History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 102, the fall of Antioch.

Hello again.

Last week we saw the Egyptian Sultan Babars attack Christian positions in the Middle East. Numerous raids saw him win territory from the Kingdom of Acre, with the regent of the kingdom, hue of Antioch, seemingly

powerless to prevent even strongly fortified castles falling into Mamluk Hands.

Last week's episode culminated in a devastating attack on the Kingdom of Armenia by Sultanibars. Having dealt Armenia a blow from which it would never really recover,

Sultan Beibars turned his attention to the Principality of Antioch. Like Armenia, the Principality

of Antioch had actively supported Khanhulagu, and like Armenia it was about to feel the wrath of the Mamluks.

Early in the year 1268 Sultan Beibars, once again led his army out of Egypt.

By this stage the only town south of Acre still in Latin Christian hands was Jaffa, now an isolated Latin Christian

outpost on the coast.

Beibars had been on friendly terms with the Lord of Jaffa, John of Iblen, but John had died a couple of years back in 1266. John's son, Gee, had inherited the town and hoped that he might be able to reach

some sort of understanding with the Mamluks. But he hoped in vain. On the 7th of March 1268, the Mamluk Army appeared outside the city walls and a mere 12 hours later it was added to the list

of Babar's conquests. While many citizens were slain, the garrison of the city was allowed to escape northwards to acre.

Beabars then set about demolishing the town, with much of its marble and wood being sent back to Egypt,

where it was used to construct a mosque in Cairo.

Next in Beabar's sites was the Cairo.

Next in Beba's sites was the strongly fortified castle of Beaufort.

The castle managed to hold out for ten days before falling to the Mamluks.

Bebaz let the women and children inside the castle leave unharmed,

but he captured the men and turned them into slaves. Like the strategically important

former Templar castle suffered, Beibars didn't destroy Beaufort, but instead ordered it to be repaired and

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