A Mongol Sultan in Egypt al-Malik al-Adil Zeyneddin Ketbugha al-Mansuri
MfJıUGfJLı$A
AN I NTERNATI ONALANNUAL OF MONGOL STUDI ES
Vol. 18 (39), 2006
I SSN 10243143
nüİ } ıurf;} LwffiF&
Vol. 18 (39), 2006
A SPECI AL I SSUE CONTAI NI NG THE PAPERS OF
THE 9th I NTERNATI ONAL CONGRESS OF
MONGOLI STS CONVENED UNDER THE
PATRONAGE OF
N.ENKHBAYAR, PRE,SI DENT OF MONGOLI A
(812 August, 2006, Ulaanbaatar)
Ulaanbaatar
Secretariat of the I ntemational
Association for Mongol Studies
MONGOLI CI A. Vol 18 (39),2006
MONGOLI CA Vol.l8 (39). 2006
A MoNGot. S{ JI jTAN I N EGYPT: AL_MALI K
ZEYNEDDI N KETBUGHA ALMANSURI
L_^ l} ıı '
^ l] ()(ıl
(1294
EKREM KALAN (TURKEY)
Mamluk state, which has a prominent position in thc Wııılıl'a
history, is unique from the other political foımations duc ltı ils ıııı
derstandi
n g of soveri gn ty and admini
strative structure. Ad ıı ı i ı l s l ı lı
tive structure, which was constructed on the mamluk systcııı rvııa
ı
based on the principle that the Strong, successful and authrııiıt.ııiııı
mamluks to participate in the state administration, rather thıııı lı ııllı,
breeding from the dynasty. These mamluks, who üsed to bc st.lı.ı l
ed among the bought or Captured slaves when they were c[ ıiltlıt.ıı,
used to serve long years in the Mamluk Aımy, after going t[ ıırııı;ilı
a good military training and I slamic education. Therefore thc ııılly
feature of a Mamluk Sultan was nothing beyond proceedınş, tlıt,
other emirs by way of hıs military and political SuCCeSSeS. I n tıllıt.ı
words, Mamluk Suıltans, had to take their power from themsclvt.s,
because that they didn't have a strong famiiyr.
This is a System that developed within the I slamic ciıclc iıııtl
has no similarto have this name out of the I slamic ladscape. llt.
Cause of the mamluk System, sorce and research works have bct.ıl
naming this state as Mamiuks, Kölemens etc.
l Ali AKTAN, "Memlıı.klıılurrla
| .esi Dergisi, tr/ ol.9,
Saltunaı Değişiktiği LI SLülii", At(ltiirk üııiversitesi ilahivul tI lü^ üıl
Erzıırıun' l990, p. 272.
424
Mamluk State, which has an impoıtant role in terms of the
Mongolian history also, caused that the Mongols had tasted their
lirst serious defeat, as a result of the victory that they gained
lıgainst the I lhan Army in 1260, at the location named as 'Ayn
.lalut. Ketbugha, though, in spite of this defeat, could sit on the
Mamluk throne 34 yeras after the battle, by means of the sys
tcm mentioned above. I t is, therefore extremely interesting, even
lhough for a shoıt period, that a Mongol origined sultan had ruled
in Egypt. Ketbugha has been the first and the only Mongolian
sultan to ascend to the Egyptian Mamluk throne.
A. 'Ayn Jalut War aııd Ketbugha's Actions Before Ascend'
ing to Mamluk Throne
After the capturing of Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasid
Caliphate, by the Mongolian army under the command of Hülegü
in 1258, Hülegü had to march on to Syria and Egypt' in order the
plan prepared by Möngge Khan to Hülegü to be accomplished2.
According to this plan Mongolian armies had started to push on
the gates of Haleppo and Damascus. After the conquests of Ha
leppo in December 1259 and Damascus on March l, 1260, now
the I lhanMamluk encounter was inevitable.
Hülegü, who established his regin over many Syrian cities
beginning with Haleppo and f)amascus, prepared a delegation
of emissaries and sent to Sultan Qutuz of Mamluks, for Egypt,
the second paı1of his campaign' aS per the traditional Mongolian
politics. By means of this delegation, after listing what Mongol
Khans did, beginning with Chinggis Khan, and his own successes,
informed sultan that he should be prepared for the battle, unless
he pays annual tributes, in otheı words to state his ioyalty3.
Reıığ GRo| JSSET, Bozlrır impurtıtorltığıı, Tı'ıınslalecl by R. Uzıııen, I strıııbııI , l999' p. 342
YI JVALI , ilhanlılar ku"ihi I (Kıırulı.ış Deı'ri)' Kıry'seri, 1994, p. 86.
AbıJiiLkadir
'
:
A)<
MONGOLI CA. Vol.l8 (39), 2006
MONGOLI CA. Vo1.l8 (39), 2006
Meanwhile information about the death of Möngge Khıııı.
the older brother of Hülegü Khan aırived. Due to the strugglts
on the throne between Kubilay and Ank Buka, the two brotlıı"ıı.s
of Möngge Khan after his death, Hülegü jouıneyed back to Kııı.ıı
korum, the capital of the Mongolian Empire, leaving Ketbuglııı
Noyan in Syria in the command of a Tumen.
At the same time, Qutuz in the Mamluk Palace had consıılüctl
his emirs, and got Hülegü's envoys killed as a result of the Comm()lI
decision of war. According to the Chinggis'Yasa this is, as statcrl
by Caıpini: "I t is the Custom of the Tatars never to make peiıCtl
with men who kill their envoys, until they have taken vengeancc ()ıl
them.a" I n other words, now the war between the paı1ies becarııc
absolutely inevitable. Finally the two aımies encountered on Sc1ı
tember 3, 1260, at a place called Ayn Jalut near Taberiyyes.
Here, history became upside down. Mongols had a serirırıs
defeat for the first time. They fought with their familiar valianccı,
but they were pressed under the numerical superiority of thr:
Mamluk aımy. As the defeated Mongolian army was dispersctl,
most of the Mongolian waıriors were ens1aved.6 Among the cap
tives was a Mongol youth named Ketbugha who was enrolled iıl
the mamluks of the amir Qalawun, and was later to become sultaıı
in his own right (6946112941296).1
Along with the battle of 'Ayn Jalut, Mongolian progress iıı
the MiddleEast was stopped and in the west, the belief about thr:
Mongolians can not be defeated was knocked down. From this
a
j
Johaıııı de Plaııo CARPI NI , Moğol Turihi ve Seyahalname (1245t247), Tıuıslatecl by Ergiıı
Ayaıı, Trcıbzcın, 2003, p. 85'
Bertolıl SPI JLER, iran Moğolları, Tıaııslatecl b'y CemcıI Köpriilii, Aııkara, t987, p. 67.
ABB] 'LFARAC, Abü'l| arac Tarihi, Traııslutecl by ğmer R. Doğrul, Vol. I ] , Ankıırıı'
l999, p.576' L N. GUM] LYOV' Muha1ı'vel HiikiimılnI ığın i:iıule, Trunslure,l by Alıseıı Bcıüııı;
6 Gregoı'ı
point of view the battle of 'Ayn Jalut is an extremely important
battle in terms of both Mongolian and the world's history. And the
impoıtance of this battle from our point of view is that' the young
Mongolian that we mentioned above and would appear with the
name alMalik alAdil Zeyneddin Ketbugha alMansuri as the
Mamluk suitan, was among the war slaves.
There is no infoımation in the sources, about what experi
enÇes young Ketbugha Survived after being enslaved, yet we Can
make forecastes about the young ages of Ketbugha, thinking how
the Mamluk system used to work. Mamluk or the military slavery
system is a formation that developed within the I slamic circle and
had no parallel out of the I slamic area. According to the mamluk
system, the slaves that were captured or sold in the slavery bazaars
are the people candidate to be mamluk. Most probably Ketbugha
should be bought by Emir Qalawun at the slavery bazaar, aftet
being enslaved in the Battle of 'Ayn Jalut. But here two different
practices will apply. Either Ketbugha, after being bought by Emir
"Tabaka", in order
Qalawun was sent to the military school called
to become a waırior as well as the other mamluks, had military
training and I slamic education there until the adolescent age, lib
erated after completing his education, and was appointed to the
mamluk unit of Qalawun. Or he might have stayed at Qawalun's,
gaining his trust and symphaty, to be trained aiong with his chil
dren. I n both cases, he became Emir Qalawun's mamluks'
Along with the enthronation of Qalaw un in 1219, the way for
Ketbugha to be enthroned in future became clear. And Ketbugha
will not faii to benefit this oppoı1unity as Soon aS he found it'
After the death of Sultan Qalawun in tr'290' the emirs suc
cedeed his son elMelik elEshref Khalil to the Mamluk Throne
] sıunbul, 2002, p. 227.
