View source for Al-Adil Kitbugha

{{Short description|Sultan of Egypt and Syria (r. 1294–1296)}}
{{About|the Sultan of Egypt|the first Ayyubid sultan called al-Adil|Al-Adil I|the Mongol leader Kitbuqa Noyan|Kitbuqa}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name            = Kitbugha <br/> كتبغا
| full name       = al-Malik al-Adil Zayn-ad-Din Kitbugha Ben Abd-Allah al-Mansuri al-Turki al-Mughli
| image           =
| image_size      =
| caption         =
| succession      = [[List of Mamluk sultans|Sultan of Egypt]]
| reign           = December 1294 – 7 December 1296
| regent          =
| predecessor     = [[An-Nasir Muhammad]]
| successor       = [[Lajin]]
| spouse          =
| issue           =
| house           =
| dynasty         = [[Bahri dynasty|Bahri]]
| father          =
| mother          =
| birth_date      =
| birth_place     =
| death_date      = 1303
| death_place     = [[Hama]]
| place of burial =
| religion        = [[Islam]]
}}
[[File:Bahri Dynasty 1250 - 1382 (AD).PNG|thumb|200px|Dominion of Bahri Mamluks (shown in red)]]
'''Kitbugha''' ({{langx|ar|كتبغا}}), royal name: '''al-Malik al-Adil Zayn-ad-Din Kitbugha Ben Abd-Allah al-Mansuri al-Turki al-Mughli'''; {{langx|ar|الملك العادل زين الدين كتبغا  بن عبد الله المنصورى التركى المغلى}}) (died 1303 CE) was the 10th [[Mamluk]] [[sultan]] of [[Egypt]] from December 1294 to November 1296.
==Background==
[[File:Mongol soldiers by Rashid al-Din 1305.JPG|150px|thumb|Mongol soldiers. BnF. MS. Supplément Persan 1113. 1430-1434 AD.]]
He was originally a [[Mongol]] (al-Turki al-Mughli) soldier in the [[Ilkhan]]id army of [[Hulagu]]. He was taken prisoner during the [[First Battle of Homs]] in 1260.<ref name="ReferenceA">Ibn Taghri, Sultanante of al-nasir Muhammed.</ref> He was purchased by [[Qalawun]] and became one of his Mamluks then later Qalawun manumitted him and granted him the rank of [[Emir]].<ref>(Al-Maqrizi - Al-Khitat Al-Maqiziyah, p. 388/vol.3) - (Ibn Taghri, Sultanante of al-nasir Muhammed)</ref>
During the reign of Qalawun's son Sultan [[Al-Ashraf Khalil]], he was arrested and released.<ref>Al-Maqrizi, p.218 & p.222 /vol.2</ref> In 1293, after the assassination of Al-Ashraf Khalil, Kitbugha became the Vice-Sultan and Regent of Sultan [[Al-Nasir Muhammad]]. With Emir ‘Alam al-Din Sanjar al-Shuja‘i al-Mansuri ({{lang|ar|عَلَمُ الدِّينِ سَنْجَرُ الشُّجَاعِيُّ المَنْصُورِيُّ&lrm;}}, <small>[[Romanization of Arabic|romanised:]]</small> ʿAlam ad-Dīn Sanǧar aš-Šuǧāʿī al-Manṣūrī) he was effectively the ruler of Egypt as Al-Nasir Muhammad was only 9 years old.<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref>Al-Maqrizi, p.249/vol. 2</ref>  But Kitbugha faced rivalry from and had a poor relationship with al-Shuja‘i who was an Al-Nasir's [[Vizier]]. Al-Shuja‘i, with the support of the [[Burji Mamluks]], planned to arrest Kitbugha and assassinate his emirs, but Kitbugha was informed about al-Shuja‘i's plan by a [[Tatars|Tatar]] named Qunghar. Kitbugha lay siege to the Citadel with the support of the Genghis-Khanites and the Shahrzuri Kurds.<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref>Shahrzuriyah were Kurds who escaped from Mesopotamia after the Mongol invasion.
