The previous article tackled the independent rule of Egypt by King Al-Kamel and his unilateral management of its affairs after the death of his father, King Al-Adel. Also, the plots of some princes to depose him and delegate power to his brother, King Al-Faez were foiled, King Al-Kamel confronted the Franks’ attempts to seize Egypt after trapping them into Damietta and defeating them, then peace was concluded between the two parties, and the Franks departed from the country.
King Al-Kamel annexed many countries to his rule, including: Damascus, the eastern countries, Mecca, Al-Hijaz and Yemen. After the death of King Al-Ashraf, King Al-Kamel took control of Damascus again, and Ibn Taghri mentions: “Then his brother, King Al-Ashraf, died, and his crown prince was his brother, King Al-Saleh bin Ismail bin Al-Adel. King Al-Kame also sought him and took Damascus from him after holding a reconciliation together on the ninth of Jumada Al-Awwal in 635 AH, then he left for him Baalbek and its affairs, Busra and Ard Al-Sawad and those countries”. After taking over Damascus, he fell ill, died and was buried in the castle in Damascus in 635 AH (1238 AD), after he ruled for nearly 19 years.
Among the events that took place during the reign of King Al-Kamel, was that his brother, King Al-Muazzam Isa had destroyed Jerusalem after news spread about the Franks’ intention to go and seize it, and that was in 616 AH (1219 AD), the historians mention: “So they set out to vandalize the wall on the first day of Muharram, and there was a great uproar in the country. Women, girls, old men, and others went out to the rock (the desert) and Al-Aqsa, and they cut off their hair and tore their clothes, and did some of these things then they fled and left their money and families… The roads were filled with them, so some of them fled to Egypt, some to Al-Karak”, and some to Damascus … and many people starved to death and dies of thirst…”
King Al-Kamel fought the Franks in 617 AH (1220 AD), and defeated them in the Battle of Burullus and they returned defeated to Damietta.
After three years (620 AH / 1223 AD), division and distance occupied the hearts of the three brothers: King Al-Kamel, Al-Muazzam Isa the ruler of Damascus and Al-Ashraf Moussa, the ruler of Khalat and other cities.
In the following year (621 AH / 1224 AD), devastation and destruction befell many countries at the hands of the Tatars. Ibn al-Athir mentions: “During this year, the Tatars returned from the country of the Qibjaq (allied Turkish tribes) and reached the city of Al-Rayy, its survivor residents had built it up, they felt the sudden coming of the Tatars coming suddenly, so they were killed by the sword, as the Tatars did in many other countries as well…”
Three years later, King Al-Muazzam Isa died (624 AH / 1227 AD), also the first Tatar king, their tyrant leader Genghis Khan died”after he ruined many countries and exterminated its people.
In 626 AH (1228/1229 AD), King Al-Kamel gave Jerusalem (Bayt Al-Maqdis) to the king of the Franks, and “Ibn Taghri” mentions: “News spread about handing Jerusalem over to Al-Anbaror (the king of the Franks), so people raged wildly for that. Al-Anbaror received Jerusalem while Al-Kamel and Al-Ashraf besieging Damascus, so Al-Anbaror stayed only two nights, and returned to Jaffa after doing good to the people of Jerusalem, changing nothing from the Islamic rituals.” Also, King Al-Kamel took Damascus from his nephew and gave him Al-Shoubak instead. In the same year, King Al-Massoud, son of King Al-Kamel, died after he left Yemen heading to seize Damascus; He fell ill and died in Mecca, and it was said that he was unjust and bloodthirsty, killed numerous people in Yemen and looted their money. It was also mentioned that his father, King Al-Kamel used to fear him and held grudges against him that he was pleased with his death! He seized all his money, and was said to distribute most of it for good works and alms.
Afterwards, the Tatars came to Arabia and Harran again in 629 AH (1231 AD), savagely killing and capturing people. Kings Al-Kamel and his brother Al-Ashraf met in order to ward off the danger of the Tatars, and… stories about beautiful Egypt never end!
The General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