7
] { eııveıı AM] TAl'PRE| SS, Mongols aııd Manılııks. The MunıtukI I hanitl War, 1260128] , Cuııı'
bridge, 1995, p.51.
426
İ Dıı,it} AYAL)N' ''MeınI fik Deı,I etintle Kijlelik Sisıenıi'', kaııslııled hv Sunıira Kortaııttııııer,
'farih iııcelcnıeleri Dergisi, Vol. 4, I zmiı, l989, p.2l} '234'
421
MONGOLI CA
MONGOLI CA. Vol.i8 (39)' 2006
Vot. tx (lq)" 2006
in his place. Dunng this change of throne Ketbugha hatl
;ıııııı.ıl ır,ılİ ı
the mam] uks of Sultan Khalil. Even though Sultan Klı;ılıl ıvııq ıı
brave warırior person' he got cross with the emirs ftıı lıt. lı,lı;ıveıl
very harshly to the state officials and emirs. Thking the ııtlv;ıııl;ıpı, ı ıl
Sultan going out for hunting, emırs I i ke Baydara, Nogay' l l tıs;ıı ı ıt'ı
l
din Lachin chased and killed him (December 13, I 2g3).
After killing Sultan Khalil, killer emirs decided I } :ıyıl;ıı;ı lıı
become sultan and swore an oath of loyalty. As a respcıntl ltı lıll ııf
these developments, mamluks of Sultan Khalil movecl ttı lıv;lıı;ıt:
their master, headed by Emir Zeyneddin Ketbugha. As ıı ı.t.sıı| l ııİ
the battle Baydara was killed and the other emirs that sıı1l1ıııılt,ıl
him had to escape.9 After achieving this SuCCeSS, whiltl
1ıt,ıl1ı| ı,
used to expect that EmirZeyneddin Ketbugha become suütıııı' ı,] ııııı
Shujai, one of the mamluks of Sultan Khalil and the leaclcı. ııl llıl,
Burji Mamluks prevented it.l0 When the two emirs could n()l ııVı.|
come each other, Muhammed, nine years old brother ot' Klı;ılıl
was enthroned with the name Nasyr; and the strongest emirs wcır.
appointed to the most prominent positions of the state.ll Niısyı,
had a make up reign in his first rule. Ketbugha was aS regcııl
:ııııl
Shujai was both the governor of the city and vizier. Thus thc ır.;ıl
administration was in the hands of these two emirs.12
' Ali AKTAN, "Bahri Manı!uklerı] en Sıılıtın Kulcıvun y,e İ I tuıeı] uııı", BeI I eteıı, Vol. LI X, AııI iııııı,
İ 995, p. 226.
j| } Kazını
Y' KoPRAMAN,
"Mısır Manılııkleri (I 250l5} 7)''' Doğışıuıı
Gii] liin1iize Biiviili i:l,ıııı
Turilıi. VııI . l'l. p.476
1I
Samiru KORTANTAMER, Balıri Muınlııklıırr] a Üsl Yöııetiın Mensu7ılıırı
ve Arolarındaki
ilişkıl,'ı,
I znıir' ] 993, p. 26, Liııdıı S. NjRTI LRUP, The Bahri Meınluk
Sııhanrıle, t250'] 390, Ec!. (.rıı t l,
()unbritlge (iniı,ersin; Pıe,ss tr/ ol. I I sluınic
Egrpt, p. 252.
'.Pel4:,
l2
WilI kun MLI ] R. The Mcımelııke oJ Sloı,e DynusE ij'ı,gyp' ı.o
] 2601517' Aınslerc] am, ] 96,\ '
p 17.
B Ketbugha's Ascending to Mamluk Throne and Sultan
Ketbugha's RoI e in the BahrtBurjt Mamluks Strııggle
Mamluk State was a Turkish state that ruled in Egypt and
syria during 12501517. Though, while the state administration
was in the hands of Bahr? Mamluks, the monarchs of the Turkish
origin, from the formation of the state until 1382, it was grasped
by the chirkassian monarchs from that year on. Hence the Mam
lıık State after 1382 is named as Burji Mamluks.l]
There had been a struggle of long years between Bahri and
Burji Mamluks, and Emir Ketbugha had piayed a effective role
against the Burji Mamluks. One of the reasons why Ketbugha was
in struggle with Shujai was to have the rul ein hand, and the other
was that Shujai was the leader of the Burji Mamluks. After a shoıt
while a jealousy and struggle for rule started to be experienced be
t\ ,.een these to strong emirs. While Shujai was trying to increase
his power, joining the Emirs of Burj? Mamluks in the country un
der his administration, Ketbugha was trying to pull other emirs to
wards himself.la Even though Emir Senjer Shujaı tried to remove
Ketbugha at first, could not achieve it. Therefore Emir Ketbugha
sent men to Sultan Nasyr and said: "senjer eshShujai arrests emir
for no iogical reasons. He must appear in your presence"' As Shu
jai avoided going to the suitan's presence, Emir Ketbugha sieged
Kalatu'lJebel. Emir Ketbugha, convincing Sultan Nasyr who was
a littie child during the siege, grasped shujai, who was in Kal'at ul
kgStıltcınQcılaıı,tııhtu] .oııesİ oı'ıso1,sthulhe
cho"'e 3700
hcıd 7 lhousoıııl, hııt rıct:onliııg tcl tlıe ııt] ıer, he acıııall, lıatl ] 2 thousıuld. QcıI aıı'un
ıııtıııılııks ı4'hgse origiııs ure Cirt:tıssklıl aııtl Altuı, ulııl eınplucecl ı!ıenı oıı İ lıe bııstioııs o'l'capiıal
ııııdgııı,cnunrc(I SolBurjiy1ıe.Soıhtıl,Rıu.liMcıınluks'ııtıııler'oınes.froıııtlıeseıııunılıık's.For
nıore clalcıiI s see Krızuıı Y. KOPRAMAN, lbid, p' 50l '
1! W,illiaııı ML] I R,'I 'he Maınelukc rıf Sltıve D'vnasly ot' Eg1pt A.D. 1260'] 517, Anısterıltını, ] 968,
p. 43
428
429
MONGOLI CA. Vol.l 8 (39), 2006
MON(I OLI CA. Vol.l 8 (39), 2006
Jebel then and killed him. After grasping and killing Emir Shtıjlıı,
Ketbugha became the strongest emir in the state.15
After this development, Emir Husameddin Lachin, onc ııl
the ki] lers of Sultan Khalil, got in touch with Ketbugha and 1ıırı
voked him against Suitan Nasyr, also in order to save himstrll.
too. I nffuenced by this contact, Ketbugha gathered emirs, stılııı1ı
that mamluks started to violate the rights of the citizens, foı' tlıııt
Sultan Nasyr was too young, unrest and rebels started within tltt.
Country, and had that Sultan Nasyr wsa dethroned and himscll'ttı
be set to the Mamluk Throne obtaining the confirmations (lrıııı
the emirs.'6
After the child Sultan Nasyr was dethroned, he was sen( ttı
the Fort Kerek in Syria.I 7 And Ketbugha, who was left al] himstıll
without any competitors, with a great Ceremony, set on the Mı'ıııl
luk State's throne on December 1, 1294 with the name alMclilt
al_Adil Zeyneddin Ketbugha alMansuıi.