During a battle between [[Al Karak]] and Sultan [[Qutuz]] they deceived al-Malik al-Mughith king of Al Karak and walked over to the Egyptian side. ( Al-Maqrizi, p500/vol.1 )</ref> However, he was defeated by the Burji Mamluks and had to flee to [[Bilbays]].<ref>Bilbays, also spelled Bilbeis or Bilbis, town, southeastern [[Sharqia Governorate|al-Sharqia Governorate]] in the eastern [[Nile Delta]], [[Lower Egypt]], northeast of Cairo. - ( Encyclopædia Britannica, p.15/vol. II)</ref>  He later returned to Cairo and lay siege to the Citadel again after his emirs defeated the Burjis. Kitbugha's siege of the Citadel lasted for seven days with daily clashes with the Sultani Mamluks and al-Shuja‘i supporters. Many of al-Shuja‘i's emirs moved over to Kitbugha's side. The emirs of Kitbugha informed Sultan Al-Nassir Muhammed's mother that the dispute was between them and al-Shuja‘i and not with her son. So she locked the gates of the Citadel with al-Shuja‘i trapped in his house outside the Citadel. After that more of his Emirs deserted him and moved over to the side of Kitbugha. Al-Shuja‘i, who was not popular among the Egyptians,<ref name="ReferenceA" /> was killed while he was on his way to the Citadel to discuss the dispute. When the gate of the Citadel was unlocked Kitbugha and his emirs went in. Kitbugha's followers who were imprisoned by al-Shuja‘i were freed and many Burji Mamluks who supported al-Shuja'i were either arrested or removed from the Citadel. Al-Shuja‘i's properties in the Levant were seized and his deputies there were arrested.<ref>Al-Maqrizi, pp.252-255/vol.2</ref>
About 300 of the Burji Mamluks who were removed from the Citadel by [[Al-Adil Kitbugha]] rebelled and went on a rampage in Cairo. These Mamluks,  known as the al-Mamalik al-Ashrafiyah Khalil (the Mamluks of al-Ashraf Khalil) were enraged because [[Lajin|Hossam ad-Dain Lajin]], who was involved in the murder of their benefactor, Sultan al-Ashraf Khalil, had arrived in Cairo but was not arrested and punished.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> The Ashrafiyah Khalil were defeated and many of them were killed and executed.<ref>Al-Maqrizi, pp.259/vol.2</ref>
==Rise to power==
Kitbugha continued as the regent and the actual ruler of Egypt with Al-Nasir Muhammad, being a child, merely the nominal Sultan. After the murder of Vizier al-Shuja‘i, Kitbugha became more powerful.  He was then convinced by Lajin, who was aware that the Mamluks of Khalil and Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammed would want to seek revenge for the death of Sultan Khalil, to depose Al-Nasir and take on complete power.<ref>Ibn Taghri, Sultanante of al-Nasir Muhammed.</ref><ref>First Kitbugha refused the advice of Lajin but he became convinced after Lajin warned him that later when Al-Nasir Muhammed is old he will punish him as he was also involved in the murder of Al-Nasir Muhammed's brother Al-Ashraf Khalil. - (Ibn Taghri, Sultanante of al-nasir Muhammed.) ( See also [[Al-Ashraf Khalil]] )</ref>  After the defeat of the rebelling Burji Mamluks, Kitbugha assembled the emirs at his office and told them: "The system of the Kingdom has been undermined. There can not be respect while Sultan Al-Nasir is young ". The emirs agreed and they decided to replace Al-Nasir Muhammed with Kitbugha. Al-Nasir Muhammed was removed with his mother to another section of the palace and later to [[Al Karak]] . Kitbugha was installed as Sultan and took the royal name Al-Adil. He made Lajin his Vice-Sultan.<ref>Al-Maqrizi, p. 275/vol.2</ref>
==The Oirats==
