Battle of Ain Jalat I 1260 - Battle that stopped Mongols

[Trango Towers]

One can only imagine the pain, rape, suffering and destruction the people of Baghdad went through

Shouldnt have been lazy....nations that dont prepare for war die as peace is only attained through preparation for war

 

[fitpOsitive]

“All empires over-reach and inevitably decline. That moment came for the Mongols in 1260 at the Battle of Ayn Jalut.”

AT THE PEAK of their power, the Mongols controlled the largest land-based empire in history, coming only second to Victorian Britain’s in overall size. In the 13th Century, a person could travel from the edge of Poland all the way to Korea and might never leave Mongol territory. Yet all empires inevitably over-reach and then decline. That moment came for the Mongols in 1260 at the Battle of Ayn Jalut (in modern-day Israel.)

The Mongols began their conquest of the Middle East in 1258 when Baghdad, the cultural epicentre and capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, fell in an orgy of violence. Conservative estimates of the sacking of the city put the death toll at 200,000. Along with slaughtering the inhabitants, the invaders also destroyed Baghdad’s mosques and libraries, including the storied House of Wisdom. Eyewitnesses said that when the pillaging was over, the Tigris River ran black from the ink of books that were dumped into the water. By erasing centuries of learning, the Mongols were clearly trying to destroy all elements of Muslim rule in the Middle East.

With capital of the caliphate in ruins, the only power in the region left to counter the invaders were the Mamelukes.

The legendary slave warriors, who had been bought as Christian boys from the Caucasus, converted to Islam and then trained to fight as an elite mounted corps, were every bit as fierce and skilled cavalry as the Mongols. Just a few years earlier, the Mamelukes had overthrown their masters and established their own empire that stretched from Egypt into the Middle East. Most recently they had been attacking what few lands the Christians still had under the banner of the Crusader states.

While the Mongols were an existential threat to the Mamelukes, they were equally feared by the Christians. The invaders had already annihilated armies in Russia, Poland and Hungary a generation earlier. And with the Mongols continuing their march westward, the unthinkable was about to happen: a truce between Christian and Muslim.

In 1260, the Crusader states granted the Mameluke army safe passage through their territory to intercept the Mongols. It was a case of “my enemy’s enemy is an even greater enemy.”

The two sides met on Sept. 3 of that year at Ayn Jalut or “the Spring of Goliath,” named for the infamous giant from the Old Testament.

Exactly how many troops were in action there is unknown, but as the Mongols divided their massive army into units of 10,000 to 12,000 mounted warriors called Tumens. At least one Tumen fought at Ayn Jalut, which likely represented a small detachment of the main Mongol army. The Mamelukes fielded considerably more troops – as many as 20,000.



By all accounts, it was a bloody affair. The opposing sides employed similar hit-and-run style cavalry tactics and soon the battlefield became a chaotic melee of charge, counter-charge and retreat. Mounted archers on both sides circled the action raining arrows down on the combatants and each other.

Interestingly, Ayn Jalut is also the first battle in history that saw the use of firearms. While it’s believed that the Mongols had first introduced the Chinese invention of gunpowder to the Muslim world in the 13th Century, it was the Mamelukes who deployed several sections of “hand cannoneers” at Ayn Jalut. Although woefully inaccurate by any standard, particularly when compared to the Mongol bow, the weapons made enough noise to frighten enemy horses. And while the Mamelukes use of the hand cannon was not pivotal in the battle, it did show that they tried every possible weapon known to them to try and stop the Mongols.

As the fighting ranged, casualties mounted. Among them was Kitbuga, the Mongol’s own leader who was reportedly captured and put to death. The Mamelukes fought fiercely, encouraged by their own general, Qutuz who reportedly stripped off his helmet so his men would recognize him and charged headlong into the action. Unlike so many previous opponents of the Mongols, the Mamelukes refused to break and inflicted grievous losses on the enemy. By day’s end, the invaders broke and fled.

With the Mongols vanquished, the Middle East was saved from foreign domination. Five hundred years of Islamic culture and learning – knowledge that would go on to inform Western civilization – was saved. It also cemented the Mamelukes as the premier power in the Middle East.

A generation later, Egypt’s famous warrior slaves would eventually drive the Christians from the region, ending the 200-year experiment of the Crusader states.

For the Mongols, Ain Jalut was the high point of their westward expansion. Within five years, the empire would be fractured by civil war. The age of Mongol supremacy was over.

My salute to Turks, who always defended Islam with great courage and valour.

 

[Abu Zarrar]

The Mamluks bought time with Ain Jalut, but it was the Mongols who stopped the Mongols (be it via conversion to Islam, disunity between the hordes, etc). If anyone was consistently walling off the Mongols, it was Alauddin Khilji and the Delhi Sultanate.

Hai Ayan Yorish-e-Tataar Ke Afsane Se
Pasban Mil Gaye Kaabe Ko Sanam Khane Se

It is proved to all the world, from tales of Tartar conquerors,
The Kaʹba brave defenders found in temple‐worshippers.

