In the previous article, I spoke about Pope Athanasius III (1250/1251 – 1261/1262 AD), the seventy-sixth Patriarch of Alexandria, who succeeded Pope Cyril III IbnLaqlaq after a seven-year period during which the bishops managed the affairs of the Church. Pope Athanasius III was devoted to rectifying the damage caused by his predecessor until his repose in 1262 AD, after serving as patriarch for 11 years and one month. He was succeeded by Pope John VII**, followed by Pope Gabriel III. Pope Athanasius III lived during the reigns of several sultans, up until the rule of Al-ZahirBaybars.
Al-ZahirBaybars (658 AH – 676 AH / 1260 AD – 1277 AD)
He was Sultan Al-Malik Al-Qahir, then Al-Zahir”Rukn al-Din Abu al-FutuhBaybarsibn Abdullah al-Bunduqdari”, the fourth of the Mamluk sultans. he ruled over Egypt, the Levant, and Hejaz. He was born into a Turkic tribe and later taken from his homeland and sold in Damascus. IbnTaghribirdi writes
“Baybars was taken from his homeland and sold in Damascus to Al-Imad al-Sa’igh. Then he was purchased by Emir Alaa al-Din Aydakin al-Salihi al-Bunduqdari, hence he received his last name ‘al-Bunduqdari’ .IbnTaghrībirdī noted that Baybars remained a mamluk (slave-soldier) under al-Bunduqdari until he was acquired by King Al-SalihNajm al-Din Ayyub, who freed him after recognizing his intelligence and incorporated him into his own mamluk corps. Baybars remained in Egypt until the rise of Izz al-Din Aybak. After the assassination of Emir Faris al-Din Aktay, Baybars and the Bahri Mamluks left Egypt for the Levant, seeking refuge with King Al-Nasir Salah al-Din Yusuf, with whom they aligned themselves against Sultan Aybak. Despite Aybak’s warnings, Al-Nasir received and honored them.Baybars later moved to Al-Karak (in modern-day Jordan) after suspecting betrayal from Al-Nasir. There, King Al-Mughith, the ruler of Al-Karak, welcomed him and incorporated his forces into a campaign against the Egyptians. However, they were defeated and Baybars returned to Al-Karak. From there, he began planning a return to Egypt. IbnTaghribirdi records:
“Baybars returned to Al-Karak and remained there, while letters from Egyptians encouraging him to head to Egypt began arriving in succession. A great number of Al-Nasir’s troops also joined him. Baybars enticed King Al-Mughith with dreams of ruling Egypt and eventually convinced him to march with his army to Gaza. Sultan Al-Mu’izz Aybak dispatched forces to confront them.”
Despite some Egyptian soldiers defecting to Baybars and Al-Mughith, they were defeated by Qutuz, and both Baybars and Al-Mughith fled, while many of their soldiers were captured and executed. After returning to Al-Karak, tensions grew between Baybars and Al-Mughith, and Baybars once again sensed treachery. He fled back to Al-Nasir in the Levant, who accepted and honored him and his companions once more.
Baybars remained in the Levant until Emir Al-MuzaffarQutuz came to power in Egypt. At that point, Baybars began urging Al-Nasir to invade Egypt and seize control, but Al-Nasir declined. Baybars stayed with Al-Nasir until the year658 AH / 1260 AD, then parted ways and sent word to Sultan Qutuz, who invited him to return to Egypt. Historical records stated, “Baybars entered Cairo on Saturday, the 22nd of Rabi’ al-Awwal, 658 AH. Sultan Al-MuzaffarQutuz rode out to greet him, settled him in the palace of the vizier, and granted him an estate in the town of Qalyub.”
Qutuz soon began preparing to confront the Mongols, appointing Baybars to lead the vanguard of the army. The two sides met atAinJalut, where the Muslim forces triumphed. Although Qutuz had promised Baybars the governorship of Aleppo, he did not grant it, leading Baybars to resent him. Baybars then conspired with others and succeeded in assassinating Qutuz on the return journey to Egypt.
When the conspirators arrived at Sultan’s Pavilionin Al-Salihiyya, they dismounted and informed theAtabeg, a Turkish title meaning “guardian” or “commander”, often used for high-ranking officials, military commanders, or tutors to young princes). The Atabeg asked who had killed the sultan, and Baybars replied, “I did.” The Atabeg then told him to sit in the Sultan’s position. Thus, Baybars ascended the throne of Egypt and was granted the title “Al-ZahirBaybars”.
And the stories of Beautiful Egypt can never end
Bishop Ermia
General Bishop
President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
العربية