In 1296 a large group of [[Oirats]],<ref>The Oirats were about 10,000 persons with horses and cattle. (Ibn Taghri, Sultanate of Kitbugha )</ref><ref>Oirats, in Arabic Uyratiya.</ref> Mongol refugees, arrived in the Levant. They were led by Turghai, the son-in-law of [[Hulagu Khan]].<ref>According to Abu al-Fida’, Turghai was the husband of the daughter of Mangu Timur the son of Hulagu. - (Abu al-Fida’, year AH 695)</ref><ref>In 1262, during the reign of Sultan Baybars many Tatars from the Golden Horde tribe escaped from Hulagu to Egypt and were followed later by other Tatars. Baybars welcomed the [[Tatars]] and employed them in the army. They had their own army unit, which was called al-Firqah al-Wafidiyah (the arrivals' troop). Throughout the Mamluk era, the Wafidiyah (Arriving Tatars) were free men and the Mamluk system did not apply to them. Baybars settled the Tatars in Cairo and gave them various official posts. The largest group of Tatars immigrated to Egypt in 1296 during the reign of Sultan Kitbugha, who was himself of Mongol origin. They resided at the district of al-Hisiniyah in Cairo and many of their women married Mamluk emirs. (Shayyal, vol. 2, p. 144)</ref> They had fled to the Levant from [[Mahmud Ghazan|Ghazan]]. While some of the Oirat group was received warmly in Cairo by Kitbugha and then resided in the Cairene district of al-Hisiniyah,<ref>Also spelled al-Husayniyya. The district still exist in present-day Cairo.</ref> others were sheltered in the coastal towns of the Levant. The Oirats were not Muslims, but after they intermarried with Egyptian emirs and later with [[Egyptians|Egyptian]] commoners, they converted to Islam and merged with Egyptian society.<ref>Al-Maqrizi, vol. 2, p. 266</ref><ref>Shayyal, vol. 2, pp. 144–145</ref> However, as Kitbugha was himself of Mongol origin, his extraordinary generosity towards the Oirats made many emirs suspicious about his motives.<ref>Shayyal, p.145</ref><ref>Al-Maqrizi, al-Khitat al-Maqriziyah, vol. 3, pp. 32–36</ref> This would be one of the factors that would later lead to his downfall.<ref>Shayyal, vol. 2, p. 145</ref>
==Loss of power==
Later in the reign of Kitbugha, Egypt and the Levant faced shortages of water and food in addition to an epidemic that caused the death of many people in Egypt.<ref>Al-Maqrizi described the era of Kitbugha as following: "His days were the worst days with high prices, epidemics and death " - (Al-Maqrizi, p.260/vol.2)</ref><ref>According to Al-Maqrizi the epidemic caused the death of 127.000 persons. - (Al-Maqrizi, p.268/vol.2)</ref>  Kitbugha was not popular among the Egyptians who regarded him as a bringer of ill-omens.<ref>When the palace servants heard that kitbugha took power a kitchen servant exclaimed: " This is an ill omen ! This is an unlucky day ! ". The words of the servant spread around and were repeated by all the people. - ( Al-Maqrizi, p. 260/vol.2 )</ref>  Also, the Egyptian were not pleased with Kitbugha's generosity towards the [[Oirats]] who were not Muslims while they, the Egyptians, were suffering from high prices of food and economic hardship.
While Kitbugha was in [[Damascus]] the emirs decided to get rid of him. The emirs went to Kitbugha and met him while he was on his way to Egypt. Kitbugha was angry with Bisari, who was a prominent emir, and accused him of corresponding with the Mongols. Fearing that Kitbugha would arrest Bisari, the emirs,<ref>the Emirs who attacked Kitbugha's Dihliz included [[Lajin]], Bisari, Qara Sunqur, Qabjaq and al-Haj Bahader. - ( Al-Maqrizi, p.273/vol.2 )</ref>  including [[Lajin]], carried arms and went to the Dihliz<ref>Dihliz, royal tent of the Sultan which he uses during his travels and battles</ref> of Kitbugha and clashed with his Mamluks.<ref>Mamluks of kitbugha were called al-Mamalik al-Adilyyah referring to Kitbugha royal name Al-Adil.</ref> A few of Kitbugha's Mamluks were killed or injured. Kitbugha left the Dihliz through a back passage and fled to Damascus, accompanied by five of his Mamluks. The emirs were unable to catch him. Lajin was placed on the throne as the new Sultan of Egypt.