Sultan Ketbugha, paid attention to the policy of being in hiıı.
mony with the emirs, which was the most impoıtant conditıon tıı
stay as long on the throne. Hence, as soon as he was enthronecl, hc
tried to attract Mamluk emirs towards himself wıth sweet worrls
and smiling face. After sending Sultan Nasyr and his mother ttı
Kerek in order to passify him, he appointed Husameddin Lachiıı
to the viceroyalty and handed the state affairs to him, and maclc
Fahreddin alKhalil his vizier.l8
Still, instead of his positive approach to the emirs, two ını
plotant incidents during his rule of two years Caused his dethron:ı_
tion. Fırst is the famine and epidemy, occured as the rise of tht:
l'Saıııira KORTAN7AMI iR, Bıhri Munlııklurıkı
Üst Yİ jııetiııı Meıısıııll.I ü'ü vf ,Jl'LılLlI I üı.] akı jti.ıkiL,ı
harvest was
prices as a result of the level of Niie went down and the
is that
reason
not satisfactory in the first year of his rule. The second
of his kin
Ketbugha was of the Mongol ongin and accepted Oirad
toEgypt.Below,wewilldiscussthesetwoincidentsindetail'
C. Famine in Egypt in Ketbugha's Era
The biggest unlucy that the Ketbugha experienced was'
doubt'thefamineandepiclemyofplaguethatCamealongwithit,
inthefirstyearofhisrule.I nthesummerof1295'forthewater
of
level of River Nile went down and because of the insufficiency
floodsthatusedtocaffyprosperaluvionstothedesert'enough
harvestcouldnotbeobtained.I nparalleltothis,abigfamine
wassurvivedinEgypt.Becauseofthefaminelived,inflationwas
increased,andtheunıuckydevaluationofthemonetaryunitmade
the conditions of the people even worse. I n the
reaceduptotentimes.Alongwithallofthese,similartoallother
the famine.ie
famine p".iod* , an epidemy of plague came right after
used to
According to the sources mentioned, only in cairo thusands
die each Jay. And this case spreaded until Syria'20
gave way to upcomings' Suffenng screams of a hungry
Hunger
Societywasheardinthemarketandbazaar.Ketbughabroughtcorps
fromConstantinople.Butthiswasnotenoughtoremovethedisease.
Along with the devaluation, a new coins of cupper called
mon_
fulüs were introduced in Mamluk State. This was the lowest
17
Scımira KOR1ANTAMER, I bid, p. 5().
:{ ,
] n
Kıı.:ıııı
Mı.sı'ı, Tı'aııslatetl by Tıı'han I lgaz, I sI aıı
Aıır] re CLTT, Kt)lelerin ] mpor(furluğü! MeınLiilıleriıı
h,ıl' } 005. p. "6.
lbkl, p. 479.
Ka:,n Y. KoPRAMAN,
kıı'ihi.
430
four along with
year, increases in prices
the ielivery of the harvest. The foliowing
lu
Y. KOPİ l'4I I .I AN,
first year of famine'
the prices of meat ,n.1"hi.k"' was multiplied by
crisis was lived in
the prices of wheat and other colps, and a serious
I :ııir lQo] ,, Jt)
l'Kazıııı Y. KOPRAMAN' I biıl. p 178.
no
Vol. 14, p.
,'Mısır Menıliılrleri (t250'1517)'', Doğıışttııı Giiıilınii:e Biiıiili ] 'ıkını
479
4.3 I
MONGOLI CA. Vol.l 8 (39), 2006
MONGOLI CA. Vol. 18 (39), 2006
etary Value in circulation within the Mamluk State. As the pctı1ılr
did not really pay attention to his new money, Sultan Ketbııglıiı
wanted to make difference in the value of fulüs. But again ıııı
body took fulüs seriously and merchants started to make their.jtılı
in terms of trading goods.2t
Considering all of these, it is going to be easy to undersliıııtl
why the society was reactive to Sultan Ketbugha as a result ol'ılıc
famine, economical straits and epidemy of plague. While all tıl
these were present, accepting of sultan Ketbugha approximatcly
10 thousand oirads to Egypt and that they were not muslims, ııı
creased the reactions of the emirs and the people for good.
D. I mmigration of oirats to Mamluk Realm and Relatioıı
ship Between Ketbugha and Oirats
Oirads, being a forest tribe among Mongols, had joined Ch
inggis Khan in 120'7.22 west bound march of the oirads occurctl
by the beginning of XI I I th century. with the westward campaig,
of Chinggis Khan, oirad people had stepped into Turkmenistıııı
for the first time. By the ends of xI I I th century, some oirads thar
followed Ang Bökhö (Arık Buka) and Haidu staı1ed to live in thıt
region.23 And after foundation of I lkhan state, they accepted thc
I lkhan supremacy.
A great portion of the Mongolian brigade in Diyarbekiı.
province was made up of oirads. These oirads, according ttı
the sources, had take refuge in Mamluk state for two differenr
reasons. First, according to historitian of Mamluk state era hacl
pointed; during the struggle between Geyhatu and Baidu, oirads
:I Miinir
ATALAR, Bahattiıı KELEŞ, "Meınliikler Döııeminde Kullaııılıuı Paralar ve (Jygulıınıııı
Kredi Sistemleri'', Kazıın Yaşar Kopraman'ıı Armağan, Ectiıor E' Senih YAL3I N' p.
lii.
] 2
Moııgoliiıı Nuuts Tııvç, Red. Sh. Gauılıımlla, (Jlaanbaaıaı; l990, p. 208.
23
Chıılııunii DALAY, oırad Mongılliiıı Tııııh, L} laanbaaI ar, 2000' p. 39.
432
had supported Baydu. When Baydu, whom Oirads had supported
iater on during the BaiduGazan struggle, lost the struggle, and
Gazan set on the I lkhan throne, Oirads under Turgay's command
escaped from Gazan Khan to provide their security, and took ref
uge of Mamluk State.2a
I n another source, the History of Ebu'lFaraj, it says that
Oirads had attacked on some Turkmens and looted their goods
during Baidu's era, but when Gazan Khan was enthroned, as per
the complains he allowed Turkmens to take their looted goods
back from Oirads.2s But Oirads, for already have consumed all
of those good, could not retum them and attacked on Turkmens.
I n the aftermath of this they took everything they have with them
and fleeded into Syria.26
As seen in both of the cases Oirads had some kind of problem
with the GazanKhan and had to run away. Therefore we can say that
things written in both of the sources are related with each other. The
why is, for they had supported Baidu during BayduGazan struggle,
they were hesitated when Gazan became the Khan, and when Gazarı
Khan staıted to make pressure on them, aS per the complaints from
the Turkmens, they ran away from the region between Baghdad and
Mosul, where they used to live, headed by their leader Turgay.27
Main reason why Oirads wanted to take refuge in the Mam
luk State should be that then Sultan Zeyneddin Ketbugha was on
the Mamluk State's throne. First news about that they entered into
the Mamluk lands in 1295 arrived to Sultan Ketbugha in January
of 1296. After the detection demand of the Oirads, Sultan Ket
:J Ciiııey| KANAT, "Gazan I '!aıı kııııanıııdu Mrınılıık DqI eıi'ne j!ıir'a EcI eı, LI ı'roıI ar'', Tarih
jnı:eleıneleri Dergisİ , VoL XV, I zmiı, 2000, p. 107l08.
jran MoğoI I arı, Trnızskııeıİ by Cenıul Kiipriilü, Ankara, 1987, p. } 06
'j Berıold SPL] LER,
26
Gregoı1, enÜ'ırınsc' Abü'lFarac Turihi, Truıs!ııteıL b7 onıer R. Doğrul' l/ ol. I I ' Ankara,
1999, p. 658659.
, Farıık SÜMER, "Anaclolııda Moğolkır", SelçukI ıı Araştııınııları Dergisi, YoI . I , Ankuru, ] 970,
p. 6566.
433
MoNGoLI CA.
Vcıi. l 8 (39), 2006
MONGOLI CA. Vol.1 8 (39), 2006
bugha gathered his emirs and negotiated about the Oiraci ciıst. ;ıııı|
policy to be applied. According to that; it was decided thlıt ( )ıı;ıtl
leaders be called to Egypt and the remainings be settlccl lıy llıı.
coastal area and Syrian lands out of that.
