Within two years the barons of Syria were divided, allied with one faction or another. Here stood the Ibelin family, Templars, Teutons, burghers of Pisa and Provence grouped round the Venetian flag. With the Genoese stood merchants from Catalonia, Hospitalers, and Philippe de Montfort who was lord of Tyre. Controversy blazed in the street as if a fire escaped the hearth. Venetians prevailed. Genoese retreated from Acre, gathering uneasily at the city of Tyre where Lord Philippe could protect them. In pursuit of wealth these people discarded their finest asset, which was their common cause, to cut themselves in half, as if the principles of their natures agreed on nothing but turbulence, as if a stream had overflowed the dike.
Bohemond VI, prince of Antioch, cast his lot with Venice. Bertran de Gibelet, his vassal, being of Genoese descent, could not but take sides with Genoa. So it came about that a peasant approached Bertran while he was in the vineyard looking at grapes, murdered him and carried off his head to show Prince Bohemond. These people had forgotten the light of the world.
Thus did Christianity oversea bleed itself while the Muslim waited.
Anon, Baibars ascended the throne of Egypt. Baibars, who split the hand of Turanshah with a sword, chased him toward the Nile. They say this blue-eyed Turk was bought at a Crimean slave market and brought to Syria roaring like a bull, huge, powerful, his right eye blemished by a milky spot. The emir of Hama thought him too loathsome to purchase, so he was relegated to the bodyguard of Sultan Qutuz. Through intimidation and murder he established himself. And growing conceited he demanded the governorship of Aleppo. They say Qutuz was offended by such arrogance. Islamic records tell how the sultan chose to spend a day at his favorite sport of hunting hares and in the company went Baibars. Some distance from camp a retainer pretended to kiss the sultan’s hand, which enabled Baibars to stab him in the back. Now with Qutuz bloody and dying the conspirators returned and Baibars entered the sultan’s tent demanding homage. All bowed their heads submissively, whereupon he rode unchallenged to Cairo.
Arsuf. Caesarea. Joppa. Beaufort. Christian cities one after another submitted to Baibars.
Unexpectedly he rode against Safed but was driven off. Twice more he assaulted the fortress. Many of those who defended Safed were Christians native to Syria. Baibars therefore announced through heralds that Syrian Christians would be pardoned. These natives began to desert, which enraged the Franks. It is said there was fighting within the walls. And when a month went by the Franks despatched a sergeant called Leo to discuss terms of surrender because they did not think they could hold out. This man came back saying Baibars would allow them to depart unharmed. If the Franks trusted what they were told is much disputed. However it was, they gave up the fortress to Baibars and he cut off their heads.
He rode to the gates of Acre, his soldiers wearing Christian armor and helmets, waving lances, displaying banners seized from Templars and Hospitalers, all seeming to be Christian. Yet their black features disclosed the truth, nor did they sit their horses like Germans or Englishmen or Franks. The gates of Acre did not open.
Baibars retreated to Safed. Envoys who came looking for a truce saw the skulls of hapless prisoners decorating the castle.
On the fourteenth of May in the year of our Lord 1268 he surrounded Antioch, which had long been the most prosperous Frankish city. After four days his army breached the wall where it ran up the slope of Mount Silpius. By order of his emirs the gates were shut to prevent escape. Citizens caught in the streets were struck down, those found at home sold into slavery. So numerous were captives that not a soldier of his army but got a slave. At market one could buy a Frankish girl for five dirhems, a boy for twelve. Silver and gold bibelots were handed out like playthings, bowls of money given away.
Prince Bohemond chanced to be at Tripoli when Antioch fell. There exists a letter to the prince from Baibars, advising him of what was yet to come.
Do not forget how in the past we brushed your churches from the earth, how we killed your knights, enslaved your children, how Christian bodies rotted on the shore, how our soldiers who had no family all at once found themselves with countless wives, how Islamic ploughs broke the soil where once your houses stood. Had you but seen how we ravaged Antioch. Had you but seen how Saracen chargers crushed Frankish knights, how one gold coin purchased four noble ladies. Had you but seen leaves from your Gospel toss in the wind, crosses flung to earth, priests swallowed up in the flames of this world, sepulchers of your patriarchs defiled. Now the church of Saint Paul is rubble. Saracens tread upon your altar. Ah! Had you been there!
Soon enough Baibars came to Safita, white castle of the Templars. The Grand Master did not resist.
Next he appeared before Krak, mighty fortress of the Hospitalers. For two weeks incessant rain prevented him from using catapults. But on the fifteenth of March after a fierce bombardment his mameluks forced the outer enceinte. Two weeks later they broke into the fortress. Defenders held out ten days longer in the south tower, then seeing no hope for it they surrendered and were granted safe passage to Tripoli.
Now did providence intercede. Baibars died on the first day of July in that year of our Lord 1277, before he could subjugate Tripoli. By certain accounts he died of wounds. Others claim he drank too much kumiz, this being the fermented milk of mares. Yet again, some say he poisoned the prince of Kerak, who had insulted him, and thoughtlessly