Kitbugha took refuge inside the [[citadel of Damascus]], but at last he resigned and recognized Lajin as the new Sultan saying: "al-Sultan al-Malik al-Mansour ( Lajin ) is one of  my Khushdashiya.<ref>Khushdashiya ( خشداشية ): Mamluks belonging to the same Amir or Sultan.</ref> I serve him and I obey him. I will stay inside the Citadel until the Sultan decide(s) what to do with me". Kitbugha left Damascus to rule in [[Salkhad]].<ref>Al-Maqrizi, pp. 277-278/vol.2</ref>  He ruled there for two years and 17 days.<ref>Al-Maqrizi, p. 274/vol.2</ref>
In 1299 while Sultan [[Al-Nasir Muhammad]] was on his way to Syria with the Egyptian army to encounter the invasion of [[Mahmud Ghazan]], some Oirats conspired with some Mamluks of the Sultan to kill the Vice-Sultan [[Sayf al-Din Salar|Salar]] and the Ostadar,<ref>Ostadar ( أستادار ), supervisor of the royal kitchen and everything connected to the food and drink of the Sultan.</ref> [[Baibars II|Baibars al-Jashnakir]] who were the actual rulers of Egypt. They wanted to bring Kitbugha back to power, but the attempt failed and the conspiring Oirats were severely punished. After the defeat of Al-Nasir Muhammad's army at the [[Battle of Wadi al-Khazandar]], Kitbugha fled to Egypt and served Salar. After Ghazan left Syria Kitbugha became the deputy of  Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad in [[Hama]],<ref>Al-Maqrizi, p. 326 and p.329/vol.2</ref> where he died in July 1303.<ref>Abu al-Fida, Al-Mukhtasar fi Akhbar al-Bashar, IV:61-63.</ref>
==Coins of Al-Adil Kitbugha==
In 1295, during the reign of Sultan Kitbugha, it was decided for the first time in Egypt, that coins had to be weighed before being exchanged for goods or services. Thus the value of coins were based on their weight and not on their quantity.<ref>Mahdi, p. 100</ref>
==See also==
*[[List of rulers of Egypt]]
* [[Bahri dynasty]]
* [[Al-Ashraf Khalil]]
* [[Lajin]]
* [[Oirats]]
* [[Qalawun]]
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
==References==
*[[Abu al-Fida]], [[The Concise History of Humanity or Chronicles|The Concise History of Humanity]]
* [[Abu al-Fida]], Al-Mukhtasar fi Akhbar al-Bashar, IV, Cairo 1999.
* [[Al-Maqrizi]], Al Selouk Leme'refatt Dewall al-Melouk, Dar al-kotob, 1997.
* Idem in English: Bohn, Henry G., The Road to Knowledge of the Return of Kings, Chronicles of the Crusades, AMS Press, 1969.
* Al-Maqrizi, al-Mawaiz wa al-'i'tibar bi dhikr al-khitat wa al-'athar, Matabat aladab, Cairo 1996, {{ISBN|977-241-175-X}}.
* Idem in French: Bouriant, Urbain, Description topographique et historique de l'Egypte, Paris 1895
* [[Ibn Taghri]], al-Nujum al-Zahirah Fi Milook Misr wa al-Qahirah, al-Hay'ah al-Misreyah 1968
* History of Egypt, 1382-1469 A.D. by Yusef. William Popper, translator Abu L-Mahasin ibn Taghri Birdi, University of California Press 1954
*Mahdi, Dr. Shafik, Mamalik Misr wa Alsham ( Mamluks of Egypt and the Levant), Aldar Alarabiya, Beirut 2008
* Sato Tsugitaka, State and Rural Society in Medieval Islam, Brill 1997, {{ISBN|90-04-10649-9}}
* Shayal, Jamal, Prof. of Islamic history, [https://books.google.com/books?id=_wqaKAAACAAJ&hl=en Tarikh Misr al-Islamiyah] (History of Islamic Egypt), dar al-Maref, Cairo 1266, {{ISBN|977-02-5975-6}}
* The New Encyclopædia Britannica, Macropædia, H.H. Berton Publisher,1973–1974
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{{succession box|title=[[List of Mamluk sultans|Sultan of Egypt and Syria]]|before=[[Al-Nasir Muhammad]]|after=[[Lajin]]|years=December 1294 &ndash; 7 December 1296}}
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{{Mamluk Sultans of Egypt}}
{{Oirats}}
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[[Category:Oirats]]
[[Category:Bahri sultans]]
[[Category:Mongol monarchs]]
[[Category:Regents of Egypt]]
[[Category:1297 deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:13th-century Mamluk sultans]]
[[Category:Mongol Mamluks]]
[[Category:13th-century regents]]