of the Return of Kings, Chronicles of the Crusades, AMS Press, 1969.
- Al-Maqrizi, al-Mawaiz wa al-'i'tibar bi dhikr al-khitat wa al-'athar,Matabat aladab,Cairo 1996, ISBN977-241-175X.
- Idem in French: Bouriant, Urbain , Description topographique et historique de l'Egypte,Paris 1895
- Hassan, O, Al-Zahir Baibars, Dar Alamal, Cairo 1997, ISBN 977-5823-09-9
- Ibn Taghri, al-Nujum al-Zahirah Fi Milook Misr wa al-Qahirah, al-Hay'ah al-Misreyah 1968
- History of Egypt, 1382-1469 A.D. by Yusef. William Popper, translator Abu L-Mahasin ibn Taghri Birdi, University of California Press 1954
- Shayyal, Jamal, Prof. of Islamic history, Tarikh Misr al-Islamiyah (History of Islamic Egypt), dar al-Maref, Cairo 1266, ISBN 977-02-5975-6
- Toynbee, Arnold J., Mankind and mother earth, Oxford university press 1976
- Riley-Smith, The Crusades
- Holt, P.M. & Lewis, Bernard. "The Cambridge History of Islam"