AT the time when the march of the French army towards Mansourah startled the inhabitants of that city out of their propriety, and caused dismay within the walls of Cairo, there was one Moslem warrior who did not share in the general alarm. Far from shrinking from the peril, this individual recognized with satisfaction the danger and disorder, from the bosom of which a daring leader might raise himself to power by rekindling courage and restoring discipline. He was chief of the Mamelukes, known as Bibars Bendocdar, and destined to associate his name with great crimes and memorable exploits.
At that time, it was the custom of the East, when two kings went to war, to sell the subjects of the vanquished prince as slaves. Bought by merchants, these slaves were conveyed by sea to Egypt; and their children purchased by the Sultan, were trained from boyhood in his service. Whenever their beards began to grow, they were taught to wield the sword and to draw the bow; and in due time enrolled in that famous military body which Saladin had instituted.
Bibars Bendocdar had originally been brought to Egypt as a slave, and admitted into the Mameluke force. IBs ambition being intense, and his talent quite equal to his ambition, he rose rapidly. Indeed, he was one of those men who deem themselves born to rule, and who, even when slaves, dream of the day that is to dawn on them as tyrants. He was quite determined to find a way to power; and, as to the means, he was in no respect scrupulous.
Ere long, Bibars Bendocdar found that circumstances favored his aspirations. No position was more likely to lead from obscurity to fame, than that which he occupied. The Mamelukes were always in favor with the Sultan; they wore his emblazonments of pure gold, only adding bars of vermilion, with birds or roses, or griffins, for difference; they watched over his safety during peace, and, in time of war, they acted as his body-guard. No subjects had such favorable opportunities of cultivating his favor.
It happened that on one occasion, when Melikul-Salih was besieging a town, and his army fled before the foe, the Baharite slaves maintained their position, and allowed him time to escape. Elevated to the Egyptian throne, Melikul Salih, remembering this valuable service, gave them his whole confidence, formed them into a troop known as the Mamelukes-Baharites, loaded them with gifts, and raised them to the highest dignities. At the time when Louis landed at Damietta, this force was composed of eight hundred men; and of these none stood higher in the Sultan's favor than Bibars Bendocdar.
But it was not merely the confidence of the Sultan that Bibars Bendocdar enjoyed. Having occupied himself with military affairs, he had learned the arts by which warriors of adventurous spirit elevate themselves to supremacy. Besides, he had other qualities, that rendered him a dangerous foe -- sagacity, penetration, cruelty, incredible activity, skill in war, courage in conflict, devotion to the cause for which he had so often fought.
For the rest, Bibars Bendocdar professed great faith in Mahomet's religion, and had great faith, also, in his own genius and destiny. Perhaps, now and then, his imagination, with prophetic instinct, conjured up the vision of a tall warrior .with light hair mounted on a gray steed and crossing his path like a shadow. But if so, he would also feel that the danger was distant The gray steed had not yet been foaled; and the tall rider was still a boy of twelve, playing at ball with his little brother in the court-yard at Westminster, or spurring his pony in mimic tilt, against the wooden likeness of a Saracen on the green award at Eltham.
Previous article Next article
From John G. Edgar
The Crusades and the Crusaders, 1860
