Mongol invasion of Syria (1299)

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The Mongol Invasions
Central Asia – Georgia and Armenia – Kalka River – Volga Bulgaria – Ryazan – Rus' – Sit River – Köse Dag – Legnica – Mohi – Baghdad – Ain Jalut – Korea – Japan (Bun'ei – Kōan) – Vietnam – Xiangyang – Ngasaunggyan – Yamen – Pagan – Bach Dang – Syria – Kulikovo – Vorskla – Ugra River

1 Previous Invasions
- 1.1 First Invasion
- 1.2 Second Invasion
2 Third Invasion (1299)
3 Follow-up Invasions
- 3.1 Fourth Invasion
- 3.2 Fifth Invasion
4 Christian Failures
5 Sources
6 Further reading

[edit] Previous Invasions

[edit] First Invasion

In 1253, the Mongols began their conquest of the remaining Muslim states. By 1259, the Mongol's entered Syria. At the time, Egypt, Libya, Makuria, Palestine and Syria (Excluding the Crusader states) were under the control of the Ayyubids. Mongol control was asserted as far south as Palestine, however the death of Mongke Khan forced most of Hulegu's gigantic army to withdraw from the area, leaving just 20,000 troops in Palestine. They were quickly destroyed by the Mamluk sultan, Qutuz at the Battle of Ain Jalut, and then defeated again at the Battle of Homs.

[edit] Second Invasion

The second invasion took place in 1281 under a pressured Abaqa Khan. The Mongols got as far south as Homs where they were beaten back to the Euphrates river at the 2nd Battle of Homs.

[edit] Third Invasion (1299)

In early 1295, Ghazan Khan sent a letter to the Mamluks of Egypt talking of his conversion to Islam and how they were now common brethren. However, in 1299, he and his army crossed the Euphrates river and occupied the city of Aleppo. The army continued south through Syria until they were slightly north of Homs. The Mamluk relief force sent from Damascus met a Mongol army north-east of Homs numbering around 60,000 men with about 40,000 Georgian and Armenian Auxiliaries. The Mamluk force numbering at only 20,000-30,000 men was routed at the Battle of Wadi al-Khazandar (Although the Muslim historians who recorded the battle claim that the battle was in the favour of Egypt and that a false rumour of defeat caused the army to route). The Mamluk army on its retreat was then harassed by Maronite and Druze bowmen who wanted independence of the Mamluks. This was their first and only defeat by the Ilkhanate.

The Mongol army continued south until it reached Damascus in early 1300. Most of the populace of Damascus (Upon hearing of the Mongol approach) had fled to Egypt and the governor of the city had entrenched himself deep inside. The populace left in the city was friendly towards the Mongols. Ghazan Khan wanted to spare the city the usual atrocities that came with Mongol conquests. However, the 10,000 strong army of Qypchaq (Perhaps a Mamluk from the conquered lands of the Cumans), a Mamluk turncoat began to sack Damascus. This prompted the rest of the Mongol army to sack the surrounding area. Around 3,600,000 dirhams was plundered.

The governor of the city, Arjawash, who had entrenched himself within the centre of the city took up arms. The Mongols besieged the city for ten days, nearly destroying the entire city a before leaving the area. The reasons for the Ilkhan withdrawal is believed to be the Chagatai Mongols invading their eastern borders.

The Ilkhanate had occupied Syria for a little over three months.

[edit] Follow-up Invasions

[edit] Fourth Invasion

After defeating the Chagatai invasion, Ghazan Khan returned to Syria in late 1300 and crossed the Euphrates river between 14/12/1300 and 11/01/1301. Panic arose in Damascus upon hearing of the renewed threat, especially since the Mamluk army in Syria withdrew to Egypt without even fighting the Mongols. A small section of the Mongol army however, was defeated near Aleppo by the post of Hamat. This created order in Damascus, enough for the governor to send for a larger relief force from Egypt. However, the Mongols had already left Syria due to a death in Ghazan Khan's family.

[edit] Fifth Invasion

The Ilkhanate returned to Syria in 1304 and travelled unopposed down the Levant until they reached Damascus. There, they were defeated by the Mamluks and left Syria forever.

[edit] Christian Failures

After the Mongols invaded Syria in 1299, the countries of Christendom talked of a new crusade to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims. Ghazan Khan even said he would give the Christians the Holy Land if they helped him defeat the Mamluks.

The countries of Christendom kept squabbling, leaving any attempt for a crusade too late. The Mongols pulled out of Syria in 1300 leaving the Mamluks able to retake the Holy Land unopposed.