Qutuz
From TheHeroesWiki
In the 7th Hijri (Islamic calendar) century, the Tatars launched one of their largest assaults on the land of the Islamic Caliphate, resulting in the seizure of the Caliphate capital, Baghdad, the killing of the Caliph, and the occupation of three quarters of the Muslim land. At that time, one of the greatest Muslim leaders in the Islamic history emerged. He had pride in his religion and in the fact that he rescued his Nation. This was in one of the most decisive battles in history back then. The leader was the "Victorious King" Mahmoud Saif ad-Din Qutuz .
Introduction
The King Saif ad-Din Qutuz (657-658 Hijiri [Islamic] calendar 1259-1270 Georgian calendar) was one of the most prominent early Muslim kings of the Mamluk State despite the fact that he ruled for only one year. He was the third Sultan of the Mamelukes, he was one of Ezz-ed-Din Aybak's soldiers and he kept getting promoted till he became his second in command & later the Sultan. Qutuz defeated the Tatars in the year 658 Hijiri calendar at Ain Jalut & thus stopping their evil domination on the Middle & Far East.
The Tatarian invasion
Mongols and the Tatars were tribes who (in medieval ages) used to inhabit eastern islands of Turkistan, east of China. The Mongols in the northern West Asia were increasing in their numbers & getting stronger due to hard & difficult living conditions they used to encounter. They were used to living in tents or in open air .Also, they moved behind their herds to new farms and wore animal leather clothes and studied martial & warfare arts a serious & enthusiastic study. Moreover, they were skilled in using daggers and swords and shooting arrows while riding their horses. The danger of Mongols increased more & more, Egypt became threatened of becoming invaded after hostel Hulagu Khan who is the commander of the Tatars attacked Baghdad in the year 656 (Hijiri calendar), killing hundreds of thousands of its people and looting its treasuries and then destroying the Abbasid Caliphate then killing Caliph Al-Musta'sim, princes and senior officials of his own. Next, they marched to Arabia and seized some cities until they arrived at Damascus forcing its Sultan to escape. Then they entered the city after it surrendered and they continued to march until they reached Naples, Karak and Jerusalem. Moreover, Gaza submitted to them. The only places left were Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The latter was ruled by Al-Mansour Nuraddin Ali.
Qutuz from slavery to emirate
Saif ad-Din Qutuz was among the children who were captured by the Mongols & transferred to Damascus and sold as slaves. According to early historical sources the original name of Saif ad-Din Qutuz is Mahmoud Bin Mamdoud, and that he is the nephew of Sultan Jalal Al-Din Khawrizm Shah who, after his father, defended against the attacks of the Mongols and achieved several victories. Also, he recovered from them some cities but unfortunately he did not get any help from the Abbasid State which left him fighting them without any support making the way easier for the Mongols to be victorious over the Sultan in the year 1231 (Georgian calendar) & eventually in the elimination of his state which was located in the present southern Iran, he then died.
The person of Qutuz
Historical sources have agreed that Qutuz was a religious person & a scholar in Islam & a memorizer of the Quran & that he had a good understanding of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). In addition, he was an eloquent and courageous leader. This benefited him in forming a strong Islamic army which was able to defeat The Tatars.
The road to the Sultanate
As the threat of the Mongols attacking Egypt increased, Qutuz had no other options rather than throwing off Al-Mansour Nuraddin Ali (son of Ezz-ed-Din Aybak) because he was so young and could not bear the burdens of being a ruler in such dire circumstances. So, Qutuz took matters into his own hands & took advantage of other emirs going out to hunt & he arrested Al-Mansour & his family members in the castle and declared himself the new Sultan and began rearranging of the Sultanate. He justified his action to the senior princes that the only reason which forced him to do what he did (i.e. taking the Sultanate from Al-Mansour) was the threat of the Mongols who can not be defeated unless there was a strong Sultan.
Hulagu's message to Egypt
A letter reached Qutuz from Hulagu Khan the leader of Tatars. The message was filled with intimidation and threats. Here below is a rough translation of the text of the letter:- "From the King of Kings of the East and West, the Great Khan. To Qutuz the Mamluk, who fled to escape our swords. You should think of what happened to other countries and submit to us. You have heard how we have conquered a vast empire and have purified the earth of the disorders that tainted it. We have conquered vast areas, massacring all the people. You cannot escape from the terror of our armies. Where can you flee? What road will you use to escape us? Our horses are swift, our arrows sharp, our swords like thunderbolts, our hearts as hard as the mountains, our soldiers as numerous as the sand. Fortresses will not detain us, nor arms stop us. Your prayers to God will not avail against us. We are not moved by tears nor touched by lamentations. Only those who beg our protection will be safe. Hasten your reply before the fire of war is kindled. Resist and you will suffer the most terrible catastrophes. We will shatter your mosques and reveal the weakness of your God and then we will kill your children and your old men together. At present you are the only enemy against whom we have to march."
Qutuz response to Hulagu's message
Qutuz had no option after he heard the message of Hulagu but to declare war on the Mongols. He did everything he thought would boast the morale of his soldiers & his people.
Preparing for War
Qutuz sent some scout cavalry under the leadership of Zahir Baibars which helped to gather as much information as possible about the Mongols, their numbers, weapons, strength & weak points. Qutuz, managed to collect the necessary amount of money for the war and after asking Sheikh Ezz bin Abdul-Salam whether it's ok to collect the alms (money which was given by citizens as a charity) & use it to fund the army, the Sheikh adviced Qutuz not to do that before he collects the money of the Mamluk Senior officials of the State who were living in welfare. Qutuz agreed and started by himself. Qutuz went to meet the Tatars outside Egypt, he went to attack them before they attacked him to uplift the spirits of his soldiers & to prove to his enemies that he doesn't fear.
The battle of Ain Jalut
Qutuz and the Mamluk general Baibars marched out from Cairo, passing through the remnant of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, and camping outside Acre. The nobles in Acre offered their support, although the Knights Templar preferred to support the Mongols. Baibars wanted to capture Acre at the same time but Qutuz refused to attack an ally. Qutuz arrived at a small town in Palestine called Ain Jalut. It was Friday when he saw the Mongol soldiers & their huge numbers. He then said to his army: "Don't fight them before the sun sets, before the wind comes and wait till our scholars & preachers pray for us". At night the 2 armies met & the Islamic army started to break down. At that point Qutuz went off his horse, threw his helmet & prayed to God loudly saying his famous sentence: "WaAslamah!!!" (O Islam). This action had a magical effect on the rest of the army, since they did fight a very strong fight afterwards. On September 3, 1260 Qutuz, with Baibars leading his army, defeated the Mongol army which was lead by Kitbuqa at the Battle of Ain Jalut. Syria soon fell back under Mamluk control; Baibars wanted Aleppo but Qutuz instead gave it to Ala al-Din Ali. While on a hunt chase with Baibars, he was assassinated. Baibars succeeded him as Egypt's sultan. And this is how the life of the hero of Ain Jalut ended. Qutuz life gave a clear message to Muslim rulers who came after him, which was: that a person can achieve something great & win the hearts of his people in a very short time, it doesn't have to be in a very long time to do something historical. The proof is that Qutuz himself didn't last on the throne for more than 1 year, yet he achieved something which was (during the course of history) achieved by a few people.
Sources for the previous adaptations and some external links
Qutuz: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Battle of Ain Jalut: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Ibn Khaldūn. Al-Muqaddimah : An introduction to history
