of vicegerent. The Eyyubite
Prince of Kerak, in whose service many of the Baharite mamelukes still
remained, attempting, with their help, to seize Egypt, was twice
repulsed by Kotuz, and thus obliged to disband the Baharites, who
returned to their Egyptian allegiance.

Their return was fortunate, a time of trial being at hand. For it was
now that Holagu with his Mongol hordes, having overthrown Bagdad and
slain the last of the Abbassides, launched his savage troops on the
West. He fulminated a despatch to Nasir the Eyyubite head of Syria, in
which he claimed to be "the scourge of the Almighty, sent to execute
judgment on the ungodly nations of the earth." Nasir answered it in
like defiant terms; but, not being supported by Kotuz, had to fly from
Damascus, which was taken possession of by the Mongol tyrant.

After ravaging Syria with unheard-of barbarity, Holagu was recalled to
Central Asia by the death of Mangu. Leaving his army behind under
Ketbogha, he sent an embassy to Egypt with a letter as threatening as
that to Nasir. Kotuz, who had by this time cast the titular Sultan
aside and himself assumed the throne, summoned a council and by their
advice put the embassy to death. Then awakening to the possibilities
of the future, he roused the emirs to action by a stirring address on
the danger that threatened Egypt, their families, and their faith.

Gathering a powerful army, the Egyptians advanced to Acre, where they
found the crusaders bound by a promise to the Mongols of neutrality.
The two armies met at Ain-Jalut, and there, after a fiercely contested
battle, and mainly by the bravery of Beibars as well as of Kotuz
himself, the Mongols were beaten and Ketbogha slain. On the news
reaching Damascus, the city rose upon their barbarian tyrants, and
slew not only all the Mongols, but great numbers also of the Jews and
Christians who, during the interregnum, had raised their heads against
Islam.

Following up their victory, the Egyptians drove the Mongols out of
Syria, and pursued them beyond Emessa. Kotuz, thus master of the
country, reappointed the former governors throughout Syria, on
receiving oath of fealty, to their several posts. For his signal
service, Kotuz had led Beibars to expect Aleppo; but, suspicion
aroused of dangerous ambition on Beibars' part, he gave that leading
capital to another.

Beibars upon this, fearing the fate that might befall him at Cairo,
resolved to anticipate the danger. On the return