Baibars I

Baibars (Rukn al-Din Baibars al-Bunduqdari) was born around 1223 CE in the Fayum region (Egypt) — of Kipchak Turkish origin. He was purchased as a slave and trained in the Sultaniyya regiment in Cairo. He rose to prominence in 1250 CE when he took part in repelling the French Crusade of Louis IX on Egypt, leading the naval Mamluks to victory at Al Mansurah.

On 3 September 1260 CE the Battle of Ain Jalut was fought — one of the most important battles in Islamic history. After the Mongols under Hulagu had sacked Baghdad in 1258 and occupied Aleppo, Damascus and Salkhad, they advanced south under Kitbuqa towards Egypt. Sultan Qutuz and Baibars defeated them at Ain Jalut (near Baysan in Palestine) — the Mongols' first major defeat on their western front, saving Egypt and Syria and forcing the Mongols into retreat.

Days after the victory, Qutuz was assassinated by Baibars in October 1260, and Baibars seized the sultanate, becoming the fourth Mamluk sultan (after Aybak, al-Mansur Ali and Qutuz).

His main achievements:

• taking Antioch in 1268 CE — after a long siege, ending the major Crusader presence in Syria
• seizing and restoring Crusader castles — he took Arsuf in 1265, Safed in 1266, and Krak des Chevaliers in 1271, which he restored
• organising the postal relay system — linking Damascus to Cairo with postal stations
• alliance with the Golden Horde Khan Berke against Hulagu — the first Muslim-Mongol alliance against the Ilkhanate of Persia
• reviving the Abbasid caliphate in name in Cairo in 1261, with Baibars himself appointing the caliph

Baibars died in Damascus in July 1277 CE — reportedly after drinking a poisoned draught he had prepared for someone else. He is considered one of the greatest Mamluk sultans.