 

[LeGenD]

Mongols also failed to break through the Indian subcontinent thanks to the muslims yet again

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_invasions_of_India

Allauddin Ghiliji also stopped the Mongols from entering the sub-continent.

He only delayed the inevitable.

Turko-Mongol ruler Timur nearly destroyed the Dehli Sultanate and reduced the city of Dehli into a pile of dust in a war years later. Dehli took 100 years to recover in the aftermath.

In fact, the famous Mughal Empire have its roots in the exploits of Mongols.

So no! The Battle of Ain Jalat
did not stop Mongols from reshaping political landscapes around the world. The setback was temporary.

 

[Ahmet Pasha]

Mamluks were special forces. Heck muslims were special forces. Now we have Imran Khans.

 

[Hamza913]

Timur

But he was a staunch Muslim who embraced Persian culture, and his lineage had mixed with Turks. He was hardly a Mongol ruler in the same sense as Genghis or Hulagu.

the famous Mughal Empire

They were culturally almost identical to modern day Pakistan, and were an incredibly mixed dynasty in terms of bloodlines, containing not just Mongol but also Turkic, Persian and Indian admixture. So again, I'd hardly view them in the same light that I view Genghis or Hulagu.

 

[Kompromat]

Mongols were also defeated 4 times in modern day Pakistan by Khiljis. They never crossed Jehlum river, thus prevented from sacking Delhi.

 

[LeGenD]

But he was a staunch Muslim who embraced Persian culture, and his lineage had mixed with Turks. He was hardly a Mongol ruler in the same sense as Genghis or Hulagu.



They were culturally almost identical to modern day Pakistan, and were an incredibly mixed dynasty in terms of bloodlines, containing not just Mongol but also Turkic, Persian and Indian admixture. So again, I'd hardly view them in the same light that I view Genghis or Hulagu.

Bro,

Timur was just like them; destroying cities, killing people, and taking prisoners everywhere.

Timur's exploits in the subcontinent are spine-chilling to say the least. He smashed the Dehli Sultanate and raised its capital Dehli to the ground. Dehli took 100 years to recover from this chapter of destruction.

Mughal Empire had a culture no doubt, but it also have Mongolian roots.

Simply put, Mongols did not just disappear, they settled in different lands.

 

[Hamza913]

Timur was just like them

In terms of violence? Yes, but so were many conquerors. I'm speaking in terms of culture.

Simply put, Mongols did not just disappear, they settled in different lands.

Agreed, they spread out and largely got absorbed, but some relic pops still exist (e.g the Hazaras).

 

[Hindustani78]

In 1260 Isvi Hulagu sent envoys to Sultan Saif ad-Din Qutuz in Cairo demanding the surrender. Mongols allied with the remnant of the Crusader, centred on Acre and Pope Alexander IV approved the Alliance with Mongols.

When Hulagu Han departed from Syria, he sent a Mongol emissary with forty liege men on a mission to Egypt, saying, “God the great has elevated Genghis Han and his progeny and given us the realms of the face of the earth altogether. Everyone who has been recalcitrant in obeying us has been annihilated along with his women, children, kith and kin, towns, and servants, as has surely reached the hearing of all.If you are in submission to our court, send tribute, come yourself, and request a shahna; otherwise be prepared for battle.”

Most of the soldiers of Syria and Egypt were the defeated troops of Sultan Jalaluddin who had left from the Gates of Ahlat and gone to Syria. Their leaders and commanders were Barakat Khan and Malik Ikhtiyaruddin Khan son of …, and Malik Sayfuddin Sadiq Khan son of Mingbuga, Malik Nasiruddin Gushlu Khan son of Beg Arslan, Atlas Khan, and Nasiruddin Muhammad Qaymari.

After the Battle of Manzikert 1071 Isvi, the Selijuk Army led Personally by the Sultan Alp Arslan - 1063 Isvi till 1072 Isvi took possession of the Ahlat Town. The Seljuks gave control over the town to Commander Sokmen El Kutbi (Al Qutbi). Commander Sokmen El Kutbi (Al Qutbi) and his successors were known as the Shah Armens or Shah Ahlat.

Khwarazmian Dynasty and Mongol Invasion

The same will be our fate, if we didn't get back to the right path. The path of Quran and Sunnah. If the people of Baghdad can be destroyed due to their wrong deeds, then what is special in us?

Jingi Han declared himself as the Prophet and like always the Turan Tribes later who become later Safavid Kingdom because of the Moo Gool (Round Face) Tribes Invasions. Turan/Tural/Tunani tribes have a very long historical relatons with the Moo Gool ( Round face) Tribes. Centuries Friendship. Adopting Religion is different than embracing the True Religion. Adopting religion means taking traditions and religious Langauge by invading Nations and embracing True Religion means learning with Heart, fear of Allah Rabbul Alameen.