As per this decision, Sultan Ketbugha Sent Some of his tlılııılı
to Damascus, to meet oirad leader Turgay, and lords callccl ( iıılı
tay and U] us. These oirad lords were met along with big ccltllıı.ıı
tions and settled in Damascus for a while. And the other ()ıı'iııls
waiting near Damascus were settled to a place called Aslis ııı
Pa] estine. These Oirads iater on joined with the local peoplc lııııl
lost their national features a good deal.2s But the oirads scltI t.ıl
to Cairo have used the adventage of being in the capital city ııııtl
took role in the political incidents.
For the first time in Cairo it was witnessed a Mongtıliiııı
sultan accepted people from his own kin and se] ecting his ııllııı
among them. The most improtant of the reasons why Ketbııglı;ı
accepted Oirads was that he wanted to use Oirads in his strugglt.
against Burji Mamluks. For this purpose, he provided very ı.icll
iktas (estate) to oirads and so aimed to weaken the Buı1i Maııı
luks, but in the end, even emirs that used to support Ketbııglıil
made initiations against him.2e
Ketbugha supported Oirads, in order them to provide a mat
ter of balance against Burji Mamluks, and appointed them tıı
the important positions, which used to be occupied by the Buıji
Mamluks. But Oirads, even though they had Came to Mamlrılı
State as refuğees had gained powel in shoı1 time, by the suppclı.t
and previlages they obtained from suitan Ketbugha and startccl
to be strong on the throne and state affairs. They made Sultiıı'ı
:3
ciinq)t KI NAT. I bid, p. lll1J3.
M. C. Şehahecİ tlin TEKİ NDAĞ' 'Maın!ıık Sıılr,ın/ ığı T,ırıhiııe Toplıı Bü.Bcılrış'', Speciııl
fronı Tarih Dergi,si LoI . XXL| p. l4
)9
] | 'Cii.ııayı KANA'| ,
I hitl' p I ] 1t} 5.
Ketbugha accept their ideas, and make activities without sultan's
knowledge, having no doubt or fear of him. All of these incidents
disturbed other Mamluk Emirs very much, and they could not
accept the idea the Oirads were determinant in the state admin
istration. Thus, the hostility between oirads and Mamluk Emirs
became harsher every other daY.
I n addition to that, in the Mamluk State, which was a mus
lim land, non muslim Oirads' life styles and traditions were not
welcome by the majority. Because Oirads were not fasting dur
ing the Ramadan of 1296, some Mamluk Emirs met with sultan
Ketbugha and staterl that Oirads must accept I slam. But as a result
of Sultan Ketbugha's meeting with Turgay, the leader of Oirads,
Turgay didn't accept to become muslim. Therefore the anger that
the Mamluk Emirs and state structure used to feed against Sultan
Ketbugha became stronger.3o Meanwhile, people used to believe
that the famine was a sing of God's wrath against the person, who
accepted Mongolian blasphemers to the I slamic land.3t
I n a shoı1 whi] e, as various feasons Carrıe together, people
started to hate Ketbugha and want that his rule to come to an end.
The way he accepted more than 10 thousand Oirads to his state in
a time when thousands of people died every day, showing closer
interest to them, trying to make the status of their leaders equal
to the other Mamluk Emirs and award them many previiages at
tracted the reaction of both emirs and the people.32 Besides, con
sidering the still fresh memories of Mongolian attacks in peoples
memories and still present I lkhan treat, we can easily understand
the increase in the reactions against Ketbugha.
jufısırı, Trıııısluted by hırhun llguz, lstun'
Arulre CLOT, KöI eI eriıı hııpartıorlıı.ğtı MenıLiikleriıı
bııl. )005' p 76'
J: Kıı:ını Y KoPk4] iAN, "Mısu Meııılijkleri (1250l5t7)", Doğııştaıı Gİ iııiinıiize Biiyiik I sI anı
)|
ls.sııc'
Tarihi, l/ ol. VI , p.179.
434
435
MONGOLI CA. Vol.i8 (39), 2006
MONGOLI CA. Vol. l8 (39). 2006
bugha killed and set him free. For this case Sultan Lachin
E. The Dethronation of Sultan Ketbughafromthe Mamlıık
State Throne
While these problems were valid in Mamluk State, Sı"ıltiııı
Ketbugha decided to take a trip in Syria in August 1296. SııI tıııı
Ketbugha arrived in Damascus on September 14 and dismissr:tl
Viceroy of Damascus from his position. Again he show cltıstıı'
interest to Oirads by the way.33
MeanwhileViceroy Husameddin Lachin, who was convincotl
that he became strong enough took advantaüe of the conditi< ıns
that occured against Suitan Ketbugha, and provoking the oppıı
sition in the public opinion. Because Husameddin Lachin usctl
to believe that he had as much equal right on the throne as Kct
..Should we want to catch Ketbugha, it wouldn,t be something
hard for us, but we iet him, because he is one of our brothers"'
Theredoesn,texistmuchinformationonthesourcesabout
with both
the life of Ketbugh a after that time. He had to struggle
famineandeconomicalproblems,andappointedoiradsofhis
provided them
own kin to different positions in Mamluk state and
in the Mam
very large previlages, during the two years of his rule
lukstate's throne. And all of these prepared the end of Ketbugha.
I s
Even Ketbugha was enslaved when he was very young' took
lamic education and occupied prominent positions in the Mamluk
that he was
State structure, neither he nor the people never forgot
of the Mongolian origin.3s
bugha, for he had share in the dethronation of Sultan Nasyr. Alicı'
strenghtening his position enough, he tought that wating longcı'
would be of no use, and taking the advantage of Sultan Ketbughı
being in Syria as well, he planned a plot to kill Sultan Ketbughıı
in his arrival to Egypt. Sultan Ketbugha noticed the plot at a placc
called elLejjün near Taberiyye, and fleeded to Damascus (Ntı
vember 15,1296).34
While Sultan Ketbugha was escaping to the castle of Dı_
mascus, I eaders of the army joined with Lachin. Lachin graspccl
Ketbugha's treasury. Lachin declared his sultanate on the samc
day. And Ketbugha, after dweelled in Damascus for a while, went
to Serhad by the permission of the new sultan and became the
viceroy of that place by the folder sent by the new sultan. Becausc
Lachin and Ketbugha were mamluks liberated by the same mastoı'
(Qalawun), in other words "Hushdash", Lachin didn't get Kct
rl Ciineü KANAT, I bid, p. l l 6 l l7.
ja
Kızun y KOPRAMAN'
Jj Cüneyt
I biıI ' p. 180
436
stated:
KANAT lbid, p. l 17.
431
MONGOLI CA.
MONGOLI CA Vol.l8 (39), 2006
BI BLI OGRAPHY
Mongoliin Nuuts Tovç, Red. Sh. Gaadamba, Ulaanbaatar, l99().
ABÜ'LFARAC, Gregory, Abü'i_Farac Tarihi, Translated lry
Ömer R. Doğrul, Vol. I I , Turkish Historical Society, Ankııı'ıı.
t999.
AKTAN, Ali, "Bahri Mamluklerden Sultan Kalavun ve Hanedanı'',
Belleten, Vol. LI X, Ankara, 1995:605620.
AKTAN, Ali, "MamI uklularda Saltanat Değişikliği Usulii'',
Atatürk Üniversitesi ilahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, Sayı 9, [ ,)l'
zurum, l99O:210279.
AMI TAI PREI SS, Reuven, Mongols and Mamluks: The Maılı
lukI lhanid War, 1260128I , Cambridge University Prcss,
Cambridge , 1995: 214235.
ATALAR, Münir KELEŞ, Bahattin, "Memlükler Döneminclı.:
Kullanılan Paralar ve lJygulanan Kredi Sistemleri", Kazıılı
Yaşar Kopraman'a Armağan, E'd. E. Semih YALÇI N, Aıı
kara,2003: I 31148.
AYALON, David, "Memlük Devletinde Kölelik Sistemi'', Treıns
lated by Samira Koı1anLamer' Tarih lncelemeleri Dergisı,
Vol. I V lzmir, 1989: 2ll241
CARPI NI , Johann de Plano, Moğol Tarihi ve Seyahatname (l24.5.
124'7 ), Tran sl ated by Ergin Ayan, Tr abzon, 2003
CLOT, Andre, Kölelerin imparatorluğu Memlüklerin Mısırı,
Translated by Turhan llgaz,I stanbul, 2005.
