History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 101, Beibars attacks.

Hello again.

Last week we saw the rise to power of Rakin Adin Babars.

Sultan Babars territory now stretches all the way from his capital in Cairo to northern Syria. With his realm secured and consolidated, Babas sets his sights on his two

enemies in the region, the Mongols and the Franks.

Now most Muslim leaders in the past had been content to arrange peace treaties with the

crusader states, leaving them to maintain their presence in the holy land.

Not Baybars.

He viewed the busy commercial port cities in the crusade estates as centres which could be incorporated into Muslim territory.

The Latin Christians controlled a strip of fertile land running down the coast of the Mediterranean.

Beibars wanted to drive them from this strip of land.

With Hulagu's Mongol army still a potent force, Beibars knew he had to bite his time.

Instead, in the early 1260s, Babas looked further afield and tried his hand at international diplomacy.

Unsurprisingly, the first person he reached out to was King Manfred of Sicily, the illegitimate son of Emperor Frederick II, who had deposed young Conraden as ruler of Sicily and Acre.

The Egyptians had enjoyed a close relationship with Emperor Frederick and Manfred seemed of a similar disposition.

Hoping to encourage the growing split between Manfred and the Paper Sea and perhaps reduce the chance of Europe

mounting another crusade in aid of the beleaguered Latin Christians of the crusader states, Beas sent an envoy to Sicily bearing gifts for King Manfred.

The overture was successful and Babas and Manfred ensured that strong ties continued to exist between

Sicily and Egypt.

Bebars also reached out to arrival of Hulagu, the Mongol ruler of a region on the southern Russian steps, Burke Khan.

Burke Khan had converted to Islam and was currently in conflict with his neighbor

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