Mongols were also defeated 4 times in modern day Pakistan by Khiljis. They never crossed Jehlum river, thus prevented from sacking Delhi.

Delhi Sultanat e Hind/Hindustan. Majority of Arya Samaj troops all from Hindu Quam.

 

[Mutakalim]

Jingi Han declared himself as the Prophet and like always the Turan Tribes later who become later Safavid Kingdom because of the Moo Gool (Round Face) Tribes Invasions. Turan/Tural/Tunani tribes have a very long historical relatons with the Moo Gool ( Round face) Tribes. Centuries Friendship. Adopting Religion is different than embracing the True Religion. Adopting religion means taking traditions and religious Langauge by invading Nations and embracing True Religion means learning with Heart, fear of Allah Rabbul Alameen.

What are you saying? I mean, what point are you trying to make?

 

[Tameem]

Why Hulaqu Khan himself didn't participate in the battle?
By Not taking revenge of the defeat, he actually shows Cowardice in post Ain Jalut.

 

[OldenWisdom...قول بزرگ]

Why Hulaqu Khan himself didn't participate in the battle?
By Not taking revenge of the defeat, he actually shows Cowardice in post Ain Jalut.

It wasn't cowardice... Mongols had effectively lost control of the area by loosing the whole force in that battle. Besides, the very reason he returned was internal strife among Mongols. Hulagu wanted revenge and did gather forces to battle Mamluks. Berke Khan had reverted to Islam and promised revenge against Hulagu for sacking Baghdad. Berke basically broke the back of Hulagu and that was the end of it...

 

[Tameem]

It wasn't cowardice... Mongols had effectively lost control of the area by loosing the whole force in that battle. Besides, the very reason he returned was internal strife among Mongols. Hulagu wanted revenge and did gather forces to battle Mamluks. Berke Khan had reverted to Islam and promised revenge against Hulagu for sacking Baghdad. Berke basically broke the back of Hulagu and that was the end of it...

Hulaqu Conquered Syria in Early 1260 (Fall of Damascus 01-March-1260).
Right after that Hulaqu write threatening/warning letter to Amir of Egypt which Amir Qutuz not only torn apart instantly but the emissaries of Hulaqu accompanied are brutally killed and their heads put upside down at City gate in utter humiliation to the conqueror Hulaqu.

The response from Hulaqu on it instead was to move out from Syria with bulk of his forces (50,000 Soldiers) for whatever reasons in utter shame. Even the defeat of his prized General Kitbuqa who left with only 10,000 troops 4 months later in Sep 1260 at Ain Jalut did not encourages him to revenge immediately and he remains in hiding in Mongol lands until 1262. If that is not a cowardice then what it is?

Berke, protest Hulaqu on destruction of Baghdad and other Muslim Lands around 1258 but it did not hold Hulaqu to conquer Syria two years later in 1260 but suddenly right after fall of Damascus we finds cowardice prevails in Hulaqu and he start obeying Berke demands to hold on. That is cowardice exactly i'm talking about.

 

[Nein]

Why Hulaqu Khan himself didn't participate in the battle?
By Not taking revenge of the defeat, he actually shows Cowardice in post Ain Jalut.

Hulagu was going to fight the Mamluks but Berke Khan intervened and began the Hulagu-Berke war which ended in a draw but also led to the split of the Mongol Empire.

Muslims mainly see it as a victory of Islam rather than the Mamluks or Berke Khan. Due to the efforts of the Mamluks and Berke Khan that the holy cities of Makkah, Madinah and Jerusalem have been spared. Mongols were really close to extinguishing the Islamic World but also Europe.

I can say the Mongols came the closest to World domination for its time. They took down China and the next civilsations they nearly took down was the Islamic World and European Christendom.

Hulaqu Conquered Syria in Early 1260 (Fall of Damascus 01-March-1260).
Right after that Hulaqu write threatening/warning letter to Amir of Egypt which Amir Qutuz not only torn apart instantly but the emissaries of Hulaqu accompanied are brutally killed and their heads put upside down at City gate in utter humiliation to the conqueror Hulaqu.

The response from Hulaqu on it instead was to move out from Syria with bulk of his forces (50,000 Soldiers) for whatever reasons in utter shame. Even the defeat of his prized General Kitbuqa who left with only 10,000 troops 4 months later in Sep 1260 at Ain Jalut did not encourages him to revenge immediately and he remains in hiding in Mongol lands until 1262. If that is not a cowardice then what it is?

Berke, protest Hulaqu on destruction of Baghdad and other Muslim Lands around 1258 but it did not hold Hulaqu to conquer Syria two years later in 1260 but suddenly right after fall of Damascus we finds cowardice prevails in Hulaqu and he start obeying Berke demands to hold on. That is cowardice exactly i'm talking about.

Berke Khan and Hulagu were actually family which could explain why Hulagu was cautious because he did not want his other family joining in especially if they were against him.