Battle of Shaqhab

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The Battle of Shaqhab, also called Marj al-Suffar in some texts, took place on April 20 through April 22, 1303 between the Mamluks and the Mongols in Syria, just south of Damascus. The battle ended Ghazan Khan's invasion of Syria and resulted in a disastrous defeat for the Mongols. According to the contemporary Egyptian historian Al-Maqrizi, when Qutlugh-Shah reached Ghazan Khan at Kushuf after the battle to inform him of the defeat of the Mongols, the Khan became wild with rage that resulted in a hemorrhage in his nose.^[1]

[edit] Previous Mongol-Muslim Conflict

The Mongols had been invading Muslim lands since 1218 when the Mongols attacked Khwarezm. Since then they had gone on to take over all of Persia and Rum and frequently harassed Syria. Some famous battles included the Battle of Baghdad 1258 and the Battle of Ain Jalut September 3, 1260. The Mongols experienced their first major defeat at Ain Jalut led by Qutuz and Baibars al-Bunduqdari. However, Hulagu Khan and succeeding Khans would attempt to take back the land captured by Baibars. This came to a major head with Ghazan's invasion of Syria in 1299 and the subsequent capture of Damascus in 1300 after the mongol victory at the Battle of Wadi al-Khazandar.

[edit] Events just before the battle

After defeating the Chagataid's to his rear, Ghazan Khan sent Qutlugh-shah with an army to recapture Syria. The inhabitants and rulers of Aleppo and Hama fled to Damascus to flee the Mongols. However, Baibars al-Jashnakir was in Damascus and sent a message to the Sultan of Egypt to come to fight the Mongols. The Sultan left Egypt with an army to meet the Mongols in Syria and arrived while the Mongols were attacking Hama. The Mongols reached the Damascus outskirts on April 19 to meet the Sultans army. The Mamluks led them to Shaqhab where the battle would take place.

[edit] The battle

The battle started on 2 Ramadhan 702 in the Hijri calendar, or April 20, 1303. Qutlugh-Shah's army was positioned next to a river. The battle started by Qatlugh-Shah's left wing attacking the Mamluk's right wing with his brigade of 10,000 soldiers; the Egyptians reportedly suffered heavy casualties. The Mamluk center wing and left wing under the command of Emir Salar and Emir Baibars al-Jashnakir then came to fight the Mongols, however, the Mongols kept pushing the right flank of the Egyptian Army and many of the Muslims thought the battle would be lost. The Mamluk left flank, however, held out.
Qutlugh-Shah went to the top of a nearby hill hoping to watch the victory of his forces, and whilst he was giving orders to his army, the Egyptians surrounded the hill. This led to the Mongols suffering heavy casualties on the hill. The next morning the Mamluks deliberately opened their ranks to let the Mongols flee to the river, Wadi Arram. However, when the Mongols reached the river to drink, the Sultan attacked the Mongols, and the fighting lasted till noon. By the next day, the battle was over. ^[2]

[edit] Aftermath

Messages were sent to Egypt and Damascus to tell of the victory, and the Sultan went to Damacus. While the Sultan was in Damascus the Mamluk army kept chasing the Mongols as far as Qariyatain. When the Sultan returned to Cairo, he entered Bab al-Nasr (Victory Gate) with chained prisoners of war. Singers and dancers were called from all over Egypt to celebrate the great victory. Castles were decorated and the celebrations lasted many days.

[edit] References

The Cambridge History of Iran Volume 5 The Saljuq and Mongol Periods by J. A. Boyle (Editor)

1. ^ Quatremere, vol II, Translation.
2. ^ Al- Maqrizi , Al Selouk Leme'refatt Dewall al-Melouk