The Slave Who Became Sultan

Book excerpt: Roukn al-Din Baybars was born in 1223 in a Turkish tribe Kipchak installed in the Ukrainian Plains. He was captured by Mongolians horsemen and sold to a Russian slave trafficker who takes him to the city of La Tana, Venetian traderpost installed on the edge of the Don River. There, he is bought at the slave market by a Venetian merchant who takes him in Syria, in the town of Sivas, where he is sold to the emir of Aleppo. He is incorporated in a school for young slaves. At the end of his training, he joined the guard of the emir. One day, he is spotted by the Sultan As-Salih Ayyub and buys him to the Emir of Aleppo. He then joined the guard Mamluk of the Sultan and moved to Cairo. In 1242, the Mongolians leave in the countryside for conquest the Middle East. In 1244, the Khwarezmians Turks take Jerusalem. The Pope called for a new crusade. The King of France, Louis IX, landed on the Egyptian coast and took the town of Damietta. On 20 November, the crusaders marched to Cairo. The two armies fight at Fariskour, near Mansoura. The Crusaders were defeated and the King of France is captured. The Egyptian Sultan as-Salih Ayyub was dead 23 November 1249. His wife, Chaddar ad-Dour, ensures the Regency. Once the Christian danger is distant, Turan Shah, son of as-Salih, is murdered. But a woman cannot rule in Muslim countries. To work around this situation, Chaddar ad-Dour married the emir Aybak and named him as Sultan. Aybak, by her depraved and violent conduct, becomes a problem. Chaddar ad-Dour assassinates him before suffering the same fate. The emirs are the most powerful of them, Kutuz, designate as Sultan in November 12, 1259. In autumn 1259, Hulegu, the khan of Central Asia resumed the offensive. In six months, the Syria is conquered. The way Egypt is free. But in the summer 1259 the great khan Mongka died. Hulegu leaves for the Mongolia. He leaves Kitbuga in command of his army. This one continued the offensive. In September 3, 1260, the two armies fight at Ain Jalut. Kitbuga was killed and the Mongolians flee. The Sultan Kutuz promised Aleppo to Baibars, hoping that he would be killed during the confrontation. After the battle, he gave the post to one of his followers. Baybars decided to kill him. In October 22, 1260, during a hunting party, he hands him an ambush and he give hom the first blow. His comrades finishe him. The present emirs proclaim Baybars as Sultan. He went immediately to Cairo, acclaimed by the people. During his years of reign, he leads a merciless combat to his enemies, Christians, Turks, Mongolian. He will make of Egypt and Syria, an Empire. The Empire of the Crowned Slaves which will reign on the Middle East until 1520. Baibars died aged 56 after 17 years of reign.