Battle of Ain Jalut

September 3, 1260
Strategic Context
When Mongkhe Kahn became the Great Khan in 1251, he immediately set out to implement his
grandfather Genghis Kahns plan for world empire. To lead the task of subduing the nations of the West, he
selected his brother, another of Genghis Khan's grandsons, Hulagu Khan.
The Mongols, through their policy of Surrender or Death, were able to conquer the greatest of all nations;
even the Abbasid Caliphate was destroyed and the capital Baghdad captured. This enraged all the Muslims
worldwide including the great Mongol general, Berke Khan of the Golden (Kipchak) Horde who had just
converted to Islam. The Mongols rapidly advanced through Persia into Levant, where they encountered the
veteran, yet fatigued Mamluks. They offered peace to the Crusaders in order to buy time to prepare for their
first battle with the Mongols. To the Mamluks, this was a battle that would decide the security of the three
holiest cities and to avenge the humiliations to the Abbasid Caliph.

Stakes
+ A Mamluk victory would halt the Mongols,
preserving the three Holiest Islamic cities of
Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem from destruction.
+ A Mongol victory would give them the chance
to invade Africa and destroy Islamic morale
worldwide, facilitating further Islamic conquests.

By Mohammed Zaid, 2013

 Ain Jalut, 1260
Strength

Mamluks Mongols

Baibars Kitbuqa
Qutuz

20,000 men 20,000 men (including

500 Georgian Knights)

Religiously motivated High morale due to

recent victories.

By Mohammed Zaid, 2013

Baibars
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The Mamluk skirmishers were equipped with the first examples of hand guns in military history. This was used
Baibars knows his plan will succeed when Qutuz suddenly attacks the Mongols from nowhere, completely surrounding them. to scare away the Mongol horses when shot at.
Baibars assumed direct command of the kiting force whereas the assault force was commanded by Qutuz.
Mamluks Mongols
(Baibars & Qutuz)
(Kitbuqa)
20,000 men (including
500 Georgian Knights)

Mamluks
(Baibars & Qutuz)
Mongols
20,000 men (Kitbuqa)
 Ain Jalut
Casualties & Aftermath
Mongols: Mamluks:

18-20,000 10,000
or or
90-100% 50%
All the Mongols retreated to the vicinity of Bisan only to be killed on their returning attempt. However,
the Mongol leader Kitbuga did not retreat, choosing instead to continue to fight, until he was eventually
killed by a veteran Mamluk warrior Jamal al-Din Akoush al-Shamsy. When the battle ended, the
Mamluk heavy cavalrymen had accomplished what had never been done before, defeating the
Mongols in close combat.
On the way back to Cairo after the victory at Ain Jalut, Qutuz was assassinated by several emirs in a
conspiracy led by Baibars. Baibars became the new Sultan. His successors would go on to capture the
last of the Crusader states in The Holy Land by 1291. The Mongols were again beaten at the First
Battle of Homs less than a year later, and completely expelled from Syria.
By Mohammed Zaid, 2013