Baibars

al-Malik al-Zahir Ruk al-Din Baibars al-Bunduqdari (also spelled Baybars) (1223 – July 1, 1277) was a Mamluk Sultan of Egypt and Syria. He was born a Kipchak Turk in the city of Solhat in Crimea. He was captured by the Mongols and sold as a slave, ending up in Syria. If he had stayed in his native land he would have been known as a Crimean Tatar.

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His first master, the emir of Hama, was superstitious of Baibars because of his unusual appearance (he was gigantically tall, very dark, with an odd white spot in one of his blue eyes). Baibars was quickly sold to a Mamluk officer and sent to Egypt, where he became a bodyguard to the Ayyubid ruler As-Salih Ayyub.

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July 1: July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining....

1277: For broader historical context, see 1270s and 13th century....

Mamluk: Mamluks (also Mameluks, Mamelukes) (the Arabic word usually translates as "owned", singular: ????? plural: ??????) comprised slave soldiers used by the Muslim caliphs and the Ottoman Empire. On more than one occasion they seized power for themselves....