THE English chivalry having disappeared from Syria, and the last of the great crusaders having had the Confessor's crown placed on his brow in the abbey of Westminster, Bibars Bendocdar resumed his career of conquest in the East.
The Sultan was no longer restrained by fear of arrivals from Europe. After Edward's crusade, every attempt to rouse the old spirit proved abortive; and the condition of the kingdom of Jerusalem was by no means enviable. Acre, indeed, was comparatively secure: for, even in the event of the Sultan disregarding the treaty of 1272, the walls had been fortified by Edward with such care, that the city was in a condition to stand a siege. Other places, however, were less fortunate; and when Bibars resumed operations, the Christians were much inclined to cry, as they had done before Edward's arrival -- "O Mussulmans, spare us! spare us!"
All this time the Christians in the East conducted themselves in such a way as could hardly fail ultimately to render the remnant of their kingdom an easy conquest. Even the succession to the sovereignty of Jerusalem was a matter of dispute. The King of Cyprus and the King of Sicily were both pretenders to the crown; and the adherents of each were foolish enough to fight about the claim to a kingdom that could no longer be said to exist.
It happened, however, that while the Syrian Christians were by their discord playing the Sultan's game, their formidable foe did not sit easily on his throne or in his saddle. In fact, Bibars Bendocdar having sacrificed two sultans to his ambitious projects, had ever been in dread of some Mameluke chief proving as unscrupulous as himself, and following the course which had conducted him to power. His temper, naturally jealous, became with years so much so, that the simplest circumstance was sufficient to excite his suspicions, and the most trifling communication between neighbors was concluded to be a conspiracy.
At length, while engaged in war with Albaga, King of the Tartars, Bibars ordered enormous imposts to be levied. Deep discontent was the consequence; the death of the Sultan was earnestly prayed for, as the most desirable of events; and hardly had the levy of the tribute commenced, when Bibars Bendocdar, after reigning seventeen years, was numbered with the dead. The cause of the great Sultan's death has been variously stated. One says that he expired from the effects of a wound received in Armenia; another, that he died of cold caught while swimming the Euphrates; and a third, that he was poisoned. But, however that might have been, his name inspired awe and dread even after life had departed; and men trembled around the litter that bore his corpse from Damascus to Cairo. His fame was of high account in the East, and he could boast that, except showing the white feather in presence of "our Edward," he never retreated before the face of an enemy, nor sought to divest himself of the odium of a crime.
When Bibars was carried off by death, his son was placed on the throne of Cairo. But a revolution, excited by the Mamelukes, soon after occurred; and Kelaoun, the bravest of the emirs, was invested with sovereign authority.
The new Sultan vowed to complete the work which his predecessor had begun; and the Christian states were threatened with speedy ruin. At feud with each other, and indifferent as to the fate of their neighbors, the Christians formed no plan of defence. Castle after castle, and fortress after fortress, fell into the Sultan's hands; and Tripoli having, after a siege of more than a month, surrendered, was consigned to the flames.
Acre, after the fall of Tripoli, stood almost alone to bear the brunt of the battle; and the Sultan not only occupied himself with schemes for its destruction, but appeared in a menacing attitude at the gates. But, brave as he was, and flushed with victory, Kelaoun hesitated to push matters to a crisis, and entertained so serious a dread of the warriors of the West, that he consented to a truce for two years.
Scarcely had Kelaoun led his turbaned warriors from the walls of Acre, when the vicious propensities of the wife of a rich citizen led to outrages that gave the Sultan a pretext for renewing the war. It appears that this lady had so far forgotten herself, as to become enamoured of a young Saracen; and, in defiance of prudence and propriety, indulged him with meetings in one of the gardens surrounding the city. The husband, however, became aware of what was taking place, and, in his anger, swore to be avenged. Summoning a few of his friends, therefore, he walked out of the gates, entered the gardens, surprised the amorous pair, and sacrificed both to his outraged honor. The shrieks of the lady attracted to the spot some Saracens, who endeavored to avenge their countryman. Swords were drawn, a scuffle ensued, and the Christians being superior in number, soon laid every Moslem dead on the ground.
News of this bloodshed was carried to Cairo. The Sultan was not of course the man to tolerate such proceedings, and he instantly demanded full satisfaction. The Christians of Acre divided in opinion, and reluctant to gratify the Sultan, despatched ambassadors to Cairo to oner, not satisfaction, but excuses and presents. Kelaoun, after listening to the excuses and rejecting the presents with contempt, sent back the ambassadors to Acre with a threat that the Christians should feel the full weight of his anger.
The ambassadors returned to Acre to render an account of their mission; and Kelaoun prepared to execute his threats. At his word, the signal for war went through all his provinces; and from the Nile to the Euphrates, the Moslems were soon in motion.
But even Sultans are mortal, and Kelaoun was not destined to live to annihilate the Christian state. When about to set forth on his enterprise, he was attacked by sickness, and soon became aware that his end was approaching. More fortunate in his offspring than Noureddin, or Saladin, or Bibars Bendocdar, Kelaoun had a son, Chalil, who was quite capable of grasping the sceptre. Ere closing his eyes, Kelaoun summoned his son, and conjured him, in presence of the emirs, to pursue, without intermission, the war against the Christians.
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From John G. Edgar
The Crusades and the Crusaders, 1860
