In the previous article, I discussed the dangers and disturbances faced by Sultan Aybak: the Ayyubid threat and its accompanying conflicts and wars, and the danger of the “Arab Farmers’ revolution” which spread to the general population. They established an independent Arab state in Middle Egypt and the Sharqia region, ruled by Al-Sharif Hosn El-Din, until Al-ZahirBaybars took over and killed him. Conflicts also extended between the Bahri Mamluks and the Mu’izzi Mamluks, and the conspiracies of the Bahri Mamluks to depose Aybak began. However, Aybak quickly arranged for Aqtai’s assassination.
The Bahri Mamluk princes:Baybars, Qalawun, and Sunqur, fled to Syria after learning of their leader Aqtai’s death at the hands of the Mu’izzi Mamluks, led by Qutuz. These events led to a division of the Mamluks into two warring factions: the Bahri and the Mu’izzi Mamluks, causing chaos in the country, especially with the approaching Mongol threat to Egypt and Syria. The Mamluks who fled to Syria began instigating the Ayyubid princes to attack Egypt; however, they ended up settling in Anatolia. Aybak’s life ended at the hands of his wife, Shajar al-Durr, who learned of Aybak’s desire to marry the daughter of Mosul’s ruler. Shajar al-Durr’s life, in turn, ended at the hands of Aybak’s first wife.
Sultan Al-Mansour Nur al-Din Ali (655-657 AH) (1257-1259 CE)
Sultan Al-Mansour Nur al-Din, the son of Sultan Al-Malik Al-Mu’izz Izz al-Din Aybak, ruler of the Egyptian lands, was appointed after his father Izz al-Din Aybak’s death. He was fifteen years old when the Mu’izzi Mamluks pledged allegiance to him and he was given the title “Al-Malik Al-Mansour.” The Salehia
Mamluks, however, supported Alam al-Din Sanjar al-Halabi to become the Atabeg (military ruler). This led to conflict between the Mamluks. Historians mention: “Competition quickly became apparent among them, and the Mu’izzi Mamluks arrested Prince Sanjar al-Halabi and imprisoned him in the Citadel because he accepted to rule after Aybak’s murder. His followers from the Salehi Mamluks then became agitated and fled to Syria for fear of arrest, but the Mu’izzi Mamluks pursued them and arrested a large number of them.” During these widespread disturbances, Prince Saif al-Din Qutuz emerged as the strongest Mamlukprince and worked to unite the Mamluks.
During this turbulent period, Ayyubid pressure on Egypt began to escalate. The Bahri Salehi Mamluks managed to incite Al-Mughith Umar al-Ayyubi, ruler of Kerak, to invade Egypt. He responded to their call, provided them with weapons, and aided them in seizing control of Egypt. It is mentioned in this regard: “A group of Mamluks, numbering a thousand horsemen, headed towards the Egyptian borders to invade and seize control of the government. It seems that Qutuz was the quickest to act, as when he learned of the advance of the Salehi Mamluks, he left Cairo at the head of a military force to repel their danger, and he managed to defeat them at Al-Salihiyya… and captured a large number of them…” The defeat of the Salehi Mamluks occurred in 655 AH (1257 CE), but their attempts to seize Egypt did not cease. The following year, they came to invade Egypt for the second time, only to be confronted by Prince Qutuz once again at Al-Salihiyya, where he inflicted a bitter defeat upon them.
The disturbances in Egypt increased due to the ongoing events and conflicts, in addition to the approaching Mongol threat to the country: “Thus, the state appeared under the rule of a minor boy, still in its formative stage, at a time when the Mongol threat under the leadership of Hulagu intensified after he reached Syria following the overthrow of the Abbasid Caliphate, causing widespread unrest and anxiety throughout Egypt.” In light of what the country was facing, Prince Qutuz found the opportunity ripe to ascend to the throne; he deposed King Al-Mansour in 657 AH (1259 CE). And…the stories of “Beautiful Egypt” are far from over!
The General Bishop
President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
العربية