DALAX Chuluunii, Oirad Mongoliin Tuuh, Ulaanbaatar, 2000.
GROUSSET Ren6, Bozkır imparatorluğu, Translated by R. l] z
KANAT, Cüneyt, "Gazan lHan Zamanlnda Mamluk Devleti'ne
iltica Eden Uyratlar", Tarih incelemeleri Dergisi' Vol' XV
I zmiı2000: 105120.
KoPRAMAN, Kazim Y., "Mıslr Memlükieri (12501517)",
Doğuştan Günümüze Büyük islam Tarihi, Vol' VI , I stanbul,
1981 433543.
KORTANTAMER, Samira, Bahri Mamluklarda Ust Yönetim
Mensuplaıı ve Aralarındaki iıişkiıer, I zmir, | 993
A'D'
MLI I R, Wiliiam, The Mameluke of Slave Dynasty of Egypt
126015ll,Amsterdam, 1968.
NORTHRUP, Linda S., The Bahri Mamluk Sultanate, 12501390,
Ed. Carl F. Petry, Cambridge University Press Vol:I I slamic
"
Egypt, 1998.
SPULER, Bertold, iran Moğolları, Translated by Cemal Köprülü'
THS, Ankara,198'7.
SüMER Faruk,'Anadoluda Moğollar'', Selçuklu Araştırmalan
Dergisi, Vol. I , Ankara, l91O: 6566'
TEK| NDAĞ, M. C. Şehabeddin, "Mamluk Sultanlığı Tarihine Toplu
BirBakrş,,,SpecialI ssuefromTarihDergisiVolXXV:1l9.
YUVALI , Abdülkadir, ilhanlı1ar Tarihi I (Kuruiuş Devri), Kay
seri, 1994.
.
.
men, I stanbul, 1999.
GUMI LYOV L. N., Muhayyel Hükümdarlığın izinde, Translatctl
by Ahsen Batur, I stanbul, 2002.
438
Vo1. 18 (39), 2006
439
AN I NTERNATI ONALANNUAL OF MONGOL STUDI ES
Vol. 18 (39), 2006
I SSN 10243143
nüİ } ıurf;} LwffiF&
Vol. 18 (39), 2006
A SPECI AL I SSUE CONTAI NI NG THE PAPERS OF
THE 9th I NTERNATI ONAL CONGRESS OF
MONGOLI STS CONVENED UNDER THE
PATRONAGE OF
N.ENKHBAYAR, PRE,SI DENT OF MONGOLI A
(812 August, 2006, Ulaanbaatar)
Ulaanbaatar
Secretariat of the I ntemational
Association for Mongol Studies
MONGOLI CI A. Vol 18 (39),2006
MONGOLI CA Vol.l8 (39). 2006
A MoNGot. S{ JI jTAN I N EGYPT: AL_MALI K
ZEYNEDDI N KETBUGHA ALMANSURI
L_^ l} ıı '
^ l] ()(ıl
(1294
EKREM KALAN (TURKEY)
Mamluk state, which has a prominent position in thc Wııılıl'a
history, is unique from the other political foımations duc ltı ils ıııı
derstandi
n g of soveri gn ty and admini
strative structure. Ad ıı ı i ı l s l ı lı
tive structure, which was constructed on the mamluk systcııı rvııa
ı
based on the principle that the Strong, successful and authrııiıt.ııiııı
mamluks to participate in the state administration, rather thıııı lı ııllı,
breeding from the dynasty. These mamluks, who üsed to bc st.lı.ı l
ed among the bought or Captured slaves when they were c[ ıiltlıt.ıı,
used to serve long years in the Mamluk Aımy, after going t[ ıırııı;ilı
a good military training and I slamic education. Therefore thc ııılly
feature of a Mamluk Sultan was nothing beyond proceedınş, tlıt,
other emirs by way of hıs military and political SuCCeSSeS. I n tıllıt.ı
words, Mamluk Suıltans, had to take their power from themsclvt.s,
because that they didn't have a strong famiiyr.
This is a System that developed within the I slamic ciıclc iıııtl
has no similarto have this name out of the I slamic ladscape. llt.
Cause of the mamluk System, sorce and research works have bct.ıl
naming this state as Mamiuks, Kölemens etc.
l Ali AKTAN, "Memlıı.klıılurrla
| .esi Dergisi, tr/ ol.9,
Saltunaı Değişiktiği LI SLülii", At(ltiirk üııiversitesi ilahivul tI lü^ üıl
Erzıırıun' l990, p. 272.
424
Mamluk State, which has an impoıtant role in terms of the
Mongolian history also, caused that the Mongols had tasted their
lirst serious defeat, as a result of the victory that they gained
lıgainst the I lhan Army in 1260, at the location named as 'Ayn
.lalut. Ketbugha, though, in spite of this defeat, could sit on the
Mamluk throne 34 yeras after the battle, by means of the sys
tcm mentioned above. I t is, therefore extremely interesting, even
lhough for a shoıt period, that a Mongol origined sultan had ruled
in Egypt. Ketbugha has been the first and the only Mongolian
sultan to ascend to the Egyptian Mamluk throne.
A. 'Ayn Jalut War aııd Ketbugha's Actions Before Ascend'
ing to Mamluk Throne
After the capturing of Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasid
Caliphate, by the Mongolian army under the command of Hülegü
in 1258, Hülegü had to march on to Syria and Egypt' in order the
plan prepared by Möngge Khan to Hülegü to be accomplished2.
According to this plan Mongolian armies had started to push on
the gates of Haleppo and Damascus. After the conquests of Ha
leppo in December 1259 and Damascus on March l, 1260, now
the I lhanMamluk encounter was inevitable.
Hülegü, who established his regin over many Syrian cities
beginning with Haleppo and f)amascus, prepared a delegation
of emissaries and sent to Sultan Qutuz of Mamluks, for Egypt,
the second paı1of his campaign' aS per the traditional Mongolian
politics. By means of this delegation, after listing what Mongol
Khans did, beginning with Chinggis Khan, and his own successes,
informed sultan that he should be prepared for the battle, unless
he pays annual tributes, in otheı words to state his ioyalty3.
Reıığ GRo| JSSET, Bozlrır impurtıtorltığıı, Tı'ıınslalecl by R. Uzıııen, I strıııbııI , l999' p. 342
YI JVALI , ilhanlılar ku"ihi I (Kıırulı.ış Deı'ri)' Kıry'seri, 1994, p. 86.
AbıJiiLkadir
'
:
A)<
MONGOLI CA. Vol.l8 (39), 2006
MONGOLI CA. Vo1.l8 (39), 2006
Meanwhile information about the death of Möngge Khıııı.
the older brother of Hülegü Khan aırived. Due to the strugglts
on the throne between Kubilay and Ank Buka, the two brotlıı"ıı.s
of Möngge Khan after his death, Hülegü jouıneyed back to Kııı.ıı
korum, the capital of the Mongolian Empire, leaving Ketbuglııı
Noyan in Syria in the command of a Tumen.
At the same time, Qutuz in the Mamluk Palace had consıılüctl
his emirs, and got Hülegü's envoys killed as a result of the Comm()lI
decision of war. According to the Chinggis'Yasa this is, as statcrl
by Caıpini: "I t is the Custom of the Tatars never to make peiıCtl
with men who kill their envoys, until they have taken vengeancc ()ıl
them.a" I n other words, now the war between the paı1ies becarııc
absolutely inevitable. Finally the two aımies encountered on Sc1ı
tember 3, 1260, at a place called Ayn Jalut near Taberiyyes.
Here, history became upside down. Mongols had a serirırıs
defeat for the first time. They fought with their familiar valianccı,
but they were pressed under the numerical superiority of thr:
Mamluk aımy. As the defeated Mongolian army was dispersctl,
most of the Mongolian waıriors were ens1aved.6 Among the cap
tives was a Mongol youth named Ketbugha who was enrolled iıl
the mamluks of the amir Qalawun, and was later to become sultaıı
in his own right (6946112941296).1
Along with the battle of 'Ayn Jalut, Mongolian progress iıı
the MiddleEast was stopped and in the west, the belief about thr:
Mongolians can not be defeated was knocked down. From this
a
j
Johaıııı de Plaııo CARPI NI , Moğol Turihi ve Seyahalname (1245t247), Tıuıslatecl by Ergiıı
Ayaıı, Trcıbzcın, 2003, p. 85'
Bertolıl SPI JLER, iran Moğolları, Tıaııslatecl b'y CemcıI Köpriilii, Aııkara, t987, p. 67.
