Battle of Ain Jalut: How Mamluks Halted Mongol Expansion in 1260

On September 3, 1260, the Battle of Ain Jalut took place, where Sultan Sayf ad-Din Qutuz of the Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate confronted a Mongol force led by Kitbuqa, effectively curbing Mongol advances into the Middle East. Qutuz, who ascended to power in 1259, was supported by Baybars al-Bunduqdari. By this time, the Mongols had already decimated the Assassins and the Abbasid Caliphate and had taken control of Syria. Kitbuqa, commanding around 12,000 troops, adopted a defensive stance. However, the Mamluks, with a force of at least 20,000, triumphed after Qutuz inspired his soldiers. Kitbuqa fell in battle, and the Mongols were defeated. In October 1260, Qutuz was assassinated, leading Baybars to take control of the sultanate and later form an alliance with Berke against the Mongols.