ABSTRACT
As everyone knows, engaging in outdoor activities always contains a certain element of danger. And that is just what the Mamluk sultan Quṭuz (r. 657–8/1259–60) encountered when he was looking for recreation and went on a hunting party after the Mamluk victory against the Mongols at the tiresome battle of ʿAyn Jālūt in 658/1260:
The sultan [left Syria] and kept on going until he reached the Egyptian desert near al-Ṣāliḥiyya; but then he deviated from his way to go hunting with his umarāʾ. When the hunt was over, the sultan returned to the royal tent [al-dihlīz al-sulṭānī]. There amīr Baybars asked that the sultan be given a wife from the Mongol prisoners and the sultan handed her over to Baybars. Baybars then took the hand of the sultan in order to kiss it. This was the sign of conspirators. To the surprise of the sultan he was struck on his shoulder with a sword by amīr Badr al-Dīn Baktūt, then amīr Anis pulled him down from his horse and finally amīr Bahādur al-Muʿizzī shot an arrow, which wounded the sultan badly. This happened on Saturday 15 Dhī ’l Qaʿda 658 [22 October 1260]…. Afterwards the umarāʾ assembled in the royal tent and amīr Aqṭāy asked: ‘Who actually killed him?’ Baybars replied ‘I killed him’, and then Aqṭāy said: ‘Oh Lord! Sit down on the throne and take the [sultan’s] place.’ 1