ABB] 'LFARAC, Abü'l| arac Tarihi, Traııslutecl by ğmer R. Doğrul, Vol. I ] , Ankıırıı'
l999, p.576' L N. GUM] LYOV' Muha1ı'vel HiikiimılnI ığın i:iıule, Trunslure,l by Alıseıı Bcıüııı;
6 Gregoı'ı
point of view the battle of 'Ayn Jalut is an extremely important
battle in terms of both Mongolian and the world's history. And the
impoıtance of this battle from our point of view is that' the young
Mongolian that we mentioned above and would appear with the
name alMalik alAdil Zeyneddin Ketbugha alMansuri as the
Mamluk suitan, was among the war slaves.
There is no infoımation in the sources, about what experi
enÇes young Ketbugha Survived after being enslaved, yet we Can
make forecastes about the young ages of Ketbugha, thinking how
the Mamluk system used to work. Mamluk or the military slavery
system is a formation that developed within the I slamic circle and
had no parallel out of the I slamic area. According to the mamluk
system, the slaves that were captured or sold in the slavery bazaars
are the people candidate to be mamluk. Most probably Ketbugha
should be bought by Emir Qalawun at the slavery bazaar, aftet
being enslaved in the Battle of 'Ayn Jalut. But here two different
practices will apply. Either Ketbugha, after being bought by Emir
"Tabaka", in order
Qalawun was sent to the military school called
to become a waırior as well as the other mamluks, had military
training and I slamic education there until the adolescent age, lib
erated after completing his education, and was appointed to the
mamluk unit of Qalawun. Or he might have stayed at Qawalun's,
gaining his trust and symphaty, to be trained aiong with his chil
dren. I n both cases, he became Emir Qalawun's mamluks'
Along with the enthronation of Qalaw un in 1219, the way for
Ketbugha to be enthroned in future became clear. And Ketbugha
will not faii to benefit this oppoı1unity as Soon aS he found it'
After the death of Sultan Qalawun in tr'290' the emirs suc
cedeed his son elMelik elEshref Khalil to the Mamluk Throne
] sıunbul, 2002, p. 227.
7
] { eııveıı AM] TAl'PRE| SS, Mongols aııd Manılııks. The MunıtukI I hanitl War, 1260128] , Cuııı'
bridge, 1995, p.51.
426
İ Dıı,it} AYAL)N' ''MeınI fik Deı,I etintle Kijlelik Sisıenıi'', kaııslııled hv Sunıira Kortaııttııııer,
'farih iııcelcnıeleri Dergisi, Vol. 4, I zmiı, l989, p.2l} '234'
421
MONGOLI CA
MONGOLI CA. Vol.i8 (39)' 2006
Vot. tx (lq)" 2006
in his place. Dunng this change of throne Ketbugha hatl
;ıııııı.ıl ır,ılİ ı
the mam] uks of Sultan Khalil. Even though Sultan Klı;ılıl ıvııq ıı
brave warırior person' he got cross with the emirs ftıı lıt. lı,lı;ıveıl
very harshly to the state officials and emirs. Thking the ııtlv;ıııl;ıpı, ı ıl
Sultan going out for hunting, emırs I i ke Baydara, Nogay' l l tıs;ıı ı ıt'ı
l
din Lachin chased and killed him (December 13, I 2g3).
After killing Sultan Khalil, killer emirs decided I } :ıyıl;ıı;ı lıı
become sultan and swore an oath of loyalty. As a respcıntl ltı lıll ııf
these developments, mamluks of Sultan Khalil movecl ttı lıv;lıı;ıt:
their master, headed by Emir Zeyneddin Ketbugha. As ıı ı.t.sıı| l ııİ
the battle Baydara was killed and the other emirs that sıı1l1ıııılt,ıl
him had to escape.9 After achieving this SuCCeSS, whiltl
1ıt,ıl1ı| ı,
used to expect that EmirZeyneddin Ketbugha become suütıııı' ı,] ııııı
Shujai, one of the mamluks of Sultan Khalil and the leaclcı. ııl llıl,
Burji Mamluks prevented it.l0 When the two emirs could n()l ııVı.|
come each other, Muhammed, nine years old brother ot' Klı;ılıl
was enthroned with the name Nasyr; and the strongest emirs wcır.
appointed to the most prominent positions of the state.ll Niısyı,
had a make up reign in his first rule. Ketbugha was aS regcııl
:ııııl
Shujai was both the governor of the city and vizier. Thus thc ır.;ıl
administration was in the hands of these two emirs.12
' Ali AKTAN, "Bahri Manı!uklerı] en Sıılıtın Kulcıvun y,e İ I tuıeı] uııı", BeI I eteıı, Vol. LI X, AııI iııııı,
İ 995, p. 226.
j| } Kazını
Y' KoPRAMAN,
"Mısır Manılııkleri (I 250l5} 7)''' Doğışıuıı
Gii] liin1iize Biiviili i:l,ıııı
Turilıi. VııI . l'l. p.476
1I
Samiru KORTANTAMER, Balıri Muınlııklıırr] a Üsl Yöııetiın Mensu7ılıırı
ve Arolarındaki
ilişkıl,'ı,
I znıir' ] 993, p. 26, Liııdıı S. NjRTI LRUP, The Bahri Meınluk
Sııhanrıle, t250'] 390, Ec!. (.rıı t l,
()unbritlge (iniı,ersin; Pıe,ss tr/ ol. I I sluınic
Egrpt, p. 252.
'.Pel4:,
l2
WilI kun MLI ] R. The Mcımelııke oJ Sloı,e DynusE ij'ı,gyp' ı.o
] 2601517' Aınslerc] am, ] 96,\ '
p 17.
B Ketbugha's Ascending to Mamluk Throne and Sultan
Ketbugha's RoI e in the BahrtBurjt Mamluks Strııggle
Mamluk State was a Turkish state that ruled in Egypt and
syria during 12501517. Though, while the state administration
was in the hands of Bahr? Mamluks, the monarchs of the Turkish
origin, from the formation of the state until 1382, it was grasped
by the chirkassian monarchs from that year on. Hence the Mam
lıık State after 1382 is named as Burji Mamluks.l]
There had been a struggle of long years between Bahri and
Burji Mamluks, and Emir Ketbugha had piayed a effective role
against the Burji Mamluks. One of the reasons why Ketbugha was
in struggle with Shujai was to have the rul ein hand, and the other
was that Shujai was the leader of the Burji Mamluks. After a shoıt
while a jealousy and struggle for rule started to be experienced be
t\ ,.een these to strong emirs. While Shujai was trying to increase
his power, joining the Emirs of Burj? Mamluks in the country un
der his administration, Ketbugha was trying to pull other emirs to
wards himself.la Even though Emir Senjer Shujaı tried to remove
Ketbugha at first, could not achieve it. Therefore Emir Ketbugha
sent men to Sultan Nasyr and said: "senjer eshShujai arrests emir
for no iogical reasons. He must appear in your presence"' As Shu
jai avoided going to the suitan's presence, Emir Ketbugha sieged
Kalatu'lJebel. Emir Ketbugha, convincing Sultan Nasyr who was
a littie child during the siege, grasped shujai, who was in Kal'at ul
kgStıltcınQcılaıı,tııhtu] .oııesİ oı'ıso1,sthulhe
cho"'e 3700
hcıd 7 lhousoıııl, hııt rıct:onliııg tcl tlıe ııt] ıer, he acıııall, lıatl ] 2 thousıuld. QcıI aıı'un
ıııtıııılııks ı4'hgse origiııs ure Cirt:tıssklıl aııtl Altuı, ulııl eınplucecl ı!ıenı oıı İ lıe bııstioııs o'l'capiıal
ııııdgııı,cnunrc(I SolBurjiy1ıe.Soıhtıl,Rıu.liMcıınluks'ııtıııler'oınes.froıııtlıeseıııunılıık's.For
nıore clalcıiI s see Krızuıı Y. KOPRAMAN, lbid, p' 50l '
1! W,illiaııı ML] I R,'I 'he Maınelukc rıf Sltıve D'vnasly ot' Eg1pt A.D. 1260'] 517, Anısterıltını, ] 968,
p. 43
428
429
MONGOLI CA. Vol.l 8 (39), 2006
MON(I OLI CA. Vol.l 8 (39), 2006
Jebel then and killed him. After grasping and killing Emir Shtıjlıı,
Ketbugha became the strongest emir in the state.15
After this development, Emir Husameddin Lachin, onc ııl
the ki] lers of Sultan Khalil, got in touch with Ketbugha and 1ıırı
voked him against Suitan Nasyr, also in order to save himstrll.
too. I nffuenced by this contact, Ketbugha gathered emirs, stılııı1ı
that mamluks started to violate the rights of the citizens, foı' tlıııt
Sultan Nasyr was too young, unrest and rebels started within tltt.
