Battle of Ain Jalut
1260 CE · Israel
The Battle of Ain Jalut was fought in 1260 CE in Israel between Mamluk Sultanate vs the Mongol Empire; decisive Mamluk victory; the first major defeat of a Mongol army that was not reversed.
Battle of Ain Jalut: quick facts
- Date
- 1260 CE
- Location
- Israel
- Belligerents
- Mamluk Sultanate vs the Mongol Empire
- Commanders
- Qutuz and Baibars vs Kitbuqa
- Result
- decisive Mamluk victory; the first major defeat of a Mongol army that was not reversed.
- Era
- ⚔️ Ottoman & Islamic Empires
- Quiz difficulty
- hard
What happened at the Battle of Ain Jalut?
The Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, led by Sultan Qutuz and his general Baybars, dealt the Mongol Empire its first significant defeat at Ain Jalut in the Jezreel Valley. The Mamluks used a feigned retreat to draw the Mongols into an ambush. The victory halted the Mongol westward advance and preserved Egypt and the remaining Islamic heartlands from Mongol conquest, marking a turning point in world history.
Did you know?
Ain Jalut means 'Spring of Goliath' in Arabic, and it is traditionally identified as the place where the young David slew the giant Goliath in the biblical narrative.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Ain Jalut on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.