First Battle of Homs

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=1st Battle of Homs


caption=
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date=December 10, 1260
place=at Homs
result=Egyptian Mamluk Victory
combatant1=Ilkhanate
combatant2=Mamluks of Egypt
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=6,000
strength2=Purportedly around 1,500
casualties1=
casualties2=| : "For other battles in the same area but in different years, see Battle of Homs".

The first Battle of Homs was fought on December 10, 1260, between the armies of the Mongol Ilkhanate of Persia and the forces of Egypt, in Syria.

After the historic Mamluk victory over the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut in September 1260, Hulagu Khan of the Ilkhanate had the Ayyubid Sultan of Damascus and other Ayyubid princes executed in revenge, thus effectively ending the dynasty in Syria. However, the defeat at Ain Jalut forced the Mongol armies out of Syria and the Levant.

Due to the open war between Hulagu and his cousin Berke of the Golden Horde (which signaled the end of the unified empire), Hulagu could only afford to send 6,000 troops back into Syria to retake control of the lands. After quickly recaptuing Aleppo, the force travelled southwards to Homs, but were decisively defeated. This ended the first campaign into Syria by the Ilkhanate, though there was several future incursions, but none of these ended with conquests lasting more than a year.

See also

*Second Battle of Homs (1281)
* Battle of Wadi al-Khazandar (1299/1300)

References

* Nicolle, Warlords., p. 117
* J. J. Saunders, "The Mongol Defeat at 'Ain Jalut", in. Muslims and Mongols, (ed. by G.W.Rice), p. 69.