Country, and had that Sultan Nasyr wsa dethroned and himscll'ttı
be set to the Mamluk Throne obtaining the confirmations (lrıııı
the emirs.'6
After the child Sultan Nasyr was dethroned, he was sen( ttı
the Fort Kerek in Syria.I 7 And Ketbugha, who was left al] himstıll
without any competitors, with a great Ceremony, set on the Mı'ıııl
luk State's throne on December 1, 1294 with the name alMclilt
al_Adil Zeyneddin Ketbugha alMansuıi.
Sultan Ketbugha, paid attention to the policy of being in hiıı.
mony with the emirs, which was the most impoıtant conditıon tıı
stay as long on the throne. Hence, as soon as he was enthronecl, hc
tried to attract Mamluk emirs towards himself wıth sweet worrls
and smiling face. After sending Sultan Nasyr and his mother ttı
Kerek in order to passify him, he appointed Husameddin Lachiıı
to the viceroyalty and handed the state affairs to him, and maclc
Fahreddin alKhalil his vizier.l8
Still, instead of his positive approach to the emirs, two ını
plotant incidents during his rule of two years Caused his dethron:ı_
tion. Fırst is the famine and epidemy, occured as the rise of tht:
l'Saıııira KORTAN7AMI iR, Bıhri Munlııklurıkı
Üst Yİ jııetiııı Meıısıııll.I ü'ü vf ,Jl'LılLlI I üı.] akı jti.ıkiL,ı
harvest was
prices as a result of the level of Niie went down and the
is that
reason
not satisfactory in the first year of his rule. The second
of his kin
Ketbugha was of the Mongol ongin and accepted Oirad
toEgypt.Below,wewilldiscussthesetwoincidentsindetail'
C. Famine in Egypt in Ketbugha's Era
The biggest unlucy that the Ketbugha experienced was'
doubt'thefamineandepiclemyofplaguethatCamealongwithit,
inthefirstyearofhisrule.I nthesummerof1295'forthewater
of
level of River Nile went down and because of the insufficiency
floodsthatusedtocaffyprosperaluvionstothedesert'enough
harvestcouldnotbeobtained.I nparalleltothis,abigfamine
wassurvivedinEgypt.Becauseofthefaminelived,inflationwas
increased,andtheunıuckydevaluationofthemonetaryunitmade
the conditions of the people even worse. I n the
reaceduptotentimes.Alongwithallofthese,similartoallother
the famine.ie
famine p".iod* , an epidemy of plague came right after
used to
According to the sources mentioned, only in cairo thusands
die each Jay. And this case spreaded until Syria'20
gave way to upcomings' Suffenng screams of a hungry
Hunger
Societywasheardinthemarketandbazaar.Ketbughabroughtcorps
fromConstantinople.Butthiswasnotenoughtoremovethedisease.
Along with the devaluation, a new coins of cupper called
mon_
fulüs were introduced in Mamluk State. This was the lowest
17
Scımira KOR1ANTAMER, I bid, p. 5().
:{ ,
] n
Kıı.:ıııı
Mı.sı'ı, Tı'aııslatetl by Tıı'han I lgaz, I sI aıı
Aıır] re CLTT, Kt)lelerin ] mpor(furluğü! MeınLiilıleriıı
h,ıl' } 005. p. "6.
lbkl, p. 479.
Ka:,n Y. KoPRAMAN,
kıı'ihi.
430
four along with
year, increases in prices
the ielivery of the harvest. The foliowing
lu
Y. KOPİ l'4I I .I AN,
first year of famine'
the prices of meat ,n.1"hi.k"' was multiplied by
crisis was lived in
the prices of wheat and other colps, and a serious
I :ııir lQo] ,, Jt)
l'Kazıııı Y. KOPRAMAN' I biıl. p 178.
no
Vol. 14, p.
,'Mısır Menıliılrleri (t250'1517)'', Doğıışttııı Giiıilınii:e Biiıiili ] 'ıkını
479
4.3 I
MONGOLI CA. Vol.l 8 (39), 2006
MONGOLI CA. Vol. 18 (39), 2006
etary Value in circulation within the Mamluk State. As the pctı1ılr
did not really pay attention to his new money, Sultan Ketbııglıiı
wanted to make difference in the value of fulüs. But again ıııı
body took fulüs seriously and merchants started to make their.jtılı
in terms of trading goods.2t
Considering all of these, it is going to be easy to undersliıııtl
why the society was reactive to Sultan Ketbugha as a result ol'ılıc
famine, economical straits and epidemy of plague. While all tıl
these were present, accepting of sultan Ketbugha approximatcly
10 thousand oirads to Egypt and that they were not muslims, ııı
creased the reactions of the emirs and the people for good.
D. I mmigration of oirats to Mamluk Realm and Relatioıı
ship Between Ketbugha and Oirats
Oirads, being a forest tribe among Mongols, had joined Ch
inggis Khan in 120'7.22 west bound march of the oirads occurctl
by the beginning of XI I I th century. with the westward campaig,
of Chinggis Khan, oirad people had stepped into Turkmenistıııı
for the first time. By the ends of xI I I th century, some oirads thar
followed Ang Bökhö (Arık Buka) and Haidu staı1ed to live in thıt
region.23 And after foundation of I lkhan state, they accepted thc
I lkhan supremacy.
A great portion of the Mongolian brigade in Diyarbekiı.
province was made up of oirads. These oirads, according ttı
the sources, had take refuge in Mamluk state for two differenr
reasons. First, according to historitian of Mamluk state era hacl
pointed; during the struggle between Geyhatu and Baidu, oirads
:I Miinir
ATALAR, Bahattiıı KELEŞ, "Meınliikler Döııeminde Kullaııılıuı Paralar ve (Jygulıınıııı
Kredi Sistemleri'', Kazıın Yaşar Kopraman'ıı Armağan, Ectiıor E' Senih YAL3I N' p.
lii.
] 2
Moııgoliiıı Nuuts Tııvç, Red. Sh. Gauılıımlla, (Jlaanbaaıaı; l990, p. 208.
23
Chıılııunii DALAY, oırad Mongılliiıı Tııııh, L} laanbaaI ar, 2000' p. 39.
432
had supported Baydu. When Baydu, whom Oirads had supported
iater on during the BaiduGazan struggle, lost the struggle, and
Gazan set on the I lkhan throne, Oirads under Turgay's command
escaped from Gazan Khan to provide their security, and took ref
uge of Mamluk State.2a
I n another source, the History of Ebu'lFaraj, it says that
Oirads had attacked on some Turkmens and looted their goods
during Baidu's era, but when Gazan Khan was enthroned, as per
the complains he allowed Turkmens to take their looted goods
back from Oirads.2s But Oirads, for already have consumed all
of those good, could not retum them and attacked on Turkmens.
I n the aftermath of this they took everything they have with them
and fleeded into Syria.26
As seen in both of the cases Oirads had some kind of problem
with the GazanKhan and had to run away. Therefore we can say that
things written in both of the sources are related with each other. The
why is, for they had supported Baidu during BayduGazan struggle,
they were hesitated when Gazan became the Khan, and when Gazarı
Khan staıted to make pressure on them, aS per the complaints from
the Turkmens, they ran away from the region between Baghdad and
Mosul, where they used to live, headed by their leader Turgay.27
Main reason why Oirads wanted to take refuge in the Mam
luk State should be that then Sultan Zeyneddin Ketbugha was on
the Mamluk State's throne. First news about that they entered into
the Mamluk lands in 1295 arrived to Sultan Ketbugha in January
of 1296. After the detection demand of the Oirads, Sultan Ket
:J Ciiııey| KANAT, "Gazan I '!aıı kııııanıııdu Mrınılıık DqI eıi'ne j!ıir'a EcI eı, LI ı'roıI ar'', Tarih
jnı:eleıneleri Dergisİ , VoL XV, I zmiı, 2000, p. 107l08.
jran MoğoI I arı, Trnızskııeıİ by Cenıul Kiipriilü, Ankara, 1987, p. } 06
'j Berıold SPL] LER,
26
Gregoı1, enÜ'ırınsc' Abü'lFarac Turihi, Truıs!ııteıL b7 onıer R. Doğrul' l/ ol. I I ' Ankara,
1999, p. 658659.
, Farıık SÜMER, "Anaclolııda Moğolkır", SelçukI ıı Araştııınııları Dergisi, YoI . I , Ankuru, ] 970,
p. 6566.
433
MoNGoLI CA.
Vcıi. l 8 (39), 2006
MONGOLI CA. Vol.1 8 (39), 2006
bugha gathered his emirs and negotiated about the Oiraci ciıst. ;ıııı|
policy to be applied. According to that; it was decided thlıt ( )ıı;ıtl
leaders be called to Egypt and the remainings be settlccl lıy llıı.
coastal area and Syrian lands out of that.
As per this decision, Sultan Ketbugha Sent Some of his tlılııılı
to Damascus, to meet oirad leader Turgay, and lords callccl ( iıılı
tay and U] us. These oirad lords were met along with big ccltllıı.ıı
tions and settled in Damascus for a while. And the other ()ıı'iııls
waiting near Damascus were settled to a place called Aslis ııı
Pa] estine. These Oirads iater on joined with the local peoplc lııııl
lost their national features a good deal.2s But the oirads scltI t.ıl
to Cairo have used the adventage of being in the capital city ııııtl
took role in the political incidents.
For the first time in Cairo it was witnessed a Mongtıliiııı
sultan accepted people from his own kin and se] ecting his ııllııı
among them. The most improtant of the reasons why Ketbııglı;ı
accepted Oirads was that he wanted to use Oirads in his strugglt.
against Burji Mamluks. For this purpose, he provided very ı.icll
iktas (estate) to oirads and so aimed to weaken the Buı1i Maııı
luks, but in the end, even emirs that used to support Ketbııglıil
made initiations against him.2e
Ketbugha supported Oirads, in order them to provide a mat
ter of balance against Burji Mamluks, and appointed them tıı
the important positions, which used to be occupied by the Buıji
Mamluks. But Oirads, even though they had Came to Mamlrılı
State as refuğees had gained powel in shoı1 time, by the suppclı.t
and previlages they obtained from suitan Ketbugha and startccl
to be strong on the throne and state affairs. They made Sultiıı'ı
:3
ciinq)t KI NAT. I bid, p. lll1J3.
M. C. Şehahecİ tlin TEKİ NDAĞ' 'Maın!ıık Sıılr,ın/ ığı T,ırıhiııe Toplıı Bü.Bcılrış'', Speciııl
fronı Tarih Dergi,si LoI . XXL| p. l4
)9
] | 'Cii.ııayı KANA'| ,
I hitl' p I ] 1t} 5.
Ketbugha accept their ideas, and make activities without sultan's
knowledge, having no doubt or fear of him. All of these incidents
disturbed other Mamluk Emirs very much, and they could not
accept the idea the Oirads were determinant in the state admin
istration. Thus, the hostility between oirads and Mamluk Emirs
became harsher every other daY.
I n addition to that, in the Mamluk State, which was a mus
lim land, non muslim Oirads' life styles and traditions were not
welcome by the majority. Because Oirads were not fasting dur
ing the Ramadan of 1296, some Mamluk Emirs met with sultan
Ketbugha and staterl that Oirads must accept I slam. But as a result
of Sultan Ketbugha's meeting with Turgay, the leader of Oirads,
Turgay didn't accept to become muslim. Therefore the anger that
the Mamluk Emirs and state structure used to feed against Sultan
Ketbugha became stronger.3o Meanwhile, people used to believe
that the famine was a sing of God's wrath against the person, who
accepted Mongolian blasphemers to the I slamic land.3t
I n a shoı1 whi] e, as various feasons Carrıe together, people
started to hate Ketbugha and want that his rule to come to an end.
The way he accepted more than 10 thousand Oirads to his state in
a time when thousands of people died every day, showing closer
interest to them, trying to make the status of their leaders equal
to the other Mamluk Emirs and award them many previiages at
tracted the reaction of both emirs and the people.32 Besides, con
sidering the still fresh memories of Mongolian attacks in peoples
memories and still present I lkhan treat, we can easily understand
the increase in the reactions against Ketbugha.
jufısırı, Trıııısluted by hırhun llguz, lstun'
Arulre CLOT, KöI eI eriıı hııpartıorlıı.ğtı MenıLiikleriıı
bııl. )005' p 76'
J: Kıı:ını Y KoPk4] iAN, "Mısu Meııılijkleri (1250l5t7)", Doğııştaıı Gİ iııiinıiize Biiyiik I sI anı
)|
ls.sııc'
Tarihi, l/ ol. VI , p.179.
434
435
MONGOLI CA. Vol.i8 (39), 2006
MONGOLI CA. Vol. l8 (39). 2006
bugha killed and set him free. For this case Sultan Lachin
E. The Dethronation of Sultan Ketbughafromthe Mamlıık
State Throne
While these problems were valid in Mamluk State, Sı"ıltiııı
Ketbugha decided to take a trip in Syria in August 1296. SııI tıııı
Ketbugha arrived in Damascus on September 14 and dismissr:tl
Viceroy of Damascus from his position. Again he show cltıstıı'
interest to Oirads by the way.33
MeanwhileViceroy Husameddin Lachin, who was convincotl
that he became strong enough took advantaüe of the conditi< ıns
that occured against Suitan Ketbugha, and provoking the oppıı
sition in the public opinion. Because Husameddin Lachin usctl
to believe that he had as much equal right on the throne as Kct
..Should we want to catch Ketbugha, it wouldn,t be something
hard for us, but we iet him, because he is one of our brothers"'
Theredoesn,texistmuchinformationonthesourcesabout
with both
the life of Ketbugh a after that time. He had to struggle
famineandeconomicalproblems,andappointedoiradsofhis
provided them
own kin to different positions in Mamluk state and
in the Mam
very large previlages, during the two years of his rule
lukstate's throne. And all of these prepared the end of Ketbugha.
I s
Even Ketbugha was enslaved when he was very young' took
lamic education and occupied prominent positions in the Mamluk
that he was
State structure, neither he nor the people never forgot
of the Mongolian origin.3s
bugha, for he had share in the dethronation of Sultan Nasyr. Alicı'
strenghtening his position enough, he tought that wating longcı'
would be of no use, and taking the advantage of Sultan Ketbughı
being in Syria as well, he planned a plot to kill Sultan Ketbughıı
in his arrival to Egypt. Sultan Ketbugha noticed the plot at a placc
called elLejjün near Taberiyye, and fleeded to Damascus (Ntı
vember 15,1296).34
While Sultan Ketbugha was escaping to the castle of Dı_
mascus, I eaders of the army joined with Lachin. Lachin graspccl
Ketbugha's treasury. Lachin declared his sultanate on the samc
day. And Ketbugha, after dweelled in Damascus for a while, went
to Serhad by the permission of the new sultan and became the
viceroy of that place by the folder sent by the new sultan. Becausc
Lachin and Ketbugha were mamluks liberated by the same mastoı'
(Qalawun), in other words "Hushdash", Lachin didn't get Kct
rl Ciineü KANAT, I bid, p. l l 6 l l7.
ja
Kızun y KOPRAMAN'
Jj Cüneyt
I biıI ' p. 180
436
stated:
KANAT lbid, p. l 17.
431
MONGOLI CA.
MONGOLI CA Vol.l8 (39), 2006